Postdoctoral Fellowship opportunities

To support our work on teacher mathematical knowledge for teaching (MKT) in sub- Saharan Africa in early grade mathematics, we are seeking two recent PhD graduates to fill two postdoctoral research fellowships located in the Wits Maths Connect in the Wits School of Education.

This fellowship will pursue research projects within the broad field of early grade mathematics, with particular focus on the relationship between teachers’ knowledge of mathematics, their understanding of learners’ conceptual gaps, and the instructional practices through which they respond to these gaps.

The duration of the fellowship is one year, with potential for reviewal for another year based on the availability of funds, performance and progress. The value of the fellowship is R 400 000 per annum plus a small contribution towards research costs.

ABOUT THE PROJECT:

The Teachers’ Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching (TMKT) study investigates teachers’ mathematical knowledge in the early grades across five African countries. The study combines assessments of teachers’ mathematical knowledge and mathematical knowledge for teaching (MKT) across key foundational numeracy domains with classroom observations and follow-up interviews. It aims to understand not only what teachers know, but also how they draw on their knowledge and professional judgement to recognise and interpret gaps in learners’ mathematical understanding and make informed instructional decisions.

The TMKT study addresses this gap by examining the relationship between teachers’ mathematical knowledge for teaching and their instructional practices. Through a comparative, cross-country design, the study will generate evidence about the mathematical knowledge teachers draw upon in responding to learners’ needs, identify knowledge gaps that recur across contexts and those that are context-specific, and inform the development of more responsive approaches to teacher education and professional learning.

KEYWORDS:

Mathematical knowledge for teaching; pedagogic decision making; learner errors; sub-Saharan Africa.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

1. PhD degree obtained within the last 5 years from a SAQA-registered institution.
2. A track record of publishing research findings in quality journals.
3. Must have extensive experience in primary mathematics teaching and learning
4. Have experience in research on primary mathematics.
5. Have strong English proficiency.
6. Be based in Johannesburg for the full duration of the fellowship.
   
   

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Experience with the following would be advantageous:

1. Research in African countries or other regions of the Global South.
2. Experience in working within a research project.
   
   

KEY DUTIES AND EXPECTATIONS:

• Contribute to the development of the evidence-gap and intended-use memo to inform project planning.
• Conduct a comprehensive literature review on teachers’ mathematical knowledge for teaching (MKT).
• Support cross-country research coordination and collaboration with country partners.
• Contribute to data quality assurance, management and analysis across participating countries.
• Supervise and support postgraduate students in data coding and analysis.
• Contribute to the preparation of scholarly publications, research reports and other dissemination outputs.
  
  

CONTACT AND APPLICATION PROCESS:

Send your CV, a proposal and two reference letters to Anthony Essien on anthony.essien@wits.ac.za, with the subject line “Postdoc Fellowship Application: TMKT” by 10 November 2026.

PROPOSALS SHOULD BE BRIEF (5-10 PAGES) BUT INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

• Research focus and background
• Research problem
• Research question/s
• Research aim
• Merit of the research and proposed contribution to the field
• Proposed research methodology
• Research plan

Wits supports equal opportunities.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in the area of organic synthesis, in the School of Chemistry at the University of the Witwatersrand, to start in January 2027. The successful candidate will engage in full-time postdoctoral research under the supervision of Professor Amanda Rousseau on projects seeking to explore SAR and development of hit compounds identified with antimalarial activity in vitro.

Minimum Requirements:

• The candidate should hold a PhD in synthetic organic chemistry obtained within the past five years. The candidate should not be older than 45 years at the time of application.
• Experience in organic synthesis and relevant analytical techniques.
• Publication record in the area of organic chemistry as evidenced by articles in high impact journals would be an advantage.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 05 November 2026.  Applicants are required to submit the following documents in a single pdf to Amanda.rousseau@wits.ac.za 

• A covering letter identifying how you meet the minimum requirements
• A detailed CV, including contact details
• Names and contact details of 3 referees
• Certified copy of PhD degree or PhD award letter.

Late applications will not be considered. The University reserves the right not to make an appointment until a suitable candidate is found.

Work Description

The candidate will be involved in the synthesis of analogues of compounds with known biological activity in a medicinal chemistry project aimed at improving efficacy and PK properties of hit compounds identified with antimalarial activity.  The candidate will also be responsible for reporting on work completed at project meetings, and assisting with Honours, Masters and PhD students.

