University of Zululand Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

The University of Zululand is a comprehensive university, established in terms of the Higher Education Act of 1997 (as amended) inSouth Africa, with its unique geographic location in the northern part of the KwaZulu Natal Province, where the uThukela River is a tourist attraction, and where the region - being flanked by coastal resources, industrial hub, vast natural resources that include a world heritage site, rural landscapes, mining, and agricultural activities - provides diverse opportunities for research and innovation.

The University offers a thriving postdoctoral research programme, and invites applications for Postdoctoral Research Fellowship positions in areas aligned to its research niches, which are driven by its researchers based in the four faculties, i.e., Faculty ofHumanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, and Faculty of Commerce,Administration and Law. This early-career research fellowship is being initiated to support at least twenty (20) research fellows to become “Elite Research Leaders and Change Advocates”, to advance scholarship that can transform the university into being a Node for African Thought, and to sustain competitive research programmes that respond to challenges that South Africa and the wider African continent face. The fellowship is intended to enhance the research and innovation environment at the University. The goal is to strengthen the capacity of “Elite Research Leaders and Change Advocates” joining the University as fellows by matching them with senior and accomplished researchers working in disciplinary and multidisciplinary fields.

Faculty and areas requiring postdoctoral fellows

The University invites applications for Postdoctoral Research Fellowship positions in the following disciplines:

Eligibility

• Applicants must have a doctorate degree in a discipline /sub-discipline related to the subject areas of the faculty above.
• Applicants must be within 5 years of completing their doctorate degree.
• Applicants must be willing to travel to the host university (i.e., University of Zululand, South Africa).
• Applicants should be young faculty members at a recognised university, including doctoral graduates of the University of Zululand.
• Applicants should have a highly competitive research track record relevant to the opportunity (evidenced in publications),and be willing to work in multidisciplinary project environment(s), have a clear related research agenda focused on African challenges, and keen to develop a strong international standing and research reputation.
• Applicants should have access to readily available research data, or able to collect and acquire such data, to accomplish the main tasks of the research agenda, and commitments and responsibilities during the fellowship.
• Applicants must have good oral and written communication skills, computer literate, and can add value to the academic culture of the University.
• Eligible women are strongly encouraged to apply for these positions.

Core functions

• Lead research programmes in the research niche and work collaboratively with mentor in developing and executing innovative research projects.
• Secure grant funding for research projects and manage grant funding and resources. Build strong research alliance across the African continent.
• Conduct research and publish research results in accredited Journals, write books and book chapters, write policy briefs and engage multiple stakeholders, disseminate knowledge through accredited conference engagements, as well as promoting research practice through internal colloquium, seminars, and workshops.
• Participate in postgraduate student research supervision, and mentorship.
• Report intellectual property discovery to the University, and develop proof of concepts to advance technology-readiness level (TRL) or commercialization.

The research fellowship shall provide an annual stipend of R280 000, per fellow (tax free). The University has a competitivepublication unit remuneration policy which allows postdoctoral fellows to be remunerated for all publication units generated in excessof three units. The University also provides postdocs with limited logistical support for research and conference activities.

The deadline for application submission is on 30 August 2023. The fellowship is tenable for a period of TWO years, starting 01 December 2023, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Enquiries

Prof B Brown, Director, Research and Innovation Office, University of Zululand, BrownB@unizulu.ac.za

Documentary requirements and submission process

All applicants should submit their full application, with supporting documents to Mrs. T Mtetwa, email: MtetwaT@unizulu.ac.za.

Documents should include:

• A completed application form, obtainable from the university website, as advertised under vacancies: PLEASE CREAT A LINKTO THE APPLICATION FORM
• Curriculum Vitae (updated and detailed), showing track record of publications and scholarly engagements
• Certified copies of your qualifications
• Certified copy of your ID or passport
• An outline research agenda, showcasing focus for the two years, and alignment with the university research niche areas
• Patents or other intellectual property owned or generated - registered or unregistered (if applicable)
• Testimonial letter from two referees

Important note to applicants:

When sending your complete application, and supporting documents, via email, make the “subject line”: Postdoctoral Fellowship Application – Faculty of … (enter the name of the relevant faculty where the discipline is based as shown in table above)

The appointment of Postdoctoral Research Fellows is dependent upon the availability of a suitable academic host/mentor.

South African scholars are encouraged to apply.