Senior Lecturer / Lecturer (Plant Pathology) (One Position) - Department of Plant and Soil Sciences - Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at University of Pretoria/Universiteit van Pretoria

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The incumbent will be responsible for:

• Undergraduate level teaching in plant pathology and basic plant biology;
• Honours level teaching in plant pathology;
• Supervision of postgraduate students in plant pathology;
• Acquiring research funding;
• Conducting and leading research in applied plant pathology;
• Initiating community engagement projects, and engaging in professional development activities.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Senior Lecturer:

• PhD degree in plant pathology or a related agricultural field, with prior undergraduate and MSc-level training in plant pathology or related fields;
• In-depth understanding of basic principles of plant pathology and experience in field-based applied plant pathology;
• A minimum of two (2) years teaching experience at undergraduate level;
• Evidence of postgraduate supervision as main supervisor of at least one (1) graduated Masters student in a relevant field;
• A track record of research in the relevant field published in Web of Science-indexed journals;
• Evidence of successful research grant funding applications;
• Intent to obtain a National Research Foundation Rating (NRF) rating in the next three years;
• Valid driver's license;

Lecturer:

• PhD degree in plant pathology or a related agricultural field, with prior undergraduate and MSc-level training in plant pathology or related fields;
• In-depth understanding of basic principles of plant pathology and experience in field-based applied plant pathology;
• A minimum of one (1) year teaching experience at undergraduate level;
• Evidence of postgraduate supervision;
• A track record of research in the relevant field published in Web of Science-indexed journals;
• Intent to obtain a National Research Foundation Rating (NRF) rating in the next five years;
• Valid driver's license.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES):

• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint);
• Documented proof of own research outputs in plant pathology;
• Proven academic capabilities in teaching and learning both face to face and in an online and hybrid model environment, research and research supervision;
• Able to seek out funding opportunities and successfully apply for research funding;
• Appropriate language and communication skills, both written and verbal;
• Good knowledge of statistical analyses relevant to agricultural research;
• Be able to collaborate with colleagues within and between departments and foster a constructive research dynamic in the discipline.

ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES:

• Preference will be given to a candidate with expertise in field-based and foundational disease diagnostics, and a track record of stakeholder engagement and farmer/grower extension;
• While all specializations are welcome, preference is for expertise in oomycete diseases, nematology, or diseases of emerging crops or natural environments to address national strategic needs and complement existing Departmental and Institutional strengths;
• Relevant post-doctoral experience;
• Evidence of successful funding applications;
• An NRF rating;
• Completed formal university level teaching training programmes;
• Being part of existing local or international research networks and collaborations;
• Verifiable involvement in science-based community engagement activities.

Deadline:27th September,2026