Job Description

The University of the Free State (UFS) invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Sustainable Food Systems and Development. Candidates interested in pursuing an academic or professional career in (research) the transformation of food systems through smart agro-processing are encouraged to apply. The theme of the research chair is "Innovative Agro-processing for Climate-smart Food Systems", with a particular research interest in the nixtamalization of maize and sorghum.Innovative agro-processing technologies could transform the food system and increase food security. However, it depends on the consumer's willingness to adopt and embrace new products and techniques. Innovations in new product development must be consumer-led and market-orientated to truly impact and transform communities in the face of climate change.The fellowship will enable an outstanding doctoral graduate to lead innovative research projects, as well as research dissemination (scientific publications, conference presentations) as part of the ARC/UFS Chair in the Department of Sustainable Food Systems under the mentorship of Dr Alba du Toit (UFS), Prof. Wilna Oldewage (UFS), Prof. Johan van Niekerk (UFS) and Dr Sonja Venter (ARC).The fellowship shall be awarded competitively, considering the applicant's academic achievements, publication outputs and research potential, and the relevance of prior experience and expertise. The fellowship is available for one year renewable for up to three years, subject to satisfactory performance.Duties and responsibilities:
Design, initiate, lead and implement a project that benefits predominantly women from low-income, rural communities or emerging farmers.
Supervise PhD, Masters and honours students to collaborate with the project, assist in the research design, ethical clearance, proposals and implementation of research projects, and preparing theses/dissertations.
Investigate, identify, draft and submit funding proposals.
Conduct quantitative and qualitative consumer-led research that involves innovative product development, sensory evaluation, farmer and consumer training and other strategic intervention strategies.
Analyse data statistically to demonstrate patterns, trends and relationships.
Author/co-author at least three (3) publication outputs per year in the form of DHET-accredited scholarly journal articles or books/chapters in books.
Assist in lecturing under and post-graduate modules and offering support to students through mentoring, coaching, advising and motivating.
Participate in international and national conferences, presenting original research through oral and poster presentations.
Register and reside as a postdoctoral research fellow at the UFS and participate in relevant activities of the Centre for Graduate Support and the Directorate of Research.
Prepare and submit an annual progress report. The renewal of the fellowship beyond the first year depends on satisfactory performance, as evidenced in the annual progress report.Job Requirements:Eligibility criteriaOpen to all South African and foreign nationals for full-time research at the University if the Free State.
Graduated with a PhD degree in a relevant discipline within the last five years.
Successful applicants may not hold full-time salaried employment during the fellowship.
Successful applicants must be able to relocate to the UFS for the duration of the fellowship. This is a residential fellowship: the successful applicant is required to spend 80% of her/his postdoctoral period at the UFS.Recommendation:
A valid drivers licence.To apply, please email the following documentation by 30 August 2024 to Dr Alba du Toit (dutoita1@ufs.ac.za)Motivation letter, including a 12-page outline of relevant expertise and experience
Full CV including a list of research publications, conference papers and other scholarly output
Full transcripts of academic records and copy of doctoral degree certificate, certified within the last two months
Copy of PhD thesis or sample publications
Copy of ID document (or copy of passport in the case of foreign applicants)
Contact details of two academic referees who have taught/supervised the candidate and one professional reference.Value of the fellowship:
R 270,000 annual fellowship.
R30,000 additional research expenses fund.Closing date:
30 August 2024Commencement of fellowship:
10 January 2025For enquiries, please contact:
Dr Alba du Toit @ dutoita1@ufs.ac.za .General:
The UFS is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity, and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups including candidates with disabilities. Our Employment Equity Policy is available at: EEA13_EE Plan UFS 1 March 2022 (003).pdf
The University processes personal information in line with its obligations under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and any personal information provided to the University will be treated as confidential and processed in accordance with the rights provided to data subjects under POPIA.The University reserves the right not to fill the post. The UFS will only consider applications of candidates who meet all the inherent requirements of the position. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. Should you not be contacted within six weeks of the closing date for applications, you may assume that your application was unsuccessful.

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