We are a research campus with a strong tradition in biosciences focused on complex ecological, evolutionary & developmental aspects of LIFE.
Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czech Republic is seeking qualified applicants for
The recently established research group Global Life-history, Ornithology
& Behavioural Ecology (GLOBE) – https://GLOBEresearchgroup.com new
webpages will be launched soon – focuses on ecology, behaviour, life-history
strategies and population dynamics of wild animals, particularly birds, including
impacts and consequences of recent environmental changes. The GLOBE research
group is led by Vojtěch Kubelka from the Department of Zoology and Centre for
Polar Ecology at the Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia in the Czech
Republic and has been recently awarded a prestigious ERC CZ grant: Animal
migrations in a changing world – still advantageous strategy or maladaptive
behaviour? for years 2024–2029.
Animal migrations represent one of the greatest spectacles in nature, providing
crucial ecosystem services as well as resources for human communities. Why do
animals migrate? It has been thought that animals migrate to reproduce at higher
latitudes, taking advantage of lower predation pressure, fewer parasites and
seasonally high pulses in food supply. However, it has been highlighted that recent
climate change and human pressure impacts can erode such benefits and migratory
animals are declining globally with poorly understood underlying mechanisms.
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We strive to tackle pressing issues: Are there still latitudinal gradients in predation,
parasitism and seasonal food availability, supporting the benefits of migratory
behaviour? How are migratory animals able to cope with environmental changes?
What are the most important drivers and life stages limiting populations of migratory
animals? To achieve this, we are executing a comprehensive research of migration
profitability, combining experimental, observational and comparative approaches –
investigating latitudinal gradients in predation, parasites, food supply and whole life-
cycles of tracked shorebirds, suitable model taxon with intra-specific variability
in migratory strategies and exposed ground nests – at 16 study sites from the Arctic
to Patagonia.
We seek to appoint a PhD student to contribute to this new project. The particular
targeting of the PhD project will be developed together with the successful applicant
within the framework of the ERC CZ project.
What would be your main responsibilities:
• Study PhD at the Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia in České
Budějovice, Czech Republic in the Zoology programme
• Execute ornithological fieldwork at selected study sites across Western
Palearctic and South America in association with international collaborators
• Combine experimental and observational fieldwork with a comparative
approach based on extracting relevant information from published literature
• Prepare and write manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals
• Optional activities include engaging in the supervision of undergraduate
students and participation in funding applications for research in collaboration
with other team members
• Participate in conservation activities
• Present and promote the results at conferences and seminars and
disseminate the project outputs
What we offer:
• A four-year position combining employment on the ERC CZ project and
governmental financial support during the course of the PhD study
• English-speaking, stimulating and friendly international research environment
in the multicultural GLOBE research group
• Extensive international networking and mentoring opportunities with 100+
collaborators of the GLOBE research group worldwide
• Fieldwork at the ERC CZ project study sites and access to the datasets
obtained along latitudinal gradients from Morocco to the Arctic and from
tropical South America to Patagonia
• Excellent instruments, equipment and multiple research platforms within the
GLOBE research group and Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia
in České Budějovice, Czech Republic
• Full logistical support for own follow-up research funding applications
• Flexible working time, full health insurance, student benefits
• Professional administration support and assistance with all personal,
economic or logistical needs including the relocation and settlement in CZ
• Meals allowance, special mobile services, university kindergarten
• Work-life balance in a historical middle-sized university city, budejce.cz/en/,
offering multiple opportunities for outdoor, sport & cultural activities.
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Competitive candidates are expected to have:
• Master’s degree or equivalent in ecology, or relevant field of life sciences
• A foundation of knowledge in two or more fields: evolutionary ecology, climate
change biology, demography and population dynamics, predator-prey
interactions and animal migration
• Experience in conducting/participating in international research projects
• Hands-on experience for 2+ years in field research, with preference for
experience with fieldwork in remote areas, including tropical or polar locations
• Ornithological fieldwork experience including bird handling and ringing (bird
ringing licence is welcomed but not necessary)
• Good skills in statistical modelling, advanced level in using R
• Evidence of success conducting research and scholarly activities, including
publications in peer-reviewed journals
• Experience working with analyses and presentation of large data sets
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate within a team-based
environment, ability to work effectively both in a team and independently
• Valid driving licence
Representative publications of our research
Kubelka V., Šálek M., Tomkovich P., Végvári Z., Freckleton R. P. &
Székely T. 2018: Global pattern of nest predation is disrupted
by climate change in shorebirds. Science 362: 680–683.
Zámečník V., Kubelka V. & Šálek M. 2018: Visible marking of
wader nests to avoid damage by farmers does not increase
nest predation. Bird Conservation International 28: 293–301.
Halimubieke N., Kupán K., Valdebenito J. O., Kubelka V., other 19 authors,
& Székely T. 2020: Successful breeding predict divorce in plovers. Scientific
Reports 10: 15576 (1–13).
Koleček J., Reif J., Šálek M., Hanzelka J., Sottas C. & Kubelka V.
2021: Global population trends in shorebirds: migratory
behaviour makes species at risk. The Science of Nature 108:
9(1–8).
Kubelka V., Sandercock B., Székely T. & Freckleton R. P. 2022:
Animal migration to northern latitudes: environmental changes
and increasing threats. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 37:
30–41.
Székely T., Carmona-Isunza M. C., Engel N., Halimubieke N., Jones W., Kubelka V.,
Rice R., Tanner C. E., Tóth Z., Valdebenito J. O., Wanders K. & McDonald G.
C. 2024: The causes and implications of sex role diversity in shorebird breeding
systems. Ibis 166: 560–569.
Cooke S. J., Piczak M. L., Singh N. J., Åkesson S., Ford A. T., Chowdhury S.,
Mitchell G. W., Norris D. R., Hardesty-Moore M., McCauley D., Hammerschlag
N., Tucker M. A., Joshua J. Horns, Reisinger R. R., Kubelka V. & Lennox R. J.
2024: Animal Migration in the Anthropocene: Threats and Mitigation
Options. Biological Reviews 99: 1242–1260.
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Application
Interested candidates should contact Vojtěch Kubelka (vkubelka@prf.jcu.cz).
Applications should include: i) letter of interest (max 2 pages) – describing how the
applicant’s qualifications address the terms of the position as well as explaining the
motivation of the applicant; curriculum vitae (max 4 pages) – including education,
relevant research experience and major achievements; iii) contact information for
at least two references. Three documents in English should be sent to Vojtěch
Kubelka before the deadline. The online interviews with selected candidates will
follow up soon after the deadline. Applicants from all countries are eligible.
Deadline for applications: 10 January 2025.
Position start: Start dates are negotiable but could be as early as March 2025.
Location description
České Budějovice is a vibrant medium-sized city and centre of South Bohemian
region with an international university community. The University of South Bohemia is
the biggest higher education institution in the region with more than 9,000 students,
numerous leading departments in natural sciences and field research stations
at Svalbard or Papua New Guinea. Five institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences
are situated on the same campus, forming the Biological Centre and representing
outstanding cooperation opportunities. The surrounding of České Budějovice has
diverse natural and cultural landscapes, including Šumava National Park, two
UNESCO biosphere reserves and numerous protected areas with impressive wildlife.