Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (2-year Contract) (Job ID: 5790) at University of the Free State

Duties and responsibilities:

• Conduct in vitro and in vivo trials, i.e., laboratory, glasshouse and field scale, to screen putative disease control agents.
• Assist with soybean and sunflower disease surveillance, diagnosis, and identification.
• Facilitate coordination between collaborators on the research project and related research projects.
• Document and report on research activities and findings through progress reporting, popular media and DHET accredited peer-reviewed journals.
• Data analyses and statistical programming, preferably with R & R-Studio, as well as assisting post-graduate students in learning these skills.
• Supervision of post-graduate research (Honours, Masters, and PhD).
• Identify sources of funding and contribute to the process of securing funds for own/group research or scholarly projects.
• Lead and develop internal networks, for example by chairing and participating in departmental and/or university committees or working groups.
• Ensure connectivity and networking with industry and producer partners, for example producing popular articles and contributing to industry meetings.
• Develop links with external contacts such as other educational bodies, employers, and professional bodies to foster collaboration.
• Undertake national/international visits to establish partnerships and develop soft skills.

Minimum Requirements:

• A PhD degree in Plant Pathology or closely related field (e.g., Plant Science/Microbiology/Biotechnology etc.), with strong training in diagnostics and extension, plant disease epidemiology, and/or disease management, obtained in the last five years.
• Applicants must hold a valid South African driver’s license or an international driver’s licence accepted in South Africa.
• Must be based at the Bloemfontein campus of the UFS for the duration of the fellowship.
• Must be willing to register with South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) or similar.

Competencies

Comprehensive applications are invited, comprising of: 

• A PhD degree in Plant Pathology or closely related field (e.g., Plant Science/Microbiology/Biotechnology etc.), with strong training in diagnostics and extension, plant disease epidemiology, and/or disease management. 
• A letter of motivation, including the earliest possible starting date. 
• An up-to-date CV. 
• Contact details of two academic referees. 
• Record of academic transcripts.
• An example of your academic writing skills, by either providing an article or chapter of your PhD thesis