Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences
General description
Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences conducts research in a broad field of experimental and theoretical nuclear physics. The properties of nuclear matter under the heavy ion collisions at high and intermediate energies, nuclear reactions important for astrophysics or nuclear energetics, beta decays of atomic nuclei including the problem of neutrino masses are especially studied. A large complex of nuclear analytical methods based on charged particles and neutrons beams is used in the interdisciplinary research in collaboration with external specialists in chemistry, ecology, medicine, archaeology etc. The research and development of radiopharmaceuticals, especially short lived positron emitters for the positron emission tomography, is performed at the Institute. The department of radiation dosimetry is oriented to the measurements of environmental and professional expositions, metrology, and biophysical aspects as DNA radiation damages.
Key Research Facilities, Infrastructure and Equipment
- The institute operates a large research infrastructure called Center of Accelerators and Nuclear Analytical Methods (CANAM), a center for the investigation of tasks in a wide range of scientific disciplines using beams of accelerated ions and generated neutrons.
- CANAM includes 300 kV-multi purpose accelerator mass spectrometer MILEA. The implemented analytical, characterization, modification and production methods are unique within the Czech Republic and provide opportunities and information that cannot be obtained in other ways and that are indispensable for basic and applied studies in various research fields (such as in physics, materials science, chemistry, biology, biomedicine, energetics, engineering, electronics, environmental science, archaeology, cultural heritage, etc.).
- The department of radiation dosimetry is further equipped with laboratories for pretreatment and graphitization of carbon samples, IRMS, preparative GC/MS, FTIR, stereomicroscopes.
- CANAM also includes Microtron MT25, a cyclic electron accelerator that accelerates the electrons up to energy 25 MeV. In the laboratory conditions, it can simulates the effect of relativistic electron avalanches (RREA) generated in the electric field of thunderclouds.
- The radiation dosimetry department also manages a detached workplace near the observatory on Mount Milešovka, where the complete infrastructure for continuous measurement of cosmic rays and radiation phenomena in the atmosphere is located (SEVAN particle detector, gamma spectrometers, electric field mill, etc.). In cooperation with the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, a number of other instruments are also available there for a detailed description of atmospheric conditions (Cloud Profiler, magnetic field loop antennas SLAVIA, rain gauge, etc.).
- The department is also equipped with drones and cars for measurements in storms. Our group have been using a series of dosimeters developed according to our own design for long time measurements of cosmic radiation on board aircraft.
Contact person
Contact us to know more about our location and work environment. Please use the main contact for questions related to administrative matters. Please contact the supervisors/group leaders of respective research groups regarding feasibility of your research proposal with regard to the research group activities.
Your future supervisors
Oldřich Zahradníček
Oldřich Zahradníček
I finished my Ph.D. at the Charles University in Prague in 2011. My original focus was embryology and morphology of animals and developmental biology. Currently I am group leader of the Radiation Biophysics group at the Department of Radiation Dosimetry of the Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences. The aims of our group include research of proton boron capture therapy on cancer cell lines, biodosimetry and newly also the effects of space conditions (cosmic radiation and microgravity) on embryonic development of chicken. Our laboratory combines methods of radiobiology, cellular biology, embryology, mechanistic modelling and dosimetry.
About the position
We are looking for postdoctoral researcher who will join our research team focused on radiobiological topics.
The Department of Radiation Dosimetry, of which we are a part, can offer key equipment for radiobiological work including e.g., CO2 incubators, an upright fluorescent microscope Zeiss AXIO Imager, multiplate reader, electrophoresis system, and even 60Co sources for irradiation. We have access to various irradiators such as particle accelerators producing photons or protons, confocal and electron microscopes or qPCR as part of cooperation or services.
The applicant should have a Ph.D. in radiobiology, molecular or cellular biology or nuclear physics. Knowledge or experience of cellular biology, immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization techniques, fluorescent, confocal or electron microscopy and statistical methods of evaluating radiobiological experiments will be a bonus for the applicant.
We are looking for a highly motivated applicant who is capable of independent scientific activity, is proficient in solving methodological problems and will be able to work as a part of the team. The applicant should have a publication track record in peer-reviewed journals. Good level of English is expected from the applicant, both in spoken and written form. All eligible nationalities including Czech and Slovak are welcome in our team.
The selected candidate will be based at the laboratory of the Department of Dosimetry, Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences at Řež.
