Researcher (Ph.D. position): Cytokinin trafficking & signalling in plants

Project description:
How do plants decide when to grow, pause, or reprogram their metabolism under stress? In our lab, we explore the “decision-making language” of plants – with a focus on cytokinins, their signalling networks, transport routes, and the downstream developmental and stress responses they control.
Importantly, cytokinin signalling is not confined to plants. Cytokinins appear to be part of a broader, cross-kingdom chemical vocabulary, as several microbes can also produce these growth regulators. Among this project’s aims is to better characterize cytokinin root transporters that may contribute to the communication between microbes and plants.

Key approaches may include:

• Genetic and molecular dissection of hormone transport/signalling modules
• Reporter lines and quantitative imaging, including confocal microscopy
• Transcriptomics and proteomics with integrative data interpretation/model building
• Targeted hormone-related + tracer-based approaches

Tasks and responsibilities
You will:

• Design and conduct experiments in Arabidopsis and barley
• Perform molecular cloning and genome engineering (CRISPR/Cas), qPCR, and work with reporter lines
• Carry out phenotyping, imaging, and hormone-related assays/tracing
• Contribute to transcriptomic/proteomic experiments and integrative analysis
• Present results, write manuscripts, and build a clear biological model

Requirements

Candidate profile (required):

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in plant biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology or related fields
• Solid practical skills in molecular biology and/or plant experimental work
• Good written and spoken English
• Motivation for a Ph.D. and ability to work both independently and collaboratively

Desirable (nice to have):

• Experience with confocal microscopy, plant transformation, or reporter-based imaging
• Basic data analysis skills (R/Python), statistics, or omics/bioinformatics
• Prior experience with hormone biology/plant signalling/transport

What we offer

• Fully funded Ph.D. project supported by a GA ČR grant (basic research funding)
• A project that can be shaped to your strengths, with supportive supervision and international collaborations
• Access to modern infrastructure at the Faculty of Science and the broader LGR environment
• A stimulating research setting in the historic university city of Olomouc
• Employment / Ph.D. enrolment
• Type: full-time Ph.D. student position (typically up to 4-5 years; according to UP doctoral programme rules)

Documents requested

CV in English

Cover letter

Contact details of two referees

Summary of MSc thesis/research experience (optional but encouraged)

Copy of degree certificate and transcript of records (if available at the time of application)

Insert the required documents in electronic form into the application form

Contact person

Plíhal Ondřej, RNDr., Ph.D., ondrej.plihal@upol.cz, +420585634373