Selection Procedures

11/09/2026
Institute of Archeology of the CAS, Brno announces an open competition in accordance with the Act No. 283/1992 Coll. on the Czech Academy of Sciences, and the Statutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences for a position Petrographer.

The Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, public research institution, announces on 9. 11. 2026, pursuant to Act No. 283/1992 Coll., on the Czech Academy of Sciences, as amended by Act No. 420/2005 Coll., the Statutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences and its own internal regulations, a public selection procedure for the following position:

Petrographer

The qualification grade under the Career Development Rules for CAS Employees with a University Degree will be determined on the recommendation of the selection committee, taking into account the successful candidate’s academic qualifications, research achievements and experience.

Job description:

We are seeking a petrographer for a newly created position focusing on the identification and geographical provenance of raw materials used in knapped, ground and other stone artefacts. Primary responsibilities will include the petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical characterisation of stone artefacts and their comparison with reference samples from potential source areas.

The core analytical methods will comprise macroscopic rock identification, stereomicroscopic examination and polarised light microscopy of petrographic thin sections. Depending on the raw material and research question, complementary analytical techniques will be employed, particularly X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF/pXRF) and, where appropriate, magnetic susceptibility measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS).

Responsibilities will also include developing appropriate analytical strategies, prioritising non-destructive methods, selecting samples for more detailed analysis and critically evaluating the results, including the degree of confidence in provenance assignments. Further duties will include field surveys of source areas, documentation and collection of geological samples, development and curation of a raw material reference collection and database, and preparation of scientific publications.

Requirements:

A Master’s degree or higher in geology, preferably with a specialisation in petrology, mineralogy or geochemistry.
At least three years of experience in the petrographic, mineralogical or geochemical analysis of rocks. Experience in identifying the raw materials of archaeological stone artefacts and determining their provenance would be an advantage.
Advanced experience in macroscopic rock identification, stereomicroscopy and polarised light microscopy of petrographic thin sections.
Familiarity with the geology and lithic raw material occurrences of Central Europe, particularly Moravia and neighbouring regions.
Knowledge of the principles of modern mineralogical and geochemical methods, including their capabilities and limitations in provenance determination.
Advanced experience in electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), including the microanalysis of mineral chemical composition and interpretation of the resulting data.
Ability to compare artefacts with geological samples, account for source variability, weathering and surface alterations, and critically assess the reliability of analytical results.
Experience in digital photomicrography, analytical data management and basic statistical analysis. Knowledge of multivariate statistical methods and experience with GIS would be an advantage.
A record of research outputs relevant to the position, demonstrated by scholarly publications. The extent and quality of previous research activity should be appropriate to the applicant’s career stage.
Ability to independently design and conduct petrographic and provenance analyses and contribute to the preparation of scientific publications and research grant proposals.
Knowledge of safe laboratory practices and principles of sampling and sample preparation that minimise damage to archaeological materials.
Proficiency in spoken and written English at CEFR level B1/B2 or above.
Ability to work independently and systematically, a responsible approach, and willingness to collaborate within an interdisciplinary team.
Experience in developing reference collections, access to comparative collections and a Category B driving licence would be advantages.

Place of work:

Laboratory at the Institute’s headquarters (ARÚB), Čechyňská 363/19, Brno, Czech Republic.

We offer:

A part-time position at 0.3 FTE.
A one-year fixed-term employment contract with the possibility of extension.
A start date of 1 January 2027.
Flexible working hours and five weeks of annual leave.
Additional employee benefits, subject to the institution’s internal regulations and eligibility criteria for part-time staff: sick days, a meal allowance, contributions towards supplementary pension insurance and other retirement savings products, subsidised language courses organised by the Czech Academy of Sciences, and a MultiSport card.
A varied research role within an established scientific institution and a friendly working environment.
Participation in interdisciplinary research on prehistoric lithic raw materials, support for professional development, opportunities to attend training courses and academic conferences, and scope to develop your own analytical approaches.

Please send your application (structured CV, cover letter, list of publications, and a brief description of your research specialisation and proposed research) electronically to zakovsky@arub.cz or by post to Mgr. Petr Žákovský, Ph.D., Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, public research institution, Čechyňská 363/19, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic. After the selection procedure has been completed, candidates will be informed by email or telephone.

Closing date for applications: 30. 11. 2026

Application deadline: 11/30/2026