The Faculty of Science at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic, announces an open competition for one postdoc position in modelling the impacts of soil pollution on soil ecosystem services.

This is a full-time, temporary position, with a 1-year contract (with possible extension), to start 1.7.2025 (or negotiable with respect to immigration timelines for non-EU candidates).

The Workplace

Masaryk University is modern, dynamic and the most attractive university in the Czech Republic with ten faculties, more than 6500 staff and 33 000 students, a wide range of research areas and a strong international position. We are the largest academic employer in the South Moravian Region.

The Faculty of Science MU, is a research-oriented faculty, offering university education (Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degree programs) closely linked to both primary and applied research and high school teaching of the following sciences: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Earth sciences. We are the most productive scientific unit of the Masaryk University generating around 40 % of MU research results.

RECETOX focuses on interdisciplinary research and education in the area of Environment & Health, studying toxic compounds and their behavior, transport & bioaccumulation to evaluate environmental effects, assess the exposure and health risks to humans, and develop technologies and biotechnologies to break them down.

Job Description

They are searching for an experienced, innovative, independent and highly motivated scientist for the research topic “Modelling the impacts of soil pollution on soil ecosystem services”. The topic focuses on ecosystem services, soil ecotoxicology, soil contamination, and ecological risk assessment. The work will focus on metals, pesticides, microplastics, PFAS and nutrients.

The major task of the researcher will be the translation of known pollution-biota interactions into ecosystem services distortions, the development of the mathematical models for that, and the calculation of impacts in various real use cases and different scenarios. It will be needed to consolidate current knowledge into the following nexus: the effects of defined pollutants on soil biota ==> the roles of that biota in soil functions ==> the connection of these functions to ecosystem services. This  sequence will need to be modelled, and the dependencies quantified to enable modelling of the soil pollution – ecosystem services relationships.

The researcher will be supported to visit relevant conferences, training, and scientific stays and to prepare side projects to improve the scientific career.

The position is open within the international collaborative Horizon Europe project SOILPROM, with the main aim to deliver upgraded and integrated models for pollutant transport and fate that assess the impact of soil pollution on soil functions and related ecosystem services.

The project team at RECETOX will consist of a new researcher at RECETOX hired via this call (a major researcher fully focused on the project tasks), a new PhD student, and, optionally, an undergraduate student. The team will be supervised and coordinated by Prof. Jakub Hofman.

Key Duties:

• Producing the project milestones and deliverables
• Participating in the project meetings
• Collaborating with all project partners across the work packages
• Publishing the results and presenting them at international conferences

Skills and Qualifications

• Ph.D. certification in the area of ecotoxicology and/or ecology and/or environmental sciences or closely related disciplines
• Previous sufficient experience and praxis in all of the following areas:
  • ecotoxicology and/or ecology and/or environmental sciences;
  • ecosystem services;
  • risk assessment;
  • ecological/environmental data analysis and modelling;
  • programming in R
• Previous focus on soil is beneficial but not a condition
• Enthusiasm and eagerness to gain insight into the research topic
• Independence, creativity and innovative spirit to develop novel tools and concepts
• Experience and high motivation to present and publish scientific results
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal English communication and teamwork skills

Informal inquiries about the position can be sent to Prof. Jakub Hofman, email: Jakub.hofman@recetox.muni.cz

They Offer

• An interesting job in a dynamically expanding university area
• Flexible working hours and occasional home office to support personal needs in family and career compatibility
• Employee benefits such as 6 weeks of paid vacation per year, pension insurance contribution or nursery/children´s group allowance, a financial meal allowance, lunches in canteens of MU, Multisport card, vaccinations free of charge, discounted language courses, exclusive mobile tariff offer by Vodafone, childcare groups
• Opportunity to work and live in a modern and dynamic city 
• Welcome Office provides support with your relocation to Brno
• 55 000 – 65 000 CZK

Application Process

Submit the application online by 30.4.2025 via an e-application, providing the following:

• CV
• Cover letter describing candidate’s research interest and experience
• Summary of research outputs and publications
• Names and contact details of at least 2 professional references.

After submitting your application successfully, you will receive an automatic confirmation email from jobs.muni.cz. In case of problems with filling in the e-application form, please contact us by e-mail: rcx-hr@recetox.muni.cz.