Clinical Scientist - Research Professor (AC.05.3) at University of the Witwatersrand

Brief Description        

• Research Professor in The Faculty of Health Sciences (fixed-term, 5 years, renewable based on performance) - AC04/AC05.
• The Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, seeks to appoint a Research Professor/Senior Clinician Scientist. The focus of the researcher  can be in any of the following fields:
• Cardiology with special focus on Hypertension and Cardiovascular Prevention.
• Endocrinology with a special focus on Obesity and Diabetes.
• Immunology, with a focus on cellular immunity in relation to infectious diseases or more broadly.
• Lung disease: including focus on childhood and/or adult acute or chronic respiratory diseases.
• Oncology, preferably with a focus on nexus of Cancer and Infectious Diseases.
• Maternal and Child Health including focus on addressing stillbirths and premature labour.
• Infectious Diseases: including focus on antimicrobial resistance and hospital acquired infections; emerging infections and pandemic threats.
• In addition, applicants who are involved in research, excluding HIV and TB, on other health-care priorities in South Africa will be considered 
• The focus of the Position is to strengthen leadership in clinical research and teaching (undergraduate and post-graduate level).

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• In the consideration of applications for the professorship, the main emphasis will be on the applicant's ability to document a high level of original scientific work at an international level within their field of expertise.

The professor’s responsibilities will primarily consist of:

• Research in the field of expertise, including publication/academic dissemination.
• Research leadership, including guidance and supervision of PhD and Masters of Medicine students and other researchers, including Joint staff employed by the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH).
• Teaching of under-graduate and post-graduate students (maximum of 15% effort).

Academic assessments

The position is open to internal and external applicants.

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Applicants must hold a specialist degree in their relevant field of study. A sub-specialty qualification will be preferable. A PhD although not essential, will be given appropriate weight.                         
• Applicants must be at the level of or meet the requirements to be appointed at least at the level of  associate professor based on Faculty Staffing and Promotion criteria
• South African based applicants should be registered by the Health Professional Council of South Africa. Non-South Africans will be considered, although will be exempt from patient service.
• Applicants should be eligible for appointment at the level of a Full Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand (or on track to be promoted within a three-year period).
• The criteria (research, teaching, societal impact, organisational contribution, external funding and leadership) for eligibility of a Personal or Research Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand is available here:   Promotion Criteria.pdf

Furthermore, each applicant must be able to:

• Document a high degree of original academic production at an international level, including considerable contributions to the development of the academic discipline.
• Manage research and other management functions, e.g. engage in the university’s external academic activities, as well as knowledge and technology transfer
• Provide research-based teaching.
• The candidate is also required to possess good interpersonal and exceptional communicative skills.

Deadline: 14th July, 2025