PhD Position in Computational Biology

Masaryk University

RECETOX – Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

Deadline: 31 January 2026
Start Date: June 2026 (negotiable)
Type: Full-time, 3-year contract (with possible extension)

Project Overview

The Loschmidt Laboratories at Masaryk University (part of RECETOX) invite applications for a PhD position focusing on machine learning-driven protein engineering. The project, part of the Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network ELEGANCE, aims to develop and validate next-generation data-driven models for enzyme optimization and integrate them into user-friendly tools for protein engineering pipelines.

Research stays are expected at DTU, Denmark (C. Acevedo) and Provolut, Germany (J. Ivanovska). The PhD will be awarded upon successful completion of research and academic requirements at Masaryk University.

Qualifications

Required:

• MSc in Computational Biology, Machine Learning, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, or related field
• Experience with computational tools for protein engineering or machine learning
• Strong biological data analysis skills
• Excellent English proficiency and communication skills
• Ability to work independently in an interdisciplinary team

Preferred:

• Proficiency in Python or other programming languages
• Familiarity with protein modelling/analysis tools (AlphaFold, Boltz, PyMOL, Chimera)
• Experience developing machine learning models
• Interest in computational methods for protein function optimization

Employment Conditions

• Full-time employment (40 hrs/week) with competitive salary: CZK 108,000 – 120,000/month (~EUR 4,485 – 5,145 including social security, health insurance, and tax)
• Benefits include 6 weeks paid vacation, pension contribution, Multisport card, language courses, childcare support, and relocation assistance
• Flexible working hours and occasional home office

Application Materials

Submit a single PDF via Masaryk University e-application system with:

• Cover letter
• CV
• Grade transcripts and MSc diploma (in English)
• Names and contact details of at least 2 professional references

Applications may be submitted prior to completing the MSc degree but employment cannot start before graduation.

Contact: Stanislav Mazurenko, mazurenko@mail.muni.cz
More Info:

• MSCA Doctoral Network ELEGANCE
• Loschmidt Laboratories
• Masaryk University