Researcher: Quantitative Anatomical and Chemical Properties of Wood (Post Level 8) - Ref. AW03/156/0626 at Stellenbosch University

Duties/Pligte

• Leading innovative research in quantitative wood anatomy and wood chemistry, focusing on xylogenesis and wood formation processes in Eucalyptus.
• Publishing research results in internationally recognised, peer-reviewed journals and presenting the results at national and international conferences.
• Recruiting and supervising postgraduate students at MSc and PhD levels.
• Attracting third-stream funding through grant applications and collaborations. 
• Developing and strengthening regional, national and international research networks and collaborations with academic institutions and the forestry industry.
• Participating in academically relevant activities as required by the Chair/ Department or Faculty.

Job Requirements/Pos Vereistes

• PhD in a relevant field, including Natural Science or a bioscience such as Plant Physiology, Microbiology or Molecular Biology, with a strong focus on plant or tree performance, ecophysiology, plant anatomy and/or plant-environment interactions.
• Demonstrated experience, together with evidence of specialised training, in quantitative wood anatomy (QWA), and advanced techniques relevant to plant anatomy research, particularly confocal Raman microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and quantitative image analysis.
• A minimum of five years' postdoctoral and/or relevant professional experience within forestry, plant physiology or related research environments.
• Proven experience in establishing, coordinating and managing large-scale field and nursery trials, including sensor-based monitoring systems, dataloggers and ecophysiological instrumentation.
• Experience in supervising and mentoring postgraduate students and providing practical instruction at undergraduate level.
• Proven track record of preparing research outputs, peer-reviewed publications, technical reports and funding reports for research stakeholders and funders.
• Demonstrated experience in securing external research funding, grants, collaborative training opportunities and/or industry-supported research initiatives.
• Evidence of collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and the development of national and international research partnerships. 

Recommendation/Aanbeveling

• Experience in the quantification plant growth hormones and sound knowledge of how these impact wood formation and growth.
• Familiarity with institutional and research administration systems such as STEMLearn, SUNFin, SUNStudent, TeraTerm or equivalent systems will be advantageous.
• Membership of recognised professional or scientific societies relevant to forestry, wood anatomy, plant sciences or microscopy.
• The ability to communicate effectively in both English and Afrikaans will be advantageous. 
• Experience in project administration, budgeting, procurement and financial tracking linked to externally funded research projects.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with students, technical staff, academic colleagues, industry partners and international collaborators.

Closing Date10-Jul-2026