<div dir="ltr">Dear Earth Science Community,<div><br>I am seeking a postdoctoral fellow to work in our lab in South Africa. Please see below for more details. Kindly share this with your networks and any suitable candidates. </div><div><br>Many thanks,</div><div>Jemma</div><div>------------</div><div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:6pt 0cm 8pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:center"><b><u><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE</span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0cm;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:center;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP</span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0cm;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:center;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">PALAEOECOLOGY LABORATORY</span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0cm;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:center;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURAL, EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES,</span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0cm;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:center;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA</span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0cm;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:center;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;background:repeat yellow">EXTENDED CLOSING DATE: 31^ST OCTOBER 2024</span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0cm;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:center;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">START DATE: 1 DECEMBER 2024 OR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THEREAFTER</span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0cm;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:center;background-image:none;background-position:0% 0%;background-size:auto;background-repeat:repeat;background-origin:padding-box;background-clip:border-box"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">REF NO.: SAEES02/2024</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:center"><br></p><p style="margin:0cm;font-size:medium;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;text-align:justify;line-height:18.4px"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">We are seeking a numerical scientist with an interest in palaeoecology and long-term ecosystem dynamics for a postdoctoral position based in the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Palaeoecology Laboratory on the Pietermaritzburg Campus. This position is part of a larger multi-disciplinary research project funded by the Global Research Council via the Chinese Academy of Sciences and National Research Foundation Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Project (Grant Number LT240524220338): <i>Defining achievable targets for ecosystem restoration and sustainability</i>. </span></p><p style="margin:0cm;font-size:medium;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;text-align:justify;line-height:18.4px"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px"> </span></p><p style="margin:0cm;font-size:medium;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;text-align:justify;line-height:18.4px"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">The postdoctoral project will leverage existing regional palaeoecological datasets from South Africa to evaluate landscape process vulnerability, path-dependency, and resilience. The primary objective will be to model the historical range of variability and trajectories of ecosystem change, including magnitude, rate of change, and tipping points, in key ecological and environmental processes. The outputs of the fellowship will be used to </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">develop a tool-kit with stakeholders for defining realistic restoration targets, explore future scenarios under different combinations of land use and climate change, and define potential management interventions for desired scenarios.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px"></span></p><p style="margin:0cm;font-size:medium;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;text-align:justify;line-height:18.4px"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px"> </span></p><p style="margin:0cm;font-size:medium;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;text-align:justify;line-height:18.4px"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">The project aims to inform restoration targets by integrating paleodata, archaeological and historical records to provide evidence-based solutions for achieving SDGs. The project is a collaboration between UKZN, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the University of York and </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">Netherlands Institute of Ecology.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px"></span></p><p style="margin:0cm;font-size:medium;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;text-align:justify;line-height:18.4px"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px"> </span></p><p style="margin:0cm;font-size:medium;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;text-align:justify;line-height:18.4px"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">The researcher will be based at the UKZN Palaeoecology Laboratory under the primary supervision of Prof. Jemma Finch and the co-supervision of a strong international network of researchers including Prof. Ke Zhang (</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">Chinese Academy of Sciences</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">), Prof. Lindsey Gillson (University of York), </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">Prof. Suzanne McGowan (</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">Netherlands Institute of Ecology</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">), </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">and Dr Kelly Kirsten (Coventry University). The research will further contribute to the objectives of the </span><a href="https://pastglobalchanges.org/science/wg/planetary-boundaries/intro" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(149,79,114)"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">PAGES </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">Planetary Boundaries Working Group</span></a><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></p><p style="margin:0cm;font-size:medium;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;text-align:justify;line-height:18.4px"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px"> </span></p><p style="margin:0cm;font-size:medium;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;text-align:justify;line-height:18.4px"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">The candidate must be willing to undertake an extended research stay at the </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">Chinese Academy of Sciences</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px"> in Nanjing, where they will work closely with numerical scientists focused on the equivalent analysis of the Yangtze River Delta. As part of the successful candidate’s professional development, the opportunity to participate in limited teaching and supervision of senior students in the Department will be offered.</span></p><p style="margin:0cm;line-height:18.4px;font-size:medium;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> </span></b></p><p style="margin:0cm;line-height:18.4px;font-size:medium;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:justify"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Minimum Requirements:</span></b></p><p style="margin:0cm;font-size:medium;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;text-align:justify;line-height:18.4px"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">The fellowship is <b>open to any eligible person, South African or otherwise</b>, who can carry out its objective. Eligible candidates may not have previously held any academic or professional permanent positions.