Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: 

Environmental and Social Dimensions of the Bio-­Economy

Applications are invited for a post-­doctoral research fellowship on the bio-­economy, beginning early 2016. The position will be based in the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science at the University of Cape Town, South Africa as part of the Department of Science and Technology and National Research Foundation Research Chair on Environmental and Social Dimensions of the Bio-economy.

We seek an energetic and motivated scholar to join a growing team of researchers working on these issues and to conduct her or his own research within one or more of the following inter-­related themes:

  • access and benefit-­‐sharing, bio-discovery and the bio-­economy
  • biodiversity use and trade, traditional knowledge, rural livelihoods and poverty alleviation
  • seed and knowledge systems
  • governance, rights and the bio-­economy
  • environmental and social impacts of emerging technologies

The tenure of the fellowship is for two years, with the second year subject to satisfactory progress. The value of the fellowship is R240,000 per annum. The fellowship does not include benefits or travel/relocation costs but does include an additional stipend of R50,000 for conference and fieldwork expenses.

Eligibility
1. Applicants must have completed their PhD within the last 5 years
2. The research project must be in one of the identified research themes
3. The candidate should have a strong interest in interdisciplinarity.

Applications
Applications should be sent to Fahdelah.Hartley@uct.ac.za and should include:

1. A comprehensive CV, including names and contact details of three referees;
2. A letter of motivation outlining research interests; and
3. A short research proposal describing the work you wish to pursue during the fellowship (no more than 1,000 words).

Further information can be obtained from Rachel.Wynberg@uct.ac.za

Further information about UCT and the bio-­economy chair can be found at:
www.uct.ac.za and www.bio-­economy.org.za

 

Closing date for applications: 1 July 2015