Are you an ambitious, goal-oriented and productive young researcher with a relevant doctoral degree of not more than 5 years old? If you are, then this is for you. Three very high-performing postdoctoral research fellowships are available in the SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre at the University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa in 2026 in the following focal areas:
- Environmental microbial genomics with very strong emphasis on bioinformatics and metagenomics profiling of microbial communities (bacteria/viruses/fungi) and antimicrobial resistance determinants. A very strong proficiency in relevant bioinformatics pipelines backed up with publications in this domain in high impact factor journals is mandatory (X1).
- Environmental toxicology with strongly emphasis on surveillance of environmental toxicants and their risk assessments. Outstanding experience on toxicants analytical techniques, including modern GC-MS and relevant equipment handling, backed up with publications in this domain in high-impact-factor journals, is mandatory.
- Predictive microbiology in the water/food/infectious diseases nexus, with strongly emphasis on machine learning, microbiological, ecological and human health risk assessments, systematic and meta-analyses reviews and infectious diseases and environmental modelling, microbial computational intelligence. Quality publications on these subjects in high impact factor journals is mandatory.
The incumbent must be well versed in cutting-edge techniques used in the relevant focal areas mentioned above; be able to produce quality manuscripts for publication in very high impact factor journals; be capable of working both independently and in a team; and provide research advice and mentorship to Masters and PhD students in the Centre.
Minimum Requirements
- A PhD in the relevant disciplines obtained (preferably) in the past 5 years.
- Should have an excellent understanding at the advanced levels of the relevant focal areas applied for.
- Ability to work independently, develop projects and competitive proposals for grants attraction and as primarily a bench person.
- Excellent publication throughput in the relevant focal domain.
- Fluent in written and spoken English.
Application Details
The value of the fellowship is R300,000.00 per annum (tax-free as per postdoc regulation).
The duration of the fellowship is one year with a probationary period of 6 months and renewable for up to 3 years depending on productivity.
The closing date for applications is 31 December 2025.
Interested candidates should apply in writing (by email) to:
Prof Anthony I Okoh,
Director, SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, University of Fort Hare Alice, South Africa. Email: aokoh@ufh.ac.za; and copy the Centre Administrator, Ms Piwe Ntlati (201506704@ufh.ac.za)
All applications must be accompanied with the following
- The Title and Abstract of your doctoral thesis.
- A copy of your PhD degree certificate and other relevant certificates.
- A comprehensive curriculum vitae which must include a clear statement of experience in the relevant focal area you’re applying for, as well as full list of publications; and
- The names and contact details of two referees, one of who MUST be your doctoral thesis supervisor.