Associate Lecturer.3.01 at University of the Witwatersrand

Brief Description        

Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

Applicants must hold a master’s degree in mining engineering and demonstrate experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Mining digitalisation, automation, or artificial intelligence applications
• Information systems analysis and design
• Data analytics, modelling, or simulation
• Technology adoption and innovation systems
• Smart mining technologies, robotics, or sensors
• The other desirable requirements include mining industry experience, either within the private sector, public sector, non- governmental sector, or industry based projects.
• In addition, candidates must possess strong analytical and problem solving skills, a high level of technical curiosity, and the ability to learn quickly in emerging areas such as digital mining and real time information systems.
• They should demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare high quality research reports, academic papers, and presentations.
• The role also requires someone capable of working independently while collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary teams, and engaging productively with Programme Leads within WMI, industry partners, and other stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• The successful candidate for the Researcher position will support the broader activities of the Innovation and Technology Acceleration Programme, as well as project specific activities, including those of the Real-time Information Management Systems (RTIMS) Centre. The role will involve contributing to teaching, conducting high quality research, supervising Masters students, and supporting both programme level and project level implementation. The Researcher will be expected to work collaboratively with the Project Co-Lead and the entire team at WMI. Specific responsibilities will include:
• Undertake applied research aligned with the Innovation and Technology Acceleration Programme and RTIMS research agenda, including work on mining digitalisation, real time information systems, sensors, AI, automation, and related emerging technologies.
• Support and supervise MSc students by guiding them through their research projects.
• Contribute to RTIMS activities, including assisting with real time data sourcing studies, information management tools development, field visits, mine site engagements, and technology demonstration activities as part of the Centre’s funded projects.
• Contribute to WMI’s fundraising and sustainability efforts by identifying funding opportunities and preparation of funding proposals
• Participate in collaborative research projects within WMI, across the four programme clusters.
• Contribute to knowledge generation and dissemination by producing high quality research outputs, journal articles, technical reports, conference papers, and other knowledge products aligned with programme goals.
• Support programme engagement and visibility by organising, participating in, and documenting internal and external meetings, workshops, seminars, stakeholder engagements, and knowledge sharing events.
• Assist with programme and project coordination tasks, including tracking research progress of students, maintaining documentation to help ensure that research activities uphold WMI and MMP standards for quality, ethics, and operational integrity.
• Conditions: The candidate must be available to assume this role on a full time basis and will be required to be based at the Wits Mining Institute (WMI) at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. This is an Employment Equity (EE) position and will be filled in accordance with the University’s EE policies and applicable South African legislation. The successful applicant will also be required to register for their PhD as part of their professional and academic development.
• Duration: This is a fixed term contract for three (3) consecutive years

Closing date for applications: 24 July 2026