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SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY INSTITUTE (SANBI)
 
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HONOURS, MASTERS AND DOCTORAL SCHOLARSHIPS
The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) is pleased to announce a call for applications for Honours, Masters and Doctoral scholarships for full time studies in 2024.
 
Projects:
Only projects relevant to SANBI’s mandate and identified as a priority for the SANBI Research Strategy, will be considered. If you are unsure whether a project qualifies please contact us before submitting an application.
 
Requirements:
Candidates must be pro-active, enthusiastic, and interested in doing excellent research that can make a difference. These scholarships are only available to South African citizens and will be awarded in line with national equity targets. Students need to apply for university programmes themselves and the scholarship is conditional upon them securing their placement in a postgraduate programme and have provisional acceptance from prospective academic supervisors.
 
Conditions:
  • Only full time studies will be supported
  • Applicants must be South African citizens and under 35 years of age
  • Applicants can register at any South African university
  • Only research projects in line with SANBI’s mandate and research strategy will be considered
  • Applicants must not be employed
  • Existing studies will not be supported
  • Registration for a second Honours, Masters or Doctoral degree will not be considered
  • Where applicants hold partial scholarships/bursaries, co-funding will be considered
  • For Masters studies, applicants must hold an Honours degree/Postgraduate Diploma
Scholarship values: (to cover living expenses and university fees)
  • Honours: R120 000 for one year only
  • Masters: R150 000/year for two years
  • Doctoral: R180 000/year for three years
 
 
 Application procedure:
Each application is to be accompanied by a standard application cover sheet.
Applications are to include a letter of interest; a 2-page project outline; full CV; certified copies of academic record/transcript and highest qualification; as well as ID; two letters of academic reference; a letter from a prospective university supervisor as well as a SANBI supervisor, indicating willingness to supervise and provisional registration/application from the university. Send all documents to students@sanbi.org.za  and students.sanbi@gmail.com with “SANBI studentships 2024” in the subject line.
 
SANBI reserves the right not to fill these scholarships. If no response has been received within 30 days of the closing date, candidates may assume that their applications were unsuccessful.
 
Contact details:
Dr Ferozah Conrad (f.conrad@sanbi.org.za)
Ms René du Toit (r.dutoit@sanbi.org.za)
 
APPLICATION COVER SHEET
 
Closes: Thursday, 18 January 2024
Location: South Africa



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CLIMATE ADAPTATION IN AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP
Applications are invited for a postdoctoral fellow to join the Climate and Aquatic teams at SANBI. The successful candidate will lead research to improve the planning for climatic adaptation in aquatic ecosystems. This could focus on freshwater or marine ecosystems or could span both realms, potentially contributing to the proposed Green Climate Fund marine adaptation concept proposal.
Applicants can share their vision of how their postdoctoral research can build upon existing local and or international research and innovate in terms of advancing climate resilience in aquatic ecosystems in South Africa. This work should feed into climate adaptation planning and or spatial planning to support climate adaptation in resilience under the global biodiversity framework.
This could include spatial analysis to support protected area expansion or other effective conservation measures that advance the protection of aquatic ecosystems. Research could focus on literature review and local application or innovation draw from international progress in this context. The successful candidate will be able to contribute to South Africa’s National Biodiversity Assessment.
 
Requirements
The postdoctoral fellowship is open to anyone who has completed a PhD in the last five years, or who has submitted their PhD thesis for examination and it will likely be awarded within the next few months. Requirements include demonstrated aquatic biodiversity and/or oceanographic knowledge, knowledge of climate change and an ability to synthesise literature and apply this in a local context.
Good writing skills are essential as is a track record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals. Experience with spatial analyses may be an advantage if the postdoc is likely to contribute to spatial planning and assessment, but there is flexibility in terms of the focus and approach of the successful candidate.
 
Research areas
The main focus of this position is to support climate adaptation in aquatic ecosystems (marine and/or freshwater and/or transitional ecosystems). There is some flexibility depending on the research experience and interests of potential candidates, with scope to tailor the postdoc to be mutually beneficial across research teams. The successful candidate will be expected to work with climate scientists and to work closely with either or both the freshwater or marine biodiversity programme staff at SANBI. There is potential to be involved in both the National Biodiversity Assessment and spatial planning to improve aquatic ecosystem protection.
The work will include interrogation of literature, identifying, sourcing and managing relevant data, collaborating with scientists, and potentially spatial or other planners, to advance planning for improved climate resilience in aquatic ecosystems. The incumbent will work within a small team that networks and collaborates broadly and will be exposed to the exciting array of science-to-policy work that SANBI conducts in multiple realms.
 
Bursary value
The value of the fellowship is R 350 000 per year and is available until 30 November 2024 with a potential opportunity to extend based on satisfactory performance and available funding. Please note that this fellowship is not subject to income tax, and the university will pay a stipend to the fellow as per their procedures. Limited running expenses may be made available.
 
University
The postdoctoral fellow may propose a South African University of their choice or work with SANBI to find a host university. The postdoctoral fellow will be co-supervised by multiple SANBI staff including scientists from the climate and aquatic programmes.
 
 
Application procedure
Applications must include a standard bursary application cover sheet (attached to this advert); a full CV; certified copies of ID and academic records; two letters of reference (one must be from an academic supervisor); examples of published work and a motivation letter describing the applicant’s suitability for the position in terms of skills and experience and highlights of achievements to date. Research interests, a potential vision for the postdoc and future goals should be included in at least 2 paragraphs (max two-pages in total for the overall letter).
 
Send all application documents to students@sanbi.org.za and students.sanbi@gmail.com with “Aquatic Climate Adaptation Postdoc Fellowship” in the subject line and copy G.VonMaltitz@sanbi.org.za.
SANBI reserves the right not to fill this fellowship. If no response has been received within 21 days of the closing date, candidates may assume that their applications were unsuccessful.
 
Enquiries:
Academic queries
E-mail: Dr Graham von Maltitz , Prof Kerry Sink and Ms Nancy Job.
 
Application process:
E-mail: Ms René du Toit
APPLICATION COVER SHEET
 
Closes: Friday, 12 January 2024 (The successful candidate will be notified before end January 2024)
Bursary value: R350 000 per year
Duration: Until 30 November 2024
Location: Cape Town