Advertising for a new PDRF position - come work with us!
Supported by the Carnegie Corporation Developing Emerging Academic Leaders (DEAL3) programme (2023-2025), the Future Water (FW) research institute at UCT is seeking dynamic and motivated postdoctoral fellow/s to join a diverse multi-disciplinary team working on projects aligned to a recently-awarded research programme entitled ‘Reorienting research, innovation and practice to address future water challenges in Africa (RRIP)’. ‘Water sensitive design’, ‘Resource recovery for the circular economy’, and ‘Integrated water resource management’ are three intersecting research areas that form the basis of our thematic approach in RRIP and at FW, all of which are underpinned by a fourth theme aimed at addressing diverse relations and values around water. Awardees will be asked to align their independent research with the RRIP programme and within or across RRIP work streams. We seek to recruit fellows with strong experience in the engineering / environmental sciences and/or an interest in public and science engagement in the field of sustainable water management, with significant networking abilities and an interest in transdisciplinary research methodologies.
Suitable candidates must have, within the past five years, graduated, or shortly expect to graduate, with a PhD in an appropriate discipline (e.g., civil/chemical/environmental engineering, chemistry, environmental science, (bio/eco)toxicology, environmental health), but they may not have held any permanent professional or academic posts subsequent to the awarding of their PhD. They must have a keen interest in team-based research which focuses on the challenges faced in attempts to alleviate water scarcity, and on means to address those challenges. Candidates will be selected based on research excellence (as evidenced by a strong publication record), a capacity for transdisciplinary, engaged research (including supervision of postgraduate students across relevant disciplines), research fundraising capabilities, and an ability to contribute to knowledge translation and stakeholder engagement work.
Future Water provides excellent skills development and mentorship opportunities for researchers intending to pursue an academic or research career and encourages postdoctoral fellows to become involved in project initiation and development, and the supervision of postgraduate students. The fellowship is tenable for 2 years, and the PDRF is expected to take it up some time in 2023. The value of the fellowship will range between R330,000 and R400,000 per annum; depending on available funding and commensurate with the applicant’s qualifications and experience. In compliance with SARS policy, the fellowship will be exempt from taxation. The successful candidates will be required to register as Postdoctoral Fellows (PDRFs) at UCT and to comply with the university’s policies and practices of the PDRF sector.
To apply, candidates are invited to send a cover letter outlining their interest in the position, CV including research experience, a list of research outputs and the contact details of two appropriate referees (in one pdf file) by e-mail to amber.abrams@uct.ac.za by no later than 16 October 2023. Selection of eligible candidates will be made by the Director of Future Water and a sub-committee drawn from academics in the Institute. More information about the Future Water research institute is available at http://futurewater.uct.ac.za.
The University of Cape Town reserves the right to disqualify ineligible, incomplete and/or inappropriate applications, to change the conditions of award and to make no awards at all.