PhD position: Evolution of Fish Life History Strategies
**Applications until 15 November 2026
Reichard Lab, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences , Brno, Czech Republic; www.reichardlab.eu
We invite applications for one fully funded PhD position to study the evolution of life-history traits in freshwater fishes. The PhD is expected to start in February 2027, with enrolment at Masaryk University in Brno.
The project
Life-history strategies evolve in response to the ecological and evolutionary challenges faced by organisms, but their evolution is also constrained by ancestry and evolutionary history. This project will investigate how these forces shape the remarkable diversity of life-history traits found among freshwater fishes.
The successful candidate will develop a research project within a larger comparative framework, focusing on traits related to reproductive biology, reproductive investment, sexual selection, and adaptation to challenging environmental conditions. The precise research questions and focal traits will be developed together with the selected student, providing considerable scope to pursue their own scientific interests while contributing to the overall aims of the project.
Depending on the student’s interests and expertise, the project can develop in one of two complementary directions:
- Experimental and comparative research
Conduct experiments with fishes to generate novel life-history data and integrate these data into comparative and phylogenetic analyses. - Phylogenomics and evolutionary diversification
Use genomic data to investigate deeper evolutionary relationships and diversification within Nothobranchius, a diverse group of African annual killifishes, and use the phylogeny for broader comparative work.
The two approaches can also be combined where appropriate.
Research environment
The student will join the Reichard Lab at the Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, an international research group working on fish evolutionary ecology, life-history evolution, reproductive biology and evolutionary diversification.
For experimental projects, the student will have access to a well-equipped fish breeding facility, laboratory aquaria and an outdoor mesocosm system, providing opportunities to conduct controlled experiments as well as more ecologically realistic studies.
The project will provide training in modern approaches to comparative evolutionary biology, experimental ecology, phylogenetics and/or phylogenomics, depending on the student’s chosen direction.
Who are we looking for?
Applicants should have an MSc degree in biology, zoology, ecology, evolutionary biology, or a related discipline.
Experience with one or more of the following would be advantageous:
- comparative phylogenetics or evolutionary analysis
- experimental work with fishes
- molecular laboratory techniques
- genomics or phylogenomics
- statistical modelling or mathematical approaches to evolutionary biology
However, none of these skills is a formal requirement. We are particularly interested in candidates with strong scientific curiosity, motivation to develop their own research ideas, and an interest in evolutionary biology.
Funding
No tuition fees will be charged. The PhD will be funded through a combination of a Masaryk University PhD stipend and a part-time salary from the research project. The combined income is expected to be approximately EUR 1,500 net per month, providing a good standard of living in Czechia.
How to apply
Please send CV and one-page cover letter explaining your motivation for applying and, if possible, briefly outlining your research interests to reichard@ivb.cz.
All applications received by 15 November 2026 will be fully considered. Selected candidates will be invited for an online interview, with a decision expected by 23 November 2026. The formal university application must then be completed by 30 November 2026.
For informal enquiries or further information about the project, please contact Martin Reichard at reichard@ivb.cz.
We particularly welcome applications from students who want to develop their own questions within a broad evolutionary framework and combine comparative analysis with empirical research.