Professor/Associate Professor (Faculty of Science: Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology) at University of Johannesburg

• The Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology is proud to be one of a few standalone Botany departments at universities in South Africa. In terms of teaching, the Department is one of the few departments offering all the core disciplines of Botany, i.e. Plant Taxonomy and Systematics, Plant Anatomy, and Plant Physiology, both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In addition, we offer applied fields such as Biotechnology and Molecular Biology. Furthermore, we also present Life Sciences to BEd students registered in the Faculty of Education. Our research focuses on several aspects including anatomy, biotechnology, chemotaxonomy, DNA barcoding, ethnobotany, medicinal plants, plant defence responses, post-harvest physiology, plant taxonomy, and systematics. The Department is hosts a SARCHi chair in Indigenous Plant Use and two UJ Research Centres in DNA Barcoding (African Centre for DNA Barcoding, ACDB) and Postharvest Storage and Agroprocessing (Postharvest and Agroprocessing Centre, PARC).
• The appointee will present lectures in Systematics and Plant Taxonomy at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, attract research funding and actively conduct research within the field, supervise postgraduate students and be involved in the ACDB centre administration, Faculty and Departmental administration. Additional lecturing in the field of botany when needed and other day-to-day activities of the Department, Faculty and the Institution.

Responsibilities:

This is a senior position (Associate Professor/Professor) in the Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology. The
successful candidate shall be required to:

• Be capable to lecture undergraduate and postgraduate students in Plant Taxonomy and Systematics and other fields if needed.
• Have experience in directing and developing practicals at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in Plant Systematics and Barcoding.
• Be able to develop course material for undergraduate and postgraduate modules required in the Department of of Botany and Plant Biotechnology.
• Must demonstrate a strong commitment to excellence in teaching and productive research and play a leading role in teaching innovation.
• Be actively involved in core activities of the department including, but not limited to, academic administration, research, short-course development, marketing, and community projects.
• Have proven track record for attracting funding for research.
• Have experience in conducting research, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, and delivering conference papers.
• Ability to perform research, teaching, student supervision and administration simultaneously.

Minimum requirements

• PhD degree specializing in Plant Systematics and Barcoding.
• A minimum of 6 years’ experience lecturing and performing research at a Higher Education institution.
• Proven lecturing track record at the level of Associate or Full Professor at a Higher Education institution.
• Experience in organizing and managing undergraduate practicals and student assistants or tutors for Plant Taxonomy students.
• Proven record of engagement with the scholarship of teaching, an abridged teaching evaluation or portfolio needs to accompany the application. 
• Strong commitment to good teaching and research.
• Experience in post-graduate supervision.
• A good/successful research fundraising track record.
• Proven research track record through publications, talks and invited talks, patents, etc.

Competencies and Behavioural Attributes

• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Good planning, organisational and time management skills.
• Excellent computer literacy skills and experience with the integration of ITC in teaching and learning e.g. LMS Moodle, R, systematics related software, etc.
• Excellent teaching and motivational skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills that support collaboration with others and working as a team member.
• Analytical thinking.

Recommendations:

• Innovative teaching techniques incorporating technology.
• Demonstrated ability/experience to work with a multidisciplinary team.
• Valid driver’s licence and recent regular driving experience.
• Ability to develop new undergraduate and postgraduate modules.
• NRF rated.

Deadline: 25th August, 2024.