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SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (SAMRC)
SENIOR SCIENTIST
Cape Town
Job Reference Number: R946A
Department: Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit
Business Unit:
Industry: Research
Job Type: Permanent
Positions Available: 1
Salary: Market Related
The Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit (NCDRU) seeks to appoint a Senior Scientist to contribute to the strategic growth of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health research.
Job Description
The Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit (NCDRU) seeks to appoint a Senior Scientist to contribute to the strategic growth of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health research. The successful candidate will provide specialised biomedical research expertise to strengthen and complement existing public health research within the Unit.
The role will focus on generating high-quality scientific evidence to inform interventions, policy and practice, while contributing to innovation, collaboration, and research capacity development aligned with SAMRC priorities.
The post holder will assist with and form an integral part of the SAMRC’s transformation agenda.
Responsibilities will include:
- Conduct innovative, high-impact biomedical and public health research
- Plan, coordinate and implement studies in line with scientific, ethical and regulatory requirements
- Undertake research on biomarkers and risk factors, including epigenetic and molecular analyses
- Analyse and manage research data and contribute to the development of standard operating procedures
- Publish scientific outputs in peer-reviewed journals and present findings at scientific forums
- Secure and contribute to competitive research funding and grant applications
- Engage in research translation activities, stakeholder engagement, and community outreach
- Mentor and co-supervise postgraduate students and contribute to capacity development
- Contribute to SAMRC and NCDRU initiatives, including administration and reporting
Duration of the contract.
- Permanent
Remuneration
- A salary in the region of R715 505.00 per annum will be offered, cost-to-company, dependent on qualifications and research experience.
Job Requirements
Core requirements:
- Master’s degree in biomedical science or related field
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in RNA extraction and microRNA profiling
- 3 years’ experience in DNA extraction and DNA methylation analysis
- Experience in functional gene silencing and overexpression in tissue culture models
- At least two lifetime publications, including one as first author
- Proven record of presentations at national conferences
- Experience co-supervising postgraduate students
Added Advantage:
- PhD in a relevant field
- Experience in biomarker discovery during pregnancy and postpartum
- Epigenetic analysis experience
- Western blot analysis
- Publication record in Epigenetics
Closing date
- 27 July 2026
SPECIALIST SCIENTIST
Cape Town
Job Reference Number: R952A
Department: Burden of Disease Research Unit
Business Unit:
Industry: Research
Job Type: Permanent
Positions Available: 1
Salary: Market Related
The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) seeks to appoint a Specialist Scientist within the Burden of Disease Research Unit (BODRU).
Job Description
The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) seeks to appoint a Specialist Scientist (Entry) within the Burden of Disease Research Unit (BODRU). The Unit conducts research and analyses to monitor South Africa’s health status, burden of disease, mortality patterns, and population health trends. BODRU provides evidence to inform health planning and policy and has established expertise in mortality surveillance, health surveys, summary health measures, and health informatics.
The successful candidate will contribute to mortality and burden of disease research through the analysis of mortality and cause-of-death data, monitoring excess mortality and mortality trends, and supporting the estimation of national and provincial mortality indicators. The incumbent will contribute to burden of disease studies, data quality improvement initiatives, scientific publications, technical reports, and presentations at national and international forums.
The successful candidate will also contribute to research collaboration, capacity development, innovation, and the SAMRC’s transformation agenda.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide scientific and strategic leadership within the research programme.
- Lead grant applications, research projects, and stakeholder engagement initiatives.
- Produce and publish high-quality scientific outputs.
- Mentor and supervise researchers and students.
- Promote evidence-based policy and practice through research translation and advocacy.
- Ensure effective programme governance, financial management, monitoring, and reporting.
Location
- Cape Town
Duration
- Permanent
Remuneration.
- A salary in the region of R 1 111 367.00 per annum, cost-to-company, will be negotiated in consideration of experience and qualifications.
Job Requirements
Core Requirements:
- PhD or MBChB with relevant Masters (epi, biostats, MPH, etc)
- 6 years’ experience in Epidemiology, Public Health or related fields.
- Record of 10 lifetime publications (ISI journal articles, editorials or book chapters and technical reports) with at least 3 as first/senior author.
- PI of successful income generation/grant application of = R300,000 (NB: funds raised as a co-I/PI on a sub-project are not counted, nor non-research funds (conferences, course fees, etc.).
- Successfully supervised =3 post-graduate students to graduation.
- Record of translating professional, scientific or clinical expertise, new knowledge and research findings into public understanding, policy, and/or practice, to improve health.
- Experience in leading research project(s), including mentoring and managing a research team.
- Experience in budgeting, finance and risk management.
- Excellent interpersonal relations and communication skills
Closing Date 27 July 2026
