JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOW @ CSAG (UCT)

Description

Applications are invited for the post of Junior Research Fellow (JRF), based in the Climate System Analysis Group (CSAG) at the University of Cape Town (UCT). The position is offered as part of a broader JRF program by UCT which seeks to increase research productivity and strengthen the career-path of a next generation of researchers who are nurtured and well-networked into a community of scholars able to work in an interdisciplinary context.

The JRF is an exciting opportunity for an early career climate researcher to establish and advance their career through mentoring, and by benefitting from the opportunities of engaging with a world class research team that has broad international exposure.

The research focus of the JRF is grounded in the physical climate system, particularly the regional expressions of global climate variability and change in relation to the context of societal vulnerability, development, and adaptation challenges. CSAG offers a unique supportive research environment, and the JRF will be mentored to develop unique personal research foci aligned with the multiplicity of regional and international projects undertaken by CSAG.

The successful candidate will be helped to develop their own research programme within the broad scope of the physical climate research in CSAG. Potential areas of focus include:

Developing actionable climate information for stakeholder real world adaptation actions
Understanding regional climate process responses to global climate change
Understanding the contrasting climate change projections from different modelling sources
Climate change and regional climate extremes
Regional climate modelling in a cloud computing environment, including CORDEX
Climate change impacts on wind energy potential at regional scales
Developing seasonal climate projections for wind energy producers
Understand the regional climate implications of solar geoengineering

Terms of appointment

The JRF will be appointed on a three-year fixed term contract with annual renewal subject to satisfactory performance. If the JRF is able to generate new salary funding through research proposals, then the position may be extended beyond 3 years.

The annual cost of employment, including benefits is R645 000 per annum for three years.

Requirements for the position

All applicants must have a PhD with a minimum experience of 2 years as a postdoctoral research fellow in a relevant research area. In the absence of this, and only with strong motivating reasons, could the 2-year requirement be waived.
Applicants may not hold other primary income that commits them to other activities or institutions.
As per the intentions of the JRF programme, applicants should be from under-represented and previously disadvantaged groups in South Africa (i.e. African, Coloured, or Indian).
Preference will be given to applicants who are South Africa citizens.

Responsibilities of the JRF

In line with the intentions of the JRF programme to further the career of junior researchers, the JRF will be expected to (with mentorship):

Develop their own research project to complement the CSAG research activities
Produce at least one planned research output per annum, linked to the research project.
Engage as a team member in the broader research activities of CSAG.
By the end of the first year, develop and submit a research proposal to a funding agency.
Involvement in postgraduate co-supervision is encouraged, provided it advances the independence of the Junior Research Fellow and is not at the detriment of the research.
At least 80% of time should be on conducting research.

To apply, please e-mail the below documents in a single pdf file to Ms Natasha Khan at recruitment06@uct.ac.za

UCT Application Form (download at http://forms.uct.ac.za/hr201.doc)
Motivation letter, and
Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Please ensure the title and reference number are indicated in the subject line.

An application which does not comply with the above requirements will be regarded as incomplete. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and may be required to undergo a competency test.

Telephone: 021 650 3469
Website: www.csag.uct.ac.za
Reference number: E230323
Closing date: 22 September 2023

Downloadable

SCI_E230323_JRF_CSAG_EGS.pdf

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