Chief Researcher: Synthetic Biology Innovation at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About:

The CSIR has a vacancy for a Chief Researcher: Synthetic Biology Innovation in the Synthetic Biology and Precision Medicine Centre within Advanced Chemistry and Life Sciences Division. The incumbent will be responsible to provide technical leadership and give strategic direction in the development of a bio-foundry to accelerate the delivery of products in support of a national drive to localise the production of high-value products for health and other industrial applications.   This position is based in Pretoria, South Africa.

Key responsibilities:

• Support the Advanced Chemistry and Life Sciences Division in developing and implementing a clear strategy in synthetic biology research for the benefit of health and other industries;
• Design and implement an original joint CSIR South African National Research Foundation Innovation Chair in Synthetic Biology program to generate impact within South Africa and internationally;
• Build a sustainable synthetic biology innovation and bio-foundry lab capability, ensuring that appropriate infrastructure and supporting structures are established;
• Lead multidisciplinary teams to develop and execute Design–Build–Test–Learn (DBTL) cycles for prioritised products and processes;
• Lead and deliver technical deliverables that are necessary for design, optimization, and/or commercialization of products/outputs;
• Guide and supervise senior researchers, postdoctoral fellows, doctoral and master’s students, strategically create human capital development pipelines through industry and university collaboration;
• Attract and retain suitably qualified staff to drive the Centre’s programs, and take an active role in the development, mentoring, and coaching of the team, work actively to enhance the diversity of the Centre, and play a lead role in attracting, developing, and retaining talent;
• Mobilise funding resources from diverse income streams to support the Centre’s research, development and innovation programs;
• Lead development of collaborative research and innovation networks with universities and industry partners locally and internationally;
• Drive knowledge dissemination through publication of research innovations in high impact journals, conference presentations, popular articles, and books, and provide thought leadership on the subject matter;
• Lead and contribute to the development of new and adapted technologies for licencing, patenting, and transfer to new and existing industries;
• Manage projects and programs effectively, delivering outputs on budget and time;
• Create commercialization opportunities for synthetic biology innovation through industry engagement locally and internationally;
• Drive joint technology development programs with industry locally and internationally;
• Participate in the national discourse and strategy discussions in synthetic biology.

Qualifications, skills, and experience:

• A Doctoral degree in biomedical sciences, biochemistry, synthetic biology, microbiology, molecular biology or related fields with at least fifteen years’ experience in research and development in synthetic biology innovation, preferably in academia and/or industry, of which ten years should be in managerial capacity including project and program management;
• Advanced knowledge and expertise in synthetic biology, with focus on microbiology, molecular biology, bio-foundry, and biotechnologies;
• Must be an internationally recognized expert, with a strong research, innovation and human capital development output track record, extensive publication and innovation record, minimum of H score of twenty-five (25);

Demonstrated ability to:

• Attract and successfully supervise postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows;
• Implement joint technology development programs with industries;
• Generate IP and to commercialize innovation;
• Mobilise financial resources from diverse funding sources;
• Appointed at the level of Associate Professor or full Professor, benchmarked nationally.
• Good communications and interpersonal skills.