​THE KWAZULU NATAL MUSEUM

Private Bag 9070

Pietermaritzburg

3200

South Africa

237 Jabu Ndlovu Street ● Pietermaritzburg ● 3201

Telephone: + 27 (33) 345 1404

Website: www.nmsa.org.za

 

The KwaZulu-Natal Museum is one of the largest and leading heritage institutions in the country. It is dedicated to serving the people of South Africa by collecting, interpreting, and exhibiting material evidence of the cultural and natural world, in order to increase knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the nation’s rich heritage. In order to properly drive its strategic objectives, the KwaZulu-Natal Museum invites recent PhD graduates to fill an NRF-funded postdoctoral research fellowship. This fellowship is related to an exciting interdisciplinary research project that applies a ‘biographical’ approach to several important archaeological sites in southern Africa (South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe). 

 

 

 

RE-ADVERTISMENT

 

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP (01/2026) 

(24-MONTH CONTRACT) 

Salary: R320,000 per annum (Cost to Company) 

The successful candidate will join a small team of researchers that is developing the concept of ‘site biography’ as an investigative approach and genre of writing inspired by object biography. Biography implies agency and personhood. In the case of sites in the landscape we might see these qualities in the power that particular places have to attract people through history. 

We aim to explore the potential for ‘site biographies’ to: 

 account for layered pasts and multiple ontologies; 

 promote reflection on our relationships to other beings and materials; 

 examine the usefulness of ‘biography’ as a creative literary device within science communication. 

 

REQUIREMENTS

PhD degree obtained within the last 5 years in a relevant discipline. Candidate may come from a range of different disciplines pertinent to the vision of the project including, but not limited to, archaeology, geography/geomatics, history, art history, landscape ecology, environmental humanities, digital arts and creative writing. A valid code B driver’s license is required for this position. Experience in the following areas would be advantageous: archaeological and cultural landscapes; archival research; digital curation; mapping and GIS; photography, photogrammetry and 3D modelling; and creative writing and writing for non-academic audiences. Only candidates younger than 60 years at the time of nomination will be considered. 

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

 To undertake focused and high-quality original research; 

 To undertake fieldwork activities related to the project’s work plan; 

 To contribute innovative ideas towards the development of the research; 

 To write/co-write peer-reviewed research outputs. 

 To curate/co-curate online presentations of the research. 

 

 

 

 

Note: Applications should be directed to The Human Resources Officer, KwaZulu-Natal Museum. They can be hand delivered to 237 Jabu Ndlovu Street, Pietermaritzburg, 3201; or posted to Private Bag 9070, Pietermaritzburg, 3200. The closing date for receipt of submissions is Wednesday, 13 May at 12:00pm. Applicants who have previously applied may re-apply. No late applications will be accepted. Please include a signed covering letter that addresses what interests you about the project and how you see yourself contributing to it, a CV with a list of references and copies of your identity document, driver’s license, all qualifications and proof of professional registrations. Shortlisted candidates will be required to submit certified copies of identity document, driver’s license and all qualifications when they come for interviews and failure to do so will result in their application being disqualified. Any false information and/or misrepresentation in the application will lead to an automatic disqualification of the applicant. The Museum also reserves the right to lay criminal charges for any suspected fraudulent activities related to this process. 

 

Further enquiries regarding this position may be directed to: Dr Justine Wintjes at jwintjes@nmsa.org.za. The KwaZulu-Natal Museum will enter into correspondence with short-listed candidates only. It is the responsibility of each candidate who has been invited to the interview to avail himself or herself. The Museum will consider failure to attend the interview on the given interview date as lack of interest in the position and lead to disqualification. 

 

If you have not heard from the Museum within two months of the closing date then please consider your application to be unsuccessful. 

 

The KwaZulu-Natal Museum is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer whose aim is to promote representatively in all levels of occupational categories in the institution. The employment decision shall be informed by the Employment Equity Plan of the Museum to achieve its Employment Equity targets. It is the Museum’s intention to promote equity (race, gender and disability) through the filling of posts. South African citizen, African male/females as well as people living with disabilities are encouraged to apply. However, other groups that qualifies for the position will be considered for appointment. 

 

Should, during any stage of the recruitment process, a moratorium be placed on the filling of posts or the KwaZulu-Natal Museum be affected by any process such as, but not limited to, restructuring or reorganisation of posts, the KwaZulu-Natal Museum reserves the right to cancel the recruitment process and re-advertise the post at any time in the future. All shortlisted candidates will be subjected to Personnel Suitability Checks on criminal record, citizen verification, qualification and pre-employment screening to determine the suitability of a person for employment. Applicants must declare any pending criminal, disciplinary or any other allegations or investigations against them. Should this be uncovered during / after the interview took place, the application will not be considered and in the unlikely event, that the person has been appointed such appointment will be terminated. 

 

The KwaZulu-Natal Museum reserves the right not to make an appointment.