Vacant Roles at University of Cape Town

Requirements:

• An NQF5 level qualification plus relevant industry certification (video producing, graphic design or animation)
• Minimum three years’ work experience in creating video and digital media across various software platforms (i.e. creating graphics, video production for film and social media and other formats)
• Strong communication (written and verbal) skills
• Ability to create different types of high quality, creative and contextually relevant graphics, or gaming or
• animation outputs (Adobe suite, Adobe illustrator, Adobe After Effects)
• Basic knowledge and some experience of using generative AI tools for media creation (i.e Midjourney, Vyond, Sora)
• Ability to train and manage students and lecturers.
• Experience of working in a team
• Demonstrate a high level of attention to detail

Advantageous:

• Experience working with DaVinci Resolve
• Knowledge and experience of working in a recording studio
• Knowledge and experience of working in higher education contexts
• Ability to ingest and transcode media
• An NQF 6 level qualification

Responsibilities:

• Support provided for design and production of video and digital media for teaching and learning
• Record, edit and export all media for CILT’s and Digital Media Unit projects
• Studio assistance and equipment maintenance
• Liaise with the video production team, learning designers, students and lecturers.
• Keep track of project information and data
• Webinar training and capacity building support
• Media management and data storage
• The annual cost of employment for 2025 is R433 709 depending on experience.

Closing date: 29 April 2026

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Requirements:

• A Master's Degree
• Five or more years of work experience in the health sciences sector, with a specific focus on fundraising from alternative funding sources
• Strong relationship management and inter-personal communication skills
• Demonstrable writing skills, especially for external audiences
• Good organizational and time management skills
• Project management or project proposal development skills
• Trans/interdisciplinary research fundraising skills
• Ability to handle finances and reporting

Responsibilities:

• Identify funding opportunities for the IDM and coordinate the development and submission of funding proposals.
• Oversee the management of Institute funds and awards, liaise with key stakeholders, facilitate transfers to awardees, ensure financial reporting and audit readiness, and support IDM members in developing non-research funding proposals.
• Maintain an up-to-date database of the Institute's research portfolio and metrics, including research activities, outputs, inputs, areas of expertise, infrastructure, and research impact, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
• Prepare end-of-project reports for funded projects and analyse research and funding data to provide meaningful insights to funders and the University.
• Leverage report data to support new funding proposals and convert annual reports into marketing materials, in consultation with the Research Visibility Officer, ensuring institutional information platforms remain current.
• Identify and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders relevant to the portfolio,
• including university partners, government, private sector, and civil society.
• Contribute to the development of the IDM's overarching strategy, with a focus on the research portfolio.
• The annual remuneration package, including benefits is between R409 214 and R778 783, commensurate with qualification and experience

Closing date: 30 April 2026

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• The Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D) at the University of Cape Town, South Africa is seeking to appoint a Senior Investigator Project Chemist.
• The main purpose of this position is to be the lead chemist managing the process chemistry team, to optimize synthetic reactions for improved processes for the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) using a combination of flow chemistry and batch chemistry methodology.
• The processes will be optimized for increased efficiency, with an emphasis on identifying cost competitive, more environmentally friendly manufacturing processes for APIs relevant to the local patient population.
• The project team will work in partnership with local API manufacturer, CPT Pharma, to establish proof of concept at 1kg level to assess the feasibility of commercial implementation.

Requirements of the job:

• PhD in synthetic organic chemistry or equivalent.
• Publication record demonstrating skill in process optimization.
• 4 years’ post qualification in industrial or research experience in organic synthesis or process chemistry.
• Strong track-record in team-based research.
• Comfortable working in a matrix-based organisational structure.

Responsibilities:

• Research Planning: Develop detailed experimental roadmaps, including timelines, milestones and resource needs for synthetic route development. Perform comprehensive literature analyses and competitive intelligence to identify best practice methodologies, state of the art innovations and relevant precedents.
• Draft project proposals that outline hypotheses, expected outcomes, risk assessments and alternative strategies. Identify technical risks and implement contingency plans for critical path activities.
• Coordinate procurement of reagents, equipment and consumables required for planned studies. Define goals and criteria for success aligned to program phase objectives and funder expectations.
• Research: Design robust batch and flow chemistry experiments to optimize yield, selectivity, safety and environmental impact. Evaluate reaction kinetics and thermodynamics to support scale up decisions.
• Develop purification strategies and troubleshoot separation challenges efficiently. Perform root cause analyses of failed or inconsistent reactions and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate, real time electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) entries, including experimental conditions, analytical results and conclusions. Develop and validate reproducible procedures for handover to collaborators or external partners. Prepare high quality visualizations of data (graphs, schemes, tables) and professional presentations for internal project meetings and engagement with external partners. Contribute technical sections to manuscripts, reports to funders, tech transfer documentation and conference presentations.
• Training & Supervision: Provide technical and professional mentorship to junior investigators, postdocs and students. Deliver structured feedback on experimental design, safety, documentation and scientific reasoning. Develop onboarding guides, SoPs and short training modules for new team members in flow chemistry, batch chemistry or safety practices.
• Participate in internal and external training courses to maintain expertise in modern synthetic and process development methodologies. Present seminars, webinars and knowledge sharing sessions to strengthen scientific culture. Support professional growth plans for junior staff and post docs in line with UCT performance development guidelines. Formal Line Management of Junior staff members
• Operations & Administration: Manage project operations by ensuring the reagents, lab consumable, reactor spares etc. are purchased in a timely fashion in accordance with the project budget. Ensure laboratory space is compliant with H3D and UCT safety standards, including monitoring chemical inventory, waste removal, energy usage and emergency equipment.
• Support internal audits, including ELN reviews and chemical storage checks. Participate in relevant committees (selection committees, operations committee etc.) Streamline workflows by identifying inefficiencies in lab processes and proposing systemic improvements.

