Job Information
Organisation/Company: Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Science
Research Field: Management sciences » Other
Researcher Profile: Other Profession
Positions: Other Positions
Application Deadline: 30 Sep 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Prague)
Country: Czech Republic
Type of Contract: Permanent
Job Status: Full-time
Hours Per Week: 40
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?: Not funded by a EU programme
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?: No
Offer Description
The Faculty of Science, Charles University, together with its partners, has launched an international selection procedure for the position of Scientific Director of the newly established Albertov Biocentre. This largest infrastructure project in the modern history of Charles University, worth nearly CZK 5.5 billion, will offer state-of-the-art facilities for natural sciences and biomedical fields. The Biocentre is seeking a global leader to shape the strategic direction of top-tier education and research.
A team led by scientists from the Faculty of Science, Charles University is reshaping the landscape of Central European science and, in collaboration with its partners, is now opening a key position for its future direction. An international selection procedure has been officially announced for the position of Scientific Director of the emerging multidisciplinary centre of excellence – the Albertov Biocentre (BCA). This international search aims to attract a renowned scientific figure to Prague, who will be responsible for shaping the strategic vision, coordinating excellent teams, and ensuring world-class education and research of the highest quality.
The Albertov Biocentre is being established as a unique collaborative project connecting the excellent departments of three faculties of Charles University – the Faculty of Science, the First Faculty of Medicine, and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics. The new Scientific Director will thus head an ambitious institution with international reach. They will work closely with a five-member Board of Trustees and an International Research Council composed of up to 15 international experts. Their task will be to coordinate research across six strategic areas ranging from biochemistry, genetics, and infectious immunity to chemical synthesis and nanotechnology. Alongside integrating the existing excellent teams of all three participating faculties, the new director will have at least 20% of the building's capacity reserved exclusively for establishing and developing brand new international research groups.
The construction of the centre itself on the university campus in Prague's Albertov is successfully progressing with the concreting of the load-bearing structure of the second basement level, with the complete structural frame of the building scheduled to be finished by March next year. Final building approval is planned for 2028, and in the academic year 2029/2030, the centre will welcome over 800 employees and up to 700 students. All of them will be able to use flexible laboratories and shared state-of-the-art core facilities within a modern, sustainable building with a class B energy performance certificate, which utilizes a smart control system and geothermal boreholes for thermal energy storage and recovery.
Job posting for the position of Director of the Biocenter
Where to apply
E-mail: vladimir.krylov@natur.cuni.cz
Requirements
Research Field: Management sciences
Education Level: PhD or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
We are seeking an experienced scientist-leader with international credibility, high personal integrity, and a proven ability to bring people, institutions, and diverse disciplines together. The successful candidate will combine scientific ambition with the diplomacy, judgement, and management experience required to guide a complex university-wide centre.
Essential Criteria:
- A PhD, MD/PhD, or equivalent qualification in a relevant field of life sciences, biomedicine, chemistry, bioengineering, bioinformatics, quantitative biology, materials research, or a closely related discipline.
- An internationally recognized research profile or an equivalent record of scientific leadership in an area relevant to BCA’s mission.
- A clear, compelling vision for building an interdisciplinary research-and-education centre with international standards.
- Demonstrated leadership of a significant research group, department, institute, interdisciplinary programme, or core research infrastructure.
- Experience with recruitment, mentoring, and the professional development of scientific teams, including early-career researchers.
- A proven track record in obtaining competitive research funding or institutional resources, and in building partnerships across academic, clinical, or industrial environments.
- High proficiency in written and spoken English, with the ability to communicate persuasively with diverse audiences.
- A strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, work-life balance, and responsible research assessment.
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience working within more than one national research environment and a strong international network.
- Experience with establishing or transforming a research centre, department, or major core facility.
- Experience with clinical, translational, biotech, pharmaceutical, or data-science partnerships.
- Experience serving on governance bodies such as scientific advisory boards, international review panels, or steering committees.
- Willingness to engage with the Czech academic and public environment (knowledge of the Czech language is welcome but is not a requirement for appointment).
Languages: English
Level: Excellent
Additional Information
Website for additional job details: https://natur.cuni.cz/en/news/11475-albertov-biocentre-seeks-world-class-scientific-director
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: Charles University, Faculty of Science
Country: Czech Republic
Contact
City: Prague
Website: https://natur.cuni.cz/en
https://natur.cuni.cz/en/news/11475-albertov-biocentre-seeks-world-class-scientific-director
Street: Albertov 6
Postal Code: 12800
E-Mail: vladimir.krylov@natur.cuni.cz
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