OPEN CALL: Two Full-Time Postdoctoral Fellowships Starting January 2023
The University of the Free State-Next Generation Sequencing (UFS-NGS; https://ufs-ngs.org.za/) Unit has two Postdoctoral Fellowships opportunities (full-time) in Medical/Molecular Virology/related disciplines and in Bioinformatics. These opportunities are open to talented, hard-working, and motivated applicants to be attached in an exponentially growing next generation sequencing facility to provide research expertise and add value to the ongoing and newly projected research and service engagements. The award must be taken up in January 2023.
The fellowship is targeted at: 1) early career researchers; 2) under the age of 40; 3) not in full-time academic employment; and 4) within five years of having completed a PhD. The successful applicant will be expected to live in Bloemfontein, South Africa when not conducting fieldwork. The annual stipend is ZAR 250,000.00 (non-taxable) which includes ZAR 30, 000.00 towards research expenses. The stipend is paid quarterly. Upon showing exceptional skills in performance and delivery, this amount will be negotiated and adjusted accordingly, as will be agreed between the research fellow and the supervisor.
Applicants are expected to undertake research and publish on applications of Virology (especially enteric and respiratory virome) and other related disciplines on sequence molecular data, with the opportunity to expand the portfolio to human genetics in the near future. They will also contribute to the research activities of the UFS-NGS Unit and Division of Virology. Successful candidates will be expected to apply for external funding towards expanding the scope of the UFS-NGS Unit automation needs and in organising and attending relevant workshops and local and international conferences.
Applicants must: 1) hold a PhD degree awarded in the last five years in the Medical Virology, Microbiology, Genetics, Biostatistics; 2) normally be under 40 years of age; 3) have prior experience of presenting research papers at conferences and/or seminars; 4) have some organizational or administrative experience, for example organizing webinars and hybrid conferences; and 5) work closely with the incumbent and collaborating staff, post-doc and postgraduate students within the UFS-NGS Unit. Ideally applicants will already have had papers prepared and/or accepted for publication with a reputable publisher.
All applications should be emailed to Prof. Martin Nyaga at: nyagamm@ufs.ac.za with the following supporting documents: 1) CV, 2) letter of motivation, 3) publications and research plan, 4) copy of passport or ID document, 4) letters from two academic referees (one referee must be your lead PhD supervisor).
All applicants will be notified within four weeks of applying, whether successful or otherwise.
Closing date: Open till filled.
