Climate Adaptation in Aquatic Ecosystems Postdoctoral Fellowship at South African National Biodiversity Institute

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral fellow to join the Climate and Aquatic teams at SANBI. The successful candidate will lead research to improve the planning for climatic adaptation in aquatic ecosystems. This could focus on freshwater or marine ecosystems or could span both realms, potentially contributing to the proposed Green Climate Fund marine adaptation concept proposal.

Applicants can share their vision of how their postdoctoral research can build upon existing local and or international research and innovate in terms of advancing climate resilience in aquatic ecosystems in South Africa. This work should feed into climate adaptation planning and or spatial planning to support climate adaptation in resilience under the global biodiversity framework.

This could include spatial analysis to support protected area expansion or other effective conservation measures that advance the protection of aquatic ecosystems. Research could focus on literature review and local application or innovation draw from international progress in this context. The successful candidate will be able to contribute to South Africa’s National Biodiversity Assessment.

Requirements

The postdoctoral fellowship is open to anyone who has completed a PhD in the last five years, or who has submitted their PhD thesis for examination and it will likely be awarded within the next few months. Requirements include demonstrated aquatic biodiversity and/or oceanographic knowledge, knowledge of climate change and an ability to synthesise literature and apply this in a local context.

Good writing skills are essential as is a track record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals. Experience with spatial analyses may be an advantage if the postdoc is likely to contribute to spatial planning and assessment, but there is flexibility in terms of the focus and approach of the successful candidate.

Research areas

The main focus of this position is to support climate adaptation in aquatic ecosystems (marine and/or freshwater and/or transitional ecosystems). There is some flexibility depending on the research experience and interests of potential candidates, with scope to tailor the postdoc to be mutually beneficial across research teams. The successful candidate will be expected to work with climate scientists and to work closely with either or both the freshwater or marine biodiversity programme staff at SANBI. There is potential to be involved in both the National Biodiversity Assessment and spatial planning to improve aquatic ecosystem protection.

The work will include interrogation of literature, identifying, sourcing and managing relevant data, collaborating with scientists, and potentially spatial or other planners, to advance planning for improved climate resilience in aquatic ecosystems. The incumbent will work within a small team that networks and collaborates broadly and will be exposed to the exciting array of science-to-policy work that SANBI conducts in multiple realms.

Bursary value

The value of the fellowship is R 350 000 per year and is available until 30 November 2024 with a potential opportunity to extend based on satisfactory performance and available funding. Please note that this fellowship is not subject to income tax, and the university will pay a stipend to the fellow as per their procedures. Limited running expenses may be made available.

University

The postdoctoral fellow may propose a South African University of their choice or work with SANBI to find a host university. The postdoctoral fellow will be co-supervised by multiple SANBI staff including scientists from the climate and aquatic programmes.