Job Description

The University of the Free State (UFS) invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for a postdoctoral fellowship in both the Department of Engineering Sciences (as host) in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health in the Faculty of Health Sciences. We encourage candidates interested in pursuing an academic or professional career in interdisciplinary applied physics, with special research interest in application via High Performance Computing. The fellowship will enable an outstanding doctoral graduate to obtain experience of research and innovation at a higher education institution under the mentorship of established researchers.

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 one year, renewable for up to three years subject to satisfactory performance.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Conduct innovative research in the following areas: interdiciplanary applied physics with HPC support.
• Author/co-author at least three (3) publication outputs per year in the form of ISI DHET- accredited scholarly journal articles or books/chapters in books.
• The renewal of the fellowship beyond the first year depends on satisfactory performance and the submission of an annual progress report.
• Initiate projects and seek funding for them.
• Focus on interdisciplinary work in a group environment in the interface of physics, engineering, and mathematics, in a leading position.
• Translate methods to other interested researchers from other fields.
• Spend time in the different research groups that support the main project outcomes.
• 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.

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 (physics, theoretical physics, astrophysics, applied mathematics, biochemistry, bioinformatics, medical physics or equivalent) 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 Bloemfontein Campus of UFS.
• Experience with complex systems' analysis and dealing with data collection, curation, and interpretation.
• Focused on interdisciplinary work in a group environment in the interface of physics, engineering, medicine and mathematics, in a leading position.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Strong background with a high-level programming language, preferentially Python but MATLAB, R, C++, Julia serve similarly.
• Knowledge of High-Performance Computing and implementation of such environments would be beneficial.

Value of the fellowship:

• R 240 000 annual fellowship.
• R 30 000 additional research expenses fund.

Competencies

To apply, please email the following documentation by 1 March 2024 to Dr Michael Pienaar 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:
01 March 2024.

Commencement of fellowship:
01 May 2024

For enquiries, please contact:
Dr Michael Pienaar at
Senior Lecturer/Med Specialist: Paediatrics and Child Health
Division Critical Care, UFS

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.

The UFS will only consider applications of candidates who meet all the inherent requirements of the position.

Additional Information

University of the Free State