Work assignments
The applicant should formulate a proposal for his/her project. The proposal should contain some of the following topics that are solved in our laboratory:
1) Testing of proton boron capture therapy on various cancer cell lines or at different conditions
2) Biodosimetry – evaluation of chromosomal aberrations in cultured lymphocytes and improvement of the generally used methodology of detection of aberrations by immunocytochemical or in situ hybridization methods. Cross-comparison of regularly used methods and implementation of new ones.
3) Effects of microgravity and increased cosmic radiation levels on biological targets (e.g., chick embryonic development, level of cells damage). The experiments will be done in a laboratory under conditions that mimic those in space.
The proposal may contain several topics from the above. The applicant’s proposal is expected to be innovative in terms of methodology and ideas, and to extend the current scientific capabilities of the group. Good communication and teamwork skills are required. The applicant should be active in networking to create new collaborations with domestic and foreign laboratories.
The expected outputs of the project are high-level scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals.
Kateřina Pachnerová Brabcová
Kateřina Pachnerová Brabcová
I am the vice head of the Radiocarbon dating group and head of the Department of Radiation Dosimetry. I focus on AMS (accelerator mass spectrometer) measurement, data analysis, selected archeological applications and method development in the protection of endangered species. I find my topic to be very entertaining, varied and useful. Besides the research, I supervise students and teach at university.
About the position
The successful candidate will be based at the AMS Laboratory at Řež, Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences. The Postdoctoral fellow will join our research team focusing on radiocarbon dating and AMS 14C measurement. The key research infrastructure and equipment include 300 kV-multipurpose accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) and to-be-purchased preparative HPLC. The applicant is expected to implement and apply HPLC procedures to demanding archaeological and biological matrices to prepare them for AMS radiocarbon analysis.
The fellow may also liaise with international collaborators, e.g. Hertelendi laboratory, Debrecen, Hungary or have the opportunity to carry out secondments in the non-academic sector, in cooperation with our industrial partners, e.g. CRYTUR.
Given the focus of our research group, the expected outputs of the fellowship are high-level scientific publications and collaborative research projects.
Potential areas of knowledge of the applicants that can be a good fit for our research group are PhD in chemistry, biology or in a related field.
Additional knowledge or experience the applicant would be good to have are experience with HPLC, IRMS or AMS, statistical methods applied to biosciences, and written and oral communication in English or Czech.
We welcome keen, motivated individuals.
Ondřej Ploc
Ondřej Ploc
I am the director of the Research Center of Cosmic Rays and Radiation Events in the Atmosphere and the group leader of Mixed radiation fields at the Department of Radiation Dosimetry. I spent two years of the postdoc fellowship in Japan, Chiba, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, and one year postdoc fellowship in Sweden, Göteborg, Chalmers University of Technology. My research focus is high-energy atmospheric physics, radiation protection, cosmic radiation, dosimetry on board aircraft and spacecraft, radiation phenomena in the atmosphere, and hadron radiotherapy. I am a member of EURADOS and ISO/TC85/SC2 WG21 Dosimetry for Exposures to Cosmic Radiation in Civilian Aircraft. At the Czech Technical University, I teach Neutron Dosimetry and Cosmic Radiation and also supervise PhD students.
About the position
The successful candidate will be based at the Department of Radiation Dosimetry.
The Postdoctoral fellow will join the research team CRREAT that is focused on high-energy atmospheric physics and that is working to find solutions to different challenges in the field of elementary research of ionizing radiation originated in thunderstorms. The key research infrastructure and equipment of this research group include SEVAN – huge particle detector placed at the observatory Milesovka, network of gamma spectrometers GASTRON (Gamma Spectrometry of Thunderstorm Radiation Observatory Network) placed on European high-mountain observatories and at low altitudes in Czechia and Japan, large muon detector composed of several tens of strip detectors, electric field mills, high-speed cameras, magnetic loop antennas, car equipped for chasing the thunderstorms, special drones for harsh weather conditions etc. Also, the electron accelerator Microtron, that can accelerate electrons up to 25MeV will be available for testing the methods.
The fellow may also liaise with international collaborators through international secondments, e.g. ASTRON Science that operates the LOFAR system and The Institute of Experimental Physics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Kosice, Slovakia, that operates the observatory on Lomnicky Stit in High Tatras.
Given the main focus of our research group, the expected outputs of the fellowship are high-level scientific publications, new collaborative research projects, etc.
Potential areas of knowledge of the applicants that can be a good fit for our research group: PhD in plasma physics, lightning physics, nuclear physics or in a related field. Additional knowledge or experience the applicant would be good to have: programming in Python, statistical methods applied to high energy physics, etc.
Personal characteristics good to have: work and think independently with a proactive attitude, prone to team building and problem solving, etc.
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