Head of Scientific Team – EXCELLENTIA: Mycorrhiza Research Centre

Přehled

Academic Staff Member at the Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology

Research Area: Mycorrhiza, Mycology, Forest Biology, Population Ecology, and Fungal Phylogenetics

The EXCELLENTIA – Mycorrhiza Research Centre operates at the departmental level and is dedicated to advancing scientific excellence in forest ecosystem research. It integrates cutting-edge approaches from ecophysiology, soil microbiology, forest pathology, and forest socioeconomics. The team serves as a hub for capacity building, international collaboration, and knowledge transfer, with a strong emphasis on promoting resilient and multifunctional forest management in Central Europe.

The research focuses on how tree species diversity influences interactions with soil, mycorrhizal fungi, pathogens, and ecosystem functions—particularly in the context of climate change and various forest management regimes.

Research activities are conducted at the Masaryk Forest Křtiny School Enterprise, a unique living laboratory that enables long-term field experiments, pathogen monitoring, and ecosystem service assessments.

The team aims to carry out interdisciplinary research that spans forest diversity, plant dynamics, soil and microbial interactions, and ecosystem services under changing climatic conditions. This includes the development and validation of ecological models and adaptive forest management strategies, based on robust long-term datasets and experimental research.

Additionally, the team is committed to strengthening institutional excellence and providing examples of best practices in research leadership, open science, and human capital development through mentoring and international cooperation. A key component also involves supporting policy engagement and stakeholder interaction through active knowledge transfer.

What will be your job role?

• leading an excellent research team focused on mycorrhizal interactions in forest tree species
• developing and implementing the team's strategy and scientific vision over the medium term
• actively seeking and securing funding through national and international research projects
  
  preparing and submitting scientific project proposals
• managing and supporting the professional development of team members (researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and PhD students)
• efficient financial management and coordination of the team's project portfolio
• delivering lectures, practical classes, and field excursions
• supervising, consulting, and reviewing student theses
• publishing research results in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at conferences and seminars

What do we expect from you?

• a PhD in biology or ecology, and the academic title of Associate Professor or Full Professor, or an equivalent academic standing obtained abroad
• excellent knowledge of English for teaching and publishing
• proven experience in scientific research, including project preparation, writing and implementation, academic publishing, and working with scientific databases
• at least 15 years of experience in scientific research
• teaching experience
• experience supervising student theses
• strong managerial skills and the ability to lead a research team

What research experience do we require?

• a minimum H-index of 30 and at least 1,000 citations in the relevant field
• experience in leading or participating in a Horizon Europe project
• experience in coordinating and implementing other national or international research projects

What additional skills are an advantage?

• administrative skills
• knowledge of project evaluation and implementation processes
• active knowledge of the Czech language

What can we offer you?

This position offers a unique opportunity to combine scientific ambition with international collaboration. The successful candidate will lead a team established under the Horizon Europe programme (Project No , with the support and mentorship of a globally recognised scientist in a multidisciplinary environment. Research will be conducted at the Masaryk Forest Křtiny School Enterprise, a research infrastructure that provides access to landscape-scale experiments. This living laboratory enables real-world ecological studies. The role includes active participation in high-impact interdisciplinary research and the opportunity to shape the team's research programme and build collaborations.

Additional benefits include:

• pleasant working environment on the university campus
• Welcome Office assistance
• 8 weeks of vacation
• support for work-life balance
• ITIC card, with which you can avail various discounts
• opportunity to enjoy benefits of the university environment, such as sports courses at the Center for Sports Activities, Consulting and Career Center, Botanical Garden and Arboretum, recreational facilities, libraries, and the purchase of university products (game meat, eggs, beer, wine, Christmas trees, etc.)
• university kindergarten, summer day camps for employees' children

Expected start: November 2025

Employment contract: for a fixed term, until 31 December 2028

Employment: Full-time, 40 hours weekly

Place of work: Brno, Czech Republic

Are you interested and want to become part of the Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management at the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology?

Apply for the selection process by 10 October 2025 and send us:

• professional CV (including Researcher ID, Europass format)
• cover letter
• list of publications (extract from Web of Science)

How do we conduct selection processes?

We look forward to seeing you