We are pleased to announce an opening for two PhD positions at our Institute starting before October 2026.
1 ) Seismological analysis of magmatic intrusions at the Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland.
We are seeking a motivated student to study earthquake swarms and dyke-related seismicity at the Reykjanes Peninsula using advanced spectral and machine-learning techniques. The peninsula has been monitored by the REYKJANET seismic network since 2013, capturing the recent transition from ~800 years of quiescence to repeated fissure eruptions since 2021, and offering unique constraints on magma transport and crustal rheology.
The project will apply high-precision earthquake relocations, non-parametric spectral inversion, and event classification methods to REYKJANET data. The student will develop semi-automatic workflows, analyse spatio-temporal seismic patterns, and interpret the results in terms of magma transport, crustal stress, and dyke propagation.
The student will be based in Prague (Czech Republic) at the Institute of Geophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences and at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at Charles University. The PhD will be supervised by seismologist Jana Doubravová in collaboration with the project team led by Jan Burjánek.
We are looking for a student with either a background in geophysics, physics, mathematics or computer sciences and a strong interest in volcano-seismology, with prior programming experience.
We are looking for the following skills:
- Good knowledge of programming, ability to develop and adapt your own analysis codes (e.g., Python or MATLAB).
- Experience with signal processing, spectral methods, or machine learning is an advantage
- Good command of English
- Strong scientific curiosity and motivation to learn
We are offering:
- To work on a funded project with a transdisciplinary team of seismologists, geophysicists, volcanologists, and structural geologists
- Opportunities for collaboration visits, fieldwork in Iceland, and participation in international conferences
- Opportunity to build an international collaborative network
The PhD study programme has a standard duration of four years. Starting date is flexible but no later than October 2026. To apply, please send a CV, a motivation letter, and the contact details of two referees to Jana Doubravová (doubravova@ig.cas.cz) and Jan Burjánek (burjanek@ig.cas.cz). Please write the motivation letter in your own words, without AI assistance..
Deadline for applications is 28st January 2026.
For more information, contact Jana Doubravová or Jan Burjánek.
2) Numerical models of dyke ascent at the Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland.
We are looking for a numerate student to work on dyke propagation in the Reykjanes peninsula. Dykes are magma filled fractures, which may or may not reach the Earth’s surface. In 2021, after about 800 years of volcanic quiescence, fissure eruptions resumed in the Reykjanes peninsula. The Reykjanes peninsula has been monitored with a network of seismic stations since 2013 providing data on the propagation of dykes and on the rheology of the crust. We are recruiting a PhD student to investigate the conditions for dykes to reach or not the surface and feed fissure eruptions in the transtensional setting of the Reykjanes Peninsula. In a first step, the student will compare geophysical data for events where dykes breached the surface with those where no eruption ensued and test a series of hypothesis to explain differences in propagation, for example solidification, a low driving pressure, stress distribution, or the presence of a rheological trap. In a second step, the student will model the long-term thermal evolution of the crust and determine how this evolution affects the ability of dykes to reach the surface.
The main method used for this project is numerical modelling. The student will be based in Prague (Czech Republic) at the Institute of Geophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences and at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at Charles University. The student will be supervised by volcanologist Catherine Annen and in collaboration with seismologist Pavla Hrubcová and physical volcanologist Virginie Pinel.
We are looking for a student with either a background in physics, mathematics or computer sciences and a strong interest for volcanology, or a background in physical volcanology and a former experience in programming.
We are looking for the following skills:
- Good knowledge of programming; ability to develop their own codes; knowledge of the methods of finite differences or finite elements is an advantage.
- Good command of English
- Scientific curiosity
We are offering:
- To work on a funded project with a transdisciplinary team of volcanologists, seismologists, geophysicists, and structural geologists.
- Travel opportunities for collaborations and conferences.
- Opportunity to build an international collaborative network.
- Live in Prague, a culturally rich vibrant city in central Europe.
The PhD study programme has a standard duration of four years. Starting date is flexible but no later than October 2026. To apply, please send a CV, a motivation letter, and the details of two referees to Catherine Annen (annen@ig.cas.cz). Please, do not use Artificial Intelligence to write the motivation letter, we are interested in reading your own words.
Deadline for applications is 28st January 2026.
For more information, contact Catherine Annen (annen@ig.cas.cz).