Professor/ Associate Professor (Faculty of Science: Department of Chemical Sciences) at University of Johannesburg

Job Description:

The Department of Chemical Sciences is an academic unit within the Faculty of Science. The core functions of the department are teaching, training and research. The department is situated on both the APK Campus in Auckland Park, and the DFC campus in Doornfontein, both in Johannesburg.

Responsibilities: 

• Must demonstrate a strong commitment to excellence in teaching and productive research and play a leading role in teaching innovationincluding the use of online tools.
• Be actively involved in core activities of the department such as teaching, research, academic administration, short course development, marketing, and community projects.
• Assume responsibility to teach modules (theory and/or practical) in Physical Chemistry or Organic Chemistry enlisted for the Chemistry undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the Department. 
• The incumbent will be expected to lead curriculum development in Organic Chemistry programmes.
• Annually publish peer-reviewed papers in accredited scientific and/or academic journals, and deliver papers at national and international conferences, commensurate with the level of appointment.
• Actively supervise postgraduate students.
• Obtain research funding from external funding bodies.
• Perform administrative and ad hoc duties as required by the Department.

Minimum requirements

• PhD in chemistry or equivalent, with experience in membrane science for applications in water treatment and purification.
• Must have teaching experience at undergraduate and post-graduate tertiary level (5-10 years).
• Previous involvement in developing university learning programmes, developing new courses, or enriching existing courses.
• Experience in supervising post-graduate students, and evidence of graduated MSc and/or PhD students.
• Proven research excellence and sustained, significant research outputs in ISI accredited journals.
• NRF rating would be a requirement.
• Evidence of community and/or industrial involvement would be beneficial.
• Proven record of engagement with the scholarship of teaching, e.g., an abridged teaching evaluation or portfolio.
• Strong commitment to good teaching and research.
• Sound communication skills in English. 
• A good/successful Research fundraising record of accomplishment.

Competencies and Behavioural Attributes: 

• Excellent written and verbal English communications skills.
• Excellent teaching skills.
• Good planning and organizational skills
• Ability to apply relevant skills in addressing chemistry problems.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to self-manage own research group.
• Strong interpersonal relationships as well as the ability to collaborate with colleagues.

Recommendations:

• Teaching experience, at a Higher Education Institution, at 5-10 years
• A track record of post-graduate research supervision and publications
• NRF Rating will be an added advantage
• Experience in computational science for membrane modelling will be an added advantage
• An h-index of 10 (for AP) or 15 (for P) is preferred.
• Should fit with the current thrusts of the department (Catalysis, Medicinal chemistry, Materials chemistry, membrane science, energy)
• Innovative teaching techniques incorporating blended learning.
• Ability to develop new undergraduate and postgraduate modules.
• Able to teach large groups of students (± 100)