Overview

Workplace: Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Czech Republic

Type of Contract: temporary position with 1-year contract, non-academic

Working Hours: 1 FTE (full-time employment of 40 hours per week)

Expected Start Date: 1. 1. 2026 or negotiable with respect to immigration timelines for non EU candidates

Number of Open Positions: 1

Pay: CZK 30000 per month

Application Deadline: 4. 12. 2025

 

About the Workplace

Masaryk University is modern, dynamic and the most attractive university in the Czech Republic with ten faculties, more than 7 000 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.

Faculty of Science MU, a holder of the HR Excellence in Research Award by the European Commission, 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.

Department of Anthropology at the Faculty of Science MU is an academic, research- and education-oriented institution which focuses on the study of interactions between biological, social and cultural aspects of humankind. We are a modern institution oriented on current trends in education, offering Bachelor’s, Master’s and Ph.D. degrees, consistently with more than a hundred of students in the undergraduate programs and currently with six students in the Ph.D. program. From the very beginning, students are offered intensive training in topics of biological and socio-cultural anthropology. They are encouraged to participate in department’s research projects which contributes crucially to their success in the job market after graduation. The research activities are anchored in the tradition embodying the biological and the behavioral aspect of mankind. Many of our top-tier research projects aim to apply scientific knowledge in practice – emphasis is given on developing methods for the fields of forensic anthropology or on multi-disciplinary collaboration projects which address nutritional status or modelling of human growth and development in childhood and adolescence. The department’s labs are equipped with cutting-edge technologies for 3D data acquisition of human body morphology and advanced biological data processing. In addition, advanced evaluation of nutritional status and other somatic characteristics as well as assessment of prehistorical and historical skeletal remains is conducted in our facilities utilizing state-of-the-art equipment. Currently, the Department of Anthropology includes cca 20 faculty members and researchers who are involved in teaching, conducting research and promoting science. For more information, please visit its website at https://www.muni.cz/en/about-us/organizational-structure/faculty-of-science/314070-deptof-anthropology.

Job Description

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Laboratory Technician to join the Department of Anthropology at Masaryk University (Brno, Czech Republic). The technician will contribute to isotope analysis of anthropological, archaeological, and environmental materials, working closely with an interdisciplinary research team. The position involves sample handling, chemical pre-treatment, reagent preparation and management, as well as coordination of laboratory activities supporting stable isotope, radiogenic isotope, and elemental concentration analyses. The successful candidate will work across two specialized facilities: the wet chemistry laboratory, dedicated to collagen extraction and apatite purification (for carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur isotope analyses), and the clean laboratory, where strontium separation is performed.

Key Duties:

  • Perform chemical pre-treatment of biological and archaeological materials prior to isotope and elemental analyses
  • Prepare and maintain reagents, solutions, and consumables required for isotopic workflows
  • Operate, clean, and maintain laboratory instruments (centrifuges, ultrasonic baths, balances, heating blocks, fume hoods, and clean lab benches)
  • Ensure proper sample tracking, labelling, documentation, and data entry into the laboratory notebook system
  • Implement and follow protocols for pre-treatments, decontamination, quality assurance, and health and safety compliance
  • Manage reagent inventories, waste disposal, and laboratory supply stocks
  • Assist in organizing analytical workflows and coordinating laboratory schedules
  • Collaborate closely with researchers, students, and laboratory managers to ensure efficient day-to-day operations

Skills and Qualifications

Essential:

  • Bachelor’s or vocational training in chemistry, biochemistry, biogeochemistry, biological anthropology, or a related field
  • Basic experience with laboratory work and chemistry techniques
  • High attention to detail, reliability, and precision in routine analytical work
  • Familiarity with laboratory safety practices and handling of acids
  • Good organizational and teamwork skills; ability to coordinate work with multiple research teams
  • Good communication skills in English
  • Team spirit and motivation to contribute to a collaborative research environment

Desirable (an advantage, not a requirement):

  • Basic understanding of isotope geochemistry or mass spectrometry workflows
  • Interest in chemistry applied to anthropological, environmental and archaeological research

Informal inquiries about the position can be sent to Kévin Salesse, M.Sc., Ph.D., email k.salesse@sci.muni.cz, phone 549 49 6950.

We 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/long-term investment product/nursery/children´s group allowance, a financial meal allowance, lunches in canteens of MU, Multisport card, psychological counselling, vaccinations free of charge, discounted language courses, exclusive mobile tariff offer by Vodafone, childcare groups at Campus and Komenského náměstí)
  • Opportunity to work and live in a modern and dynamic city (for more information on costs of living, you can refer to Numbeo)
  • Welcome Office provides support with your relocation to Brno

Application Process

The application shall be submitted online by 4. 12. 2025 via an e-application:

https://www.muni.cz/en/about-us/careers/vacancies/80028

The candidate shall provide following:

  • CV (including education and relevant laboratory experience)
  • Short cover letter (1 page max) explaining your motivation and interest in the position

After submitting your application successfully, you will receive an automatic confirmation email from jobs.muni.cz.

Selection Process

Received applications will be considered carefully in line with principles of the EU Charter and Code for Researchers. Selection criteria: (i) meeting qualification requirements described above, (ii) all required documents provided.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a personal or online interview.

The Faculty Recruitment Policy (OTM-R) can be seen here.

Faculty of Science, Masaryk University is an equal opportunity employer. We support diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Visit our Career page.

We are looking forward to hearing from you!

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