SARChI Chair: Interdisciplinary Science in Land and Natural Resource Use for Sustainable Livelihoods

Application deadline: 22 November 2012

Application: SARChI Post-Doc Environmental Science‌

The Chair is seeking to appoint two postdoctoral fellows. The successful candidates will be expected to participate in all spheres of the Chair and the Department. The bulk of one’s time will be on research, but there will be an expectation of a maximum of three weeks undergraduate teaching and associated marking per year, as well as participation in community engagement activities.

The disciplinary areas required are for social or natural scientists who have completed a PhD within the last three years in the subject areas of resource ecology, sustainable livelihoods, natural resource use, resource economics, or urban ecology, all spanning the broad spectrum of the links between human wellbeing and natural resource use. Whilst there is some latitude in the nature of the projects, priorities for 2013 are (i) a national inventory of fuelwood use, (ii) valuation of wild resources used under contrasting climates and (iii) social, economic or ecological benefits of urban forestry (for further direction in subject areas, prospective applicants are advised to browse the publication lists of the department, especially those of the SARChI Chair incumbent, Professor Charlie Shackleton). The successful candidates are likely to be experienced in of inter-disciplinary research and be enthusiastic about working in inter-disciplinary teams to address environmental and development issues. Successful candidates must have:

• Completed a PhD in an appropriate discipline and topic in the last three years
• Published in the peer-reviewed international literature from their PhD work
• Experience of working in inter-disciplinary teams
• A valid driver’s license

Personal attributes include:

• Passionate about research and building a research career
• Innovators
• Fluency in written and verbal English

Each post-doc position is a one year contract, potentially renewable for a second, and under exceptional circumstances, a third year.

THE PACKAGE

Successful candidates will be awarded:

• a personal post-doctoral grant of Rand 140,000 per annum (or pro rata for shorter periods).
• research operating costs of Rand 50,000 per annum (or pro rata for shorter periods).
• conference fund of Rand 25,000 per annum (or pro rata for shorter periods).
• will be eligible to apply on a competitive basis to the University central funds for additional research funds (up to Rand 30,000 per annum) and conference funds.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested applicants who meet the criteria listed above are invited to apply. Please send a letter of application motivating your interest in the subject area, a full curriculum vitae and the names and contact details of three referees to Professor Charlie Shackleton (c.shackleton@ru.ac.za). The closing date is 22 November 2012.  Applicants may be called for a telephonic or personal interview. The university reserves the right not fill the position if insufficient suitable applications are forthcoming.