The annual remuneration packages for 2026, including benefits, are R 812 303 and R 955 647.

Closing date: 30 April 2026

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• A post-doctoral position is being offered as part of the SAMRC award led by Professor Jonny Peter, Head of the Division of Allergology and Clinical Immunology at Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town and the Allergy and Immunology unit, UCT Lung Institute.
• Post-doctoral supervisor: Prof Jonny Peter

Background

• This post-doctoral position is part of an SAMRC-funded project aimed at improving the diagnosis and management of delayed drug hypersensitivity in TB/HIV endemic settings.
• The research leverages multiomic approaches to investigate the genomics and mechanisms underlying severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCAR) in persons living with HIV, with a focus on first-line anti-TB drugs. The project supports the completion of several initiatives from a broader 5-year NIH award.

Scope of the research

• The successful candidate will contribute to understanding SCAR pathogenesis through multiomic analyses and assist in developing an AI-based imaging method for early diagnosis of SCAR.
• This innovative tool aims to facilitate early detection at the primary care level, enhancing patient outcomes and treatment safety.

Conditions of appointment:

• South African citizens or individuals from other African countries with status or valid visa that allows them to study.
• This is an in-person position.
• 1-year full-time position
• R590 321 pa
• Post-doc will enroll at UCT.
• Postdoctoral research fellowships are only available to individuals who have achieved the doctoral degree within the past 5 years.
• Applicants may not previously have held full-time permanent professional or comprehensive academic posts.

Closing date:  29 May 2026

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Requirements for the position:

• A minimum of a master’s degree (NQF 9) in Economics, International Trade, Development Studies, Public Policy, International Relations, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of research or policy analysis experience, including experience in data collection, literature reviews,
• report writing, and basic quantitative or qualitative analysis.
• Demonstrated understanding of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), regional integration processes, trade policy, or industrial development in Africa.
• Working knowledge of Africa’s development, trade and investment, public policy debates and willingness to expand knowledge and skills is this area.
• Evidence of applied research reports, chapters in books, professional journals, and/or conference papers.
• Experience in managing research projects.
• Strong communication skills, verbal, written and presentations.
• Able to work independently as well as being a team player.
• Proficient with MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Outlook suite and online document collaboration skills.
• Flexibility and ability to work under pressure.
• Experience in working with high-level officials and demonstrating discretion and diplomacy.
• Willingness to travel in Africa

The following will be advantageous:

• Monitoring and evaluation
• Proficiency in one or more of the African Union languages (in addition to English).

Responsibilities:

• Regional value chain research and policy analysis.
• Research planning, coordination and technical leadership.
• Data management and knowledge systems.
• Stakeholder engagement and knowledge exchange.
• Reporting, documentation and administrative support.

The 2026 annual cost of employment, including benefits, ranges between R509 626 and R974 126, depending on qualifications and experience.

Closing date: 30 April 2026

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Requirements for the position:

• PhD (NQF 10) in relevant field (Development Studies/Political Sciences/Sociology/Economics/Public Policy/Instructional Design, etc.)
• Holds a national reputation for active engagement in the research field, making regular and substantial contributions to
• high-quality knowledge and research management over the last 5 years.
• Working knowledge of Africa’s development, industrialisation, trade and investment, public policy debates and willingness to expand knowledge and skills is this area.
• At least 5 years project management experience including project planning and implementation.
• Demonstrates substantial and satisfactory experience in leadership and administration.
• Strong communication skills, verbal, written and presentations.
• Knowledge management skills.
• Able to work independently as well as being a team player.
• Proficient with MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Outlook suite and online document collaboration skills.
• Flexibility and ability to work under pressure.
• Experience in working with high-level officials and demonstrating discretion and diplomacy.
• Willingness to travel in Africa
• The following will be advantageous:
• Monitoring and evaluation.
• Proficiency in one or more of the African Union languages (in addition to English).

Responsibilities:

• AfCFTA Phase II policy research and knowledge production.
• Policy advisory and regulatory analysis.
• Donor-Funded project delivery and research management.
• Stakeholder engagement and knowledge exchange.
• Support programme knowledge management.
• Capacity building and institutional leadership.

Closing date: 30 April 2026