Postdoctoral Research Fellowship In Molecular Microbial Ecology

Company Description

The University of Fort Hare is a public university located in the Eastern Cape Province, with campuses in Alice (main campus), East London, and Bhisho. It offers a full range of academic programs including Bachelor’s, Honours, Master’s, and PhD degrees across multiple disciplines. The institution is recognized for its historic contribution to higher education in Africa and its role in educating many of the continent’s leading academics, political leaders, and business professionals. Applicants join a university committed to excellence in teaching and research, with a strong legacy of social impact and intellectual leadership.

Role Description

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Molecular Microbial Ecology will conduct independent and collaborative research focused on the ecology, diversity, and function of microbial communities, with a particular emphasis on molecular and genomic approaches. Day-to-day responsibilities include designing experiments, collecting and analyzing samples, applying molecular techniques (e.g., DNA/RNA extraction, sequencing), and interpreting microbial community data using bioinformatics and statistical tools. The fellow will prepare manuscripts for publication, present findings at conferences, and contribute to grant writing and project reporting. Additional activities may involve mentoring postgraduate students, maintaining laboratory protocols and safety standards, and collaborating with internal and external research partners. This is an on-site role located in Fort Beaufort.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree (PhD) in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Environmental Science, Ecology, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience in molecular microbial ecology, including experimental design, sample collection, and analysis of microbial communities.
• Proficiency with molecular laboratory techniques such as PCR, qPCR, next-generation sequencing workflows, and nucleic acid extraction.
• Skills in bioinformatics, data analysis, and relevant software or programming languages (e.g., R, Python, QIIME, mothur) for microbial community analysis.
• Strong scientific writing skills, with a track record of peer-reviewed publications and the ability to prepare manuscripts, reports, and grant proposals.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team, mentor students, manage research timelines, and maintain high laboratory and research ethics standards.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and strong organizational and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience with field-based ecological or environmental sampling and familiarity with South African or African ecosystems is an advantage.
• Willingness to work on-site in Fort Beaufort and participate actively in the broader research community of the University of Fort Hare.