Přehled
Workplace: Vegetation Science Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic
Thesis Topic: Floristic and Vegetation Changes in European Wetlands
Supervisor: Dr. Flavia Landucci, Ph.D.
Type of Cooperation: PhD fellowship (more information on PhD study programmes at the Faculty of Science here)
Expected Start Date: 1st September 2026
Application Deadline: 5th March 2026
About the Workplace
We are looking for highly motivated graduates to join the Vegetation Science Group led by Prof. Milan Chytrý at the Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University.
Masaryk University is modern, dynamic and the most attractive university in the Czech Republic with ten faculties, more than 7000 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.
The Department of Botany and Zoology is one of the largest and most active ecological departments in Central Europe. It has a long-standing tradition in vegetation ecology, plant systematics, and biodiversity research. The department offers access to modern laboratories for soil and water analyses, as well as well-equipped GIS and remotesensing facilities. It fosters a collaborative and stimulating academic environment through regular seminars, methodological workshops, and an active exchange of ideas. The department also benefits from a broad network of international collaborators, making it an excellent place for developing a scientific career.
The Vegetation Science Group, is an internationally recognized team with extensive expertise in plant ecology. The group’s research focuses on large vegetation databases and data integration, large-scale vegetation classification, long-term vegetation change, ecological indicator values, phylogenetic and functional diversity in plant communities, and the ecology and conservation of European habitats. The group combines strong analytical skills with high-quality fieldwork and maintains active collaborations across Europe.
Description
The offered PhD. Fellowship lasts 4 years. During the studies, the selected student will be involved in the project WetFlorVegChange: Floristic and Vegetation Changes in European Wetlands, supported by the Czech Science Foundation and led by Dr. Flavia Landucci, for 2.5 years. The project investigates short and longterm changes in wetland flora and vegetation across Europe using (semi)permanent plots and species pool data. The PhD student will join an international team of vegetation ecologists and contribute to fieldwork, data preparation, and analyses within the project. At the same time, the student will develop an independent PhD project, thematically related to the broader aims of WetFlorVegChange, that will be carried out during the 4 years of the studies.
The student will have the opportunity to:
- Participation in field campaigns across different wetland types and several European countries
- Work independently and in a group
- Develop strong data management and analytical skills using programs such as Turboveg 2 and 3, JUICE, and R
- Participate in international conferences and workshops
- Cooperate with international research groups and experts across Europe
- Have short stays abroad for specialised training or collaborative work
- Publish in international and highly reputable journals
