Duration: 9-12 months (starting February 2019 subject to funding being made available through the Danish International Development Agency)
Details: The Centre for Water Resources Research (CWRR) would like to appoint a full-time, researcher to assist on a collaborative project between the University of Kwazulu-Natal, University of Cape Town, University of Copenhagen, and the University of Stellenbosch on a 2-year project titled: “Socio-economic benefits of investing in ecological infrastructure”.
Job Description: A stand-in researcher is needed to replace a postdoctoral researcher for the start of a 2-year DANIDA-funded project creating an opportunity for a research position for 9-12 months of full-time employment.
The CWRR therefore wishes to appoint a researcher on the Socio-Economic Benefits of investing in Ecological Infrastructure (SEBEI) Project which involves establishing the hydrological benefits of investing in ecological infrastructure interventions.
The SEBEI project entails a multi-disciplinary research programme funded by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).
The SEBEI Project aims to develop an evidence-based analytical framework and prototype “investment case” for strengthening ecological infrastructure (EI) in strategic catchments.
The researcher will be involved mostly in work package three, which aims to develop and apply a hydrological modelling framework to support decision-making on EI investment for water-related ecosystem services.
The researcher will contribute towards building a hydrological model for two subcatchments within the uMngeni catchment. The novelty of this work is centered around fine-scale (sub-quaternary catchment level) hydrological modelling using remote-sensing data to derive data inputs.
The researcher will also provide secondary support to work package two by assisting with stakeholder engagement processes in the uMngeni catchment study areas.
The researcher will form part of a multi-disciplinary team from the University of Kwazulu-Natal, University of Cape Town, University of Copenhagen, and the University of Stellenbosch spanning hydrological, ecological, climate, earth and social sciences. The researcher will work closely with counterparts, and especially the other three postdoctoral researchers, within the broader research
programme.
Skills Required:
• Hydrological modelling skills (preferably MIKE-SHE)
• GIS competency
• Remote sensing (multispectral image analysis) competency
• Computer programming/scripting skills for data processing and analysis.
• Good people skills (stakeholder engagement)
• Ability to work in a transdisciplinary environment
• Organization/co-ordination skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Experience, or a desire to build experience, in communicating research to diverse non-expert
audiences.
• A South African Driver’s license
Conditions of position:
• Applicants must have completed their doctoral degrees or a master’s degree with at least
three years research experience at a level equivalent to a PhD.
• No benefits or allowances are included in the stipend, but it is tax exempt.
• The successful applicant will be required to register as a researcher at the University of KwaZulu Natal.
• The successful applicant will be required to comply with the university’s approved policies,
procedures and practices for the postdoctoral sector.
• A willingness to be based in Pietermaritzburg for the entire 9 or 12-month period
Value and tenure:
The value of the fellowship is between ZAR 18 750 to ZAR 25 000 per month for full-time work and is tenable for 9 to 12 months, depending on experience and qualifications, on condition of satisfactory meeting of deliverables.
Application requirements:
Applicants should submit (i) an application letter that includes a short description of their expertise and research interests, and how these relate to the position, (ii) a CV including a publication list, (iii) copies of the most recent academic transcripts and/or certificates, and (iv) email addresses of at least two references who been directly involved in their masters, PhD and/or previous postdoctoral research.
Applications should be emailed to: ARebelo@sun.ac.za before 10 January 2019.
Selection process:
• Only eligible and complete applications will be considered by the selection committee.
• Interviews will likely take place in the third week of January and the successful candidate is expected to start as soon as possible thereafter.
• We reserve the right not to appoint anyone to this position: the appointment will be subject to the project grant money being awarded.
Closing date:
Applications received before 10 January 2019 are guaranteed to be considered. We will re-advertise thereafter if the position has not been filled.
Contact details for submission of applications:
Dr. Alanna Rebelo
Email: ARebelo@sun.ac.za
Phone: (+27) 81 218 9284
Contact details for enquiries about the research topic and SEBEI:
Dr. Sabine Stuart-Hill
Email: stuart-hills@ukzn.ac.za
Phone: (+27)33 260 5460
Dr. Mark New
Email: Mark.New@uct.ac.za
Phone: (+27) 81 041 2099
