Postdoctoral Research Fellowship - Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Services

Type:

• Postdoctoral research fellowship within the research niche of Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Services. The fellowships is a two-year fixed contract subject to satisfactory annual performance. The tax-free stipend is R300 000 per annum.

Introduction

• The University of Limpopo invites applications for one (1) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship position in Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Services. The successful candidate will join a dynamic research team conducting transdisciplinary innovative research on biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, endangered species, and sustainable natural resource management.
• The fellowship offers an excellent opportunity for an early-career researcher to contribute to high-impact research, publish in leading scientific journals, and collaborate with national and international partners. The research will be linked to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals 2, 6, 13, 15 and 16, as well as imperatives of the 2030 National Development Plan.
• The successful applicant will be expected to undertake independent and transdisciplinary collaborative research that advances understanding of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services, while contributing to research capacity development and postgraduate student training.
• The Fellowship commences as soon as possible and is tenable for one year, renewable for another year based on satisfactory performance in the first year.

Qualifications and requirements

Applicants should meet the following minimum requirements:

• A Doctoral qualification in Biodiversity Conservation, Ecology, Environmental Science, Conservation Biology, Natural Resource Management, Wildlife Management or a closely related discipline, obtained within the past five (5) years.
• Demonstrated research expertise in undertaking transdisciplinary research in biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, ecological assessment, endangered species, restoration ecology, conservation planning, or related fields.
• A strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals appropriate to career stage.
• Evidence of quantitative data analysis skills and proficiency in statistical software and/or GIS applications (e.g., R, ArcGIS, QGIS) and qualitative data analysis, such as QDAS, NVivo, ATLAS.ti, MAXQDA and Dedoose.
• Experience in field-based ecological research and biodiversity monitoring will be an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while contributing effectively to multidisciplinary research teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• A commitment to research excellence, scientific integrity, and collaborative engagement.

Duties and responsibilities

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Conduct high-quality, original transdisciplinary research in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services.
• Develop and implement research projects aligned with the strategic priorities of the host research group (cross-faculty/ transdisciplinary areas).
• Publish research findings in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals.
• Participate in biodiversity field surveys to collect quantitative and qualitative data including monitoring of ecological systems and endangered species where required.
• Analyse ecological, environmental, and socio-ecological datasets using appropriate analytical tools.
• Mentor Honours, Masters’ and Doctoral students in research design, MixedMethods Research (MMR) approaches, data analysis, and scientific writing.
• Collaborate with academic staff, government agencies, conservation organisations, and other research partners.
• Contribute to knowledge exchange, policy engagement, and outreach activities that promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable ecosystem management.
• Prepare technical reports and other research outputs as required by funding agencies and project partners.
• Present research outcomes at conferences, workshops, and stakeholder engagements.
• Contribute to the preparation of research grant proposals and assist in securing external research funding.

Expected outputs:

During the fellowship, the successful candidate will be expected to produce:

• At least 4 accredited journal publications over the two-year fellowship.
• Several conference presentations at national and international scientific meetings.
• At least one competitive external research grant application.
• Research reports for stakeholders.
• Contributions to postgraduate student supervision and capacity development.
• Collaborative publications with the host supervisor and research team.
• Participation in multidisciplinary research projects within the Faculty and University.