</span></p><p style="margin:0cm;font-size:medium;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;text-align:justify;line-height:18.4px"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px"> </span></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18.4px;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">       </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">Possession of a PhD degree in quantitative modelling preferably of palaeoecological data, which has been obtained no more than five years ago, is a minimum requirement. </span></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18.4px;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">       </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">Experience in quantitative modelling and proficiency in R is essential</span></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18.4px;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">       </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">Familiarity in working with palaeoecological datasets is highly advantageous</span></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;text-align:justify;line-height:18.4px;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">       </span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px">The candidate must demonstrate experience in writing journal articles and publications, with a minimum of three peer reviewed publications in the relevant area of expertise within the last three years</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px"></span></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt;font-size:medium;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;text-align:justify;line-height:18.4px"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:16.866667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Enquiries and details regarding this post may be directed to Prof. J. Finch via email: </span><a href="mailto:finchj@ukzn.ac.za" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(149,79,114)"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">finchj@ukzn.ac.za</span></a><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:16.866667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">The postdoctoral fellowship is available immediately with a <b>start date no later than 1 February 2025</b>. The fellowship is valid for 12 months, and renewable for up to 36 months. The fellowship is worth <b>ZAR415,000</b> <b>per annum </b>with additional allowance for research related travel funded through the UKZN Palaeoecology Laboratory. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">This award does not include any benefits and is normally exempt from taxation.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:16.866667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">The closing date for receipt of applications is <span style="background:repeat yellow">31^st October 2024 (deadline extended)</span>.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:16.866667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Applicants are required to submit the following, as a <b>single combined PDF document to</b></span><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">: </span></b><a href="mailto:Sitholep@ukzn.ac.za" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(149,79,114)"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Sitholep@ukzn.ac.za</span></a><b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> before the <span style="background:repeat yellow">31^stOctober 2024 (deadline extended)</span>. The subject line must clearly indicate the reference no. SAEES02/2024 Postdoctoral Fellowship. </span></b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">The application document must include:</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"></span></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 54pt;text-align:justify;line-height:16.866667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black">(i)<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">             </span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black">a covering letter highlighting their experience in meeting each of the minimum requirements as listed above</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"></span></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 54pt;text-align:justify;line-height:16.866667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black">(ii)<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">            </span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black">a detailed CV including list of publications</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"></span></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 54pt;text-align:justify;line-height:16.866667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black">(iii)<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">           </span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">a certified copy of the applicant’s doctoral degree certificate or PhD award letter</span></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0cm 54pt;text-align:justify;line-height:16.866667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black">(iv)<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">          </span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">a certified copy of the applicant’s ID / permanent residency document / successful international applicants will need to apply for relevant permits</span></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt 54pt;line-height:16.866667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black">(v)<span style="font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman";font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">           </span></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black">In addition, please ask 3 referees to email references directly to the Jemma Finch at the email address provided</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm;line-height:16.866667px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Late applications will not be considered. Successful individuals will be contacted on or before 15^th November 2024. Interviews will be conducted online. The research group reserves the right not to make an appointment to this advert. </span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Should you not receive a reply or update by the 15^th November 2024, kindly consider that your application has not been successful.</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:16.1px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:22px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;line-height:21px;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> </span><b style="font-size:11pt"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">The University reserves the right not to make an appointment to this advertisement. </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);text-align:justify"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Kindly note that the University of KwaZulu-Natal (“the University”) is required to process any Personal Information (as defined by the Protection of Personal Act, 2013 “POPIA”) submitted by candidates when applying for positions at the University. The University will endeavour to ensure that the appropriate security measures are in place and implemented for both electronic and paper-based formats that are used for processing of the personal information recorded through this recruitment and selection process.<span style="color:red"> </span>We refer you to the University’s relevant Section 18 notice at </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href="http://vacancies.ukzn.ac.za/Libraries/General_Documents/Section_18_Notice_-_Employees_and_Potential_Employees.sflb.ashx" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(149,79,114)"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">http://vacancies.ukzn.ac.za/Libraries/General_Documents/Section_18_Notice_-Employees_and_Potential_Employees.sflb.ashx</span></a></p></div></div>