Internship: Social-Ecological Systems Research

1 Year Contract Position

The CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) is a leading scientific and technology research organisation, implementing projects throughout Africa and making a difference in people’s lives. Stellenbosch University is amongst South Africa’s leading tertiary institutions, and is recognised internationally as an academic institution of excellence.

About the job:

This position forms part of a newly established collaboration between Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service Research Group at the CSIR and the Centre for Complex Systems in Transition (CST) at Stellenbosch University. The Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services research group are focussed on ecosystem service assessment, social-ecological systems analysis, spatial planning and analysis for ecosystem management, multifunctional landscape design, and building resilience under conditions of global change. This is a vibrant interdisciplinary group with extensive national and international collaborative networks. The Complex Systems Transition (CST) aims to provide research-based foresight on the dynamics of global environmental and societal change, and how transitions to sustainable social-ecological systems may be achieved, specifically in the southern African context. The CST builds on a strong history of transdisciplinary research and complexity studies, and hosts several leading international scientists and a vibrant group of students from diverse disciplinary backgrounds.

The incumbent:

The incumbent should have a keen interest in sustainability issues, the ability to integrate across disciplines. They should enjoy working collaboratively across different disciplines on actionable science. They should be interested in developing a research career focussed on understanding topics such as complex social-ecological systems, biodiversity and ecosystem services, risk and resilience, co-learning and actionable science, traps and transformations, resilience, regime and paradigm shifts in society.

Key responsibilities:

  • Perform research tasks within the fields of social ecological systems, biodiversity and change
  • This includes the manipulation and analysis of large scale datasets with many of these containing spatial data
  • Develop research proposals and report writing
  • Assist with collaborative meetings and events

Requirements:

  • An Honours degree (preferably Masters) in an area related to social ecological systems analysis with an interest of pursuing a Masters or Doctoral degree in similar or same field.
  • Analytically and numerically astute in analysing either environmental or social dataset.
  • Understanding of spatial analysis and mapping, and manipulation and use of large datasets in conducting qualitative empirical research
  • Self-motivated, with good communication skills, and interest in working in an applied research environment across disciplines.

 

Should you meet the above requirements, please email your CV to jobapplications@csir.co.za with your name and surname, position title and reference number on the subject line, (e.g. John Smith: Financial Administrative Officer: Reference No: 306120).

Closing date: 13 March 2016

PLEASE NOTE THAT FEEDBACK WILL BE GIVEN TO SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES ONLY.

For more info, please contact CSIR Recruitment Centre on 012 841 4774 or email us at Recruitmentinfo@csir.co.za

 

Download the official advert here.

 

The CSIR is a responsible employer; we have put measures in place to ensure that equity is implemented such that it best serves the interests of the organisation and South Africa as a whole. This speaks to the CSIR’s commitment to the Employment Equity Act of 1998. By applying for this position at the CSIR, the applicant understands, consents and agrees that the CSIR may solicit a credit and criminal report from a registered credit bureau and/or SAPS (in relation to positions that require trust and honesty and/or entail the handling of cash or finances) and may also verify the applicant’s educational qualifications and employment history. The CSIR reserves the right to remove the advertisement at any time before the stated closing date and it further reserves the right not to appoint if a suitable candidate is not identified.