Professor: Veterinary Wildlife Research at University of Pretoria/Universiteit van Pretoria

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide visionary leadership to the Veterinary Wildlife Research Centre;
• Develop and lead high-impact research programs in wildlife health and conservation;
• Address veterinary challenges related to climate change, land use change, and emerging diseases;
• Engage with the local wildlife industry to support sustainable and health-conscious animal management practices;
• Investigate and guide policy on animal movement, translocation, and disease risk mitigation;
• Foster interdisciplinary collaboration across veterinary, ecological, and conservation sciences;
• Supervise postgraduate students and mentor early-career researchers;
• Secure external research funding and manage large-scale projects;
• Publish in high-impact journals and contribute to national and international policy dialogues; and 
• Promote capacity building and knowledge transfer in wildlife veterinary science.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• A PhD in Veterinary Science, Wildlife Health, Conservation Biology, or a closely related field;
• A strong research portfolio with evidence of leadership in wildlife veterinary research;
• Proven track record of peer-reviewed publications and successful grant acquisition; and
• Experience in supervising postgraduate students up to PhD-level and managing research teams.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES FOR BOTH LEVELS (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES):

• Commitment to advancing wildlife conservation through veterinary science;
• Ability to engage with One Health concepts while maintaining a primary focus on animal health;
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills; and
• Strategic thinking and ability to influence policy and practice.

ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES: 

• A BVSc or equivalent veterinary qualification;
• Experience working in African wildlife systems and interface disease dynamics;
• Familiarity with climate change impacts, land use change, and emerging infectious diseases in wildlife;
• Demonstrated ability to work across disciplines and institutions;
• Understanding of the South African wildlife industry, including game farming, animal movement regulations, and conservation policy; and
• NRF-rating.

CLOSING DATE: 8 March 2026