Job Description

The University of the Free State (UFS) invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for a postdoctoral fellowship in the South African Doping Control Laboratory (SADoCoL). We encourage candidates interested in pursuing an academic or professional career in interdisciplinary applied sciences, with special research interest in c (both GC- and LC-) and other biological analysis, i.e. immunology and gel electrophoresis. The fellowship will enable an outstanding doctoral graduate to obtain experience of research and innovation at a higher education institution within an internationally accredited laboratory.

The fellowship is awarded on a competitive basis, taking into account the applicants' academic achievements, publication outputs and research potential, as well as the relevance of prior experience and expertise. The fellowship is available for a period of five years, depending on the date of PhD completion.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Conduct innovative research in the following areas:

o Developing cost-effective testing methods for prohibited, illegal and unknown substances.
o Improving existing analytical testing methods and developing new methods for prohibited substances ranging from small to large (peptides) molecules in urine, serum, plasma and dried blood spots.
o Metabolism, longitudinal excretion patterns and identification of metabolites of known, designer, potential prohibited and illegal substances.

• Initiate projects and seek funding for them.
• Provide scientific support and direction to the interdisciplinary analytical groups in the laboratory.
• The renewal of the fellowship beyond the first year depends on satisfactory performance and the submission of an annual progress report.

Eligibility requirements:

• Open to all South African and foreign nationals for full-time research at the University of the Free State.
• Graduated with a PhD degree in a relevant discipline (bioanalytical/analytical/organic chemistry, forensic chemistry/toxicology, biochemistry, or equivalent) within the last five years.
• Experience with complex systems' analysis and dealing with data collection, curation, and interpretation.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Strong background with a high-level of computer literacy and academic writing skills is imperative.
• 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 Bloemfontein Campus of UFS.
• Register and reside as postdoctoral research fellow at the UFS and participate in relevant activities of the School of Postgraduate Studies and the Directorate of Research Development.

Value of the fellowship:

• R 270 000 annual fellowship.
• R 30 000 additional research expenses fund.

Competencies

Application:
To apply, please email the following documentation by 30 April 2024 to Mr Hanno du Preez at

• Motivation letter, including a 1-2 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 record and copy of doctoral degree certificate.
• 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.

Closing date:
30 April 2024

Commencement of fellowship:
1 June 2024

For enquiries, please contact:
SADoCoL Director, Mr Hanno du Preez at , University of the Free State

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:

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.

Additional Information

University of the Free State