Overview

Bursar of the Faculty of Science, Masaryk University announces an open competition for the position:

Postdoctoral Researcher in Biological Anthropology – Demographic Responses to Urbanization

 

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

Type of Contract: Temporary position with 1.5-year contract, non-academic

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

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

Number of Open Positions: 1                                        Pay: CZK 50,000 per month

Application Deadline: 31. 5. 2026                                 EU Researcher Profile: R2 (Recognised Researcher)

About the Workplace:

Masaryk University is a modern, dynamic and 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 MU is a research- and education-oriented unit focused on the biological, social, and cultural dimensions of humankind. It hosts Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. programs and brings together over 120 undergraduate and graduate students within an active research environment. Research integrates biological and behavioral approaches, with strong expertise in biological anthropology, bioarchaeology, and forensic anthropology. The department provides access to well-equipped research facilities, including an isotope laboratory with dedicated sample preparation, ultra-microbalance, and clean-lab rooms; an osteology laboratory with extensive teaching and comparative collections; and a forensic laboratory equipped with advanced 3D human morphology acquisition systems and biological data processing platforms. These infrastructures support interdisciplinary research and advanced analytical training. The Department comprises 20 faculty members and researchers actively engaged in research, teaching, and international scientific collaboration, providing a dynamic environment for postdoctoral development.

The BITE Brno project, funded by the Czech Science Foundation, investigates the biological and biosocial dimensions of urbanization in Brno between the 9th and 19th centuries through an integrated bioarchaeological framework. It combines demographic, health, and landscape perspectives to explore how urbanization shaped population structure and lived experiences over the longue durée. By focusing on a single urban setting and treating multiple burial grounds as components of a coherent population, the project enables the analysis of large-scale patterns (ca. 1,000 individuals) using complementary state-of-the-art analytical approaches within a collaborative research framework.

The position specifically focuses on reconstructing demographic structures and mobility patterns to better understand biological responses to urbanization. The BITE Brno project invites applications from qualified candidates to support and advance the project’s research objectives.

Job Description:

Key Duties:

• Lead and coordinate the paleodemographic analysis of a large archaeological human skeletal assemblage.
• Perform sex and age-at-death estimation (adults and non-adults) using established osteological methods.
• Apply and/or contribute to the development of complementary approaches (e.g. cementochronology, proteomic sex estimation).
• Work efficiently on a large dataset while ensuring analytical consistency and data quality.
• Participate in the integration of demographic data with other project datasets (e.g. isotopic, paleopathological, and archaeological data).
• Contribute to statistical analyses and interpretation of population structure in relation to urbanization.
• Ensure high standards of data recording, consistency, and quality control across the assemblage.
• Prepare and co-author scientific publications and project outputs within project timelines.
• Collaborate with project partners and contribute to student supervision when relevant.

Skills and Qualifications:

Required selection criteria:

• PhD in anthropology, bioarchaeology, biological anthropology, palaeobiology, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in biological profiling and paleodemographic analysis of archaeological human remains (preferably in inhumation contexts).
• Ability to work efficiently and independently on large osteological datasets.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to data quality and consistency.
• Ability to manage workload autonomously and meet deadlines.
• Good communication skills and ability to work within a team.
• Proficiency in English (minimum B2 level, both written and spoken).

Preferred selection criteria:

• Experience working with large skeletal assemblages.
• Experience with data recording and data management practices.
• Interest or experience in sampling and sample preparation for cementochronology and proteomic analyses.
• Experience with statistical analysis (e.g. R or equivalent).
• Experience contributing to scientific publications.
• Valid category B driving license (for field or collection access, if applicable).

Additional Information:

Czech is not required.

Training in specific analytical approaches (e.g. cementochronology or proteomic methods) will be provided if needed.

Informal inquiries about the position can be sent to Dr. Kévin Salesse (k.salesse@sci.muni.cz).

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 31 May 2026 (23:59, GMT+2) via an e-application, please find the reference to the e-application in the beginning and end of the advertisement.

The candidate shall provide the following:

• A curriculum vitae (max. 5 pages, in English).
• A letter of motivation (max. 3 pages, in English) explaining the candidate’s interest in and relevant experience for the research activities described above.
• Contact information for two potential referees familiar with the candidate’s academic background.
• 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!