Salary

The value of the postdoctoral fellowship is ZAR 320 000 per annum with the option of renewal for a second year based on performance in the first year. Please note we will only contact successful applicants. If you don’t hear from us then consider your application to be unsuccessful. Wits supports equal opportunities.

The Faculty of Health Sciences invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for a number of Postdoctoral Fellowship positions linked to innovative and impactful health research projects. These fellowships provide an opportunity for recent PhD graduates to contribute to cutting-edge research while advancing their academic and professional development.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Hold a PhD degree awarded within the last five (5) years.
• Demonstrate a strong interest and evidence of experience in the relevant research area.
• Be able to undertake the proposed research project within the fellowship period.
  
  

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit:

• A cover letter
• A detailed curriculum vitae (CV)
• Copies of academic qualifications, including PhD certificate
  
  

Important: In the cover letter, applicants must clearly indicate the specific project for which they are applying and wish to undertake their postdoctoral research. All applications must be submitted to Mr Moraba Meela at Moraba.Meela@wits.ac.za. Applicants should clearly indicate the project title in their cover letter and email subject line.

Project 1: Preferences and Acceptability of Silicone Personal Lubricants for HIV Prevention (SLIPI)

HIV prevention products that enhance sexual pleasure may encourage greater uptake and sustained use. This project investigates user preferences for and acceptability of personal lubricants as a potential HIV prevention delivery system. The successful postdoctoral fellow will serve as a co-investigator and lead a mixed-methods study comprising focus group discussions and an online survey to assess the prevalence, patterns, and characteristics of personal lubricant use among target populations. Skills required: project management, mixed methods expertise, data capturing, quantitative and qualitative data analysis.

Contact Person: Prof. Mags Beksinska
Email: mbeksinska@mru.ac.za

Project 2: Cancer Postdoctoral Fellowships - Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Hosted by the Wits Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute and the National Cancer Registry, this project seeks to understand how infections and cancer intersect to influence population health in South Africa. Two fellows will contribute to epidemiological and biostatistical research examining the relationship between infectious diseases and cancer outcomes. Skills required: data capturing, curation, biostatistical analysis.

Contact Person: Carole M
Email: CaroleM@nicd.ac.za

Project 3: TB and Lung Cancer - Quantifying Lung Cancer Risk and Burden After TB and Validating AI Chest X-ray Screening in South Africa

This project will investigate the relationship between tuberculosis (TB) and lung cancer in South Africa while evaluating artificial intelligence-based chest X-ray screening tools. The study will determine whether previous TB increases lung cancer risk, quantify the burden and economic impact of post-TB disability and lung cancer, and validate AI-assisted radiological screening approaches. The findings will support improved screening, diagnosis, and management of TB survivors and inform future health policy and interventions. Skills required: Health economics, AI enabled data analysis.

Contact Person: Prof. Denise Evans
Email: devans@heroza.org

Project 4: Bridging the Gap Between Advanced Research and Public Health Solutions: Leveraging Mass Spectrometry Imaging to Address Paediatric Poisoning in Africa

This project focuses on applying machine learning and artificial intelligence methods to mass spectrometry imaging data generated from paediatric poisoning cases. The successful postdoctoral fellow will develop advanced computational tools to identify toxins, characterise molecular changes associated with poisoning, and uncover biomarkers linked to tissue damage. The research aims to improve diagnosis and management of childhood poisoning and contribute to innovative toxicology solutions for African healthcare systems. Skills required: Liquid / gas chromatography mass spectrometry OR AI and ML related data analysis of omics data.

Contact Person: Prof. Sooraj Baijnath
Email: sooraj.baijnath@wits.ac.za

Closing Date

All applications must be submitted by 4 November 2026.

Submission Instructions

Prospective applicants should submit their application documents to Mr Moraba Meela at Moraba.Meela@wits.ac.za. Please ensure that the project title is clearly stated in your cover letter and email subject line.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you have not been contacted within three (3) weeks after the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.

UNESCO Chair in Teacher Education for Diversity & Development at the University of the Witwatersrand invites expressions of interest from outstanding early-career researchers for Postdoctoral Fellowships in the following focus areas in higher education:

• Social and environmental justice through education
• Pre-service teacher education and lifelong professional learning
• Teaching and learning for diverse learners and diverse educational contexts
• Comparative and international perspectives in teacher education
• Transformation, innovation, digital technologies and decolonial futures in teacher education.
  
  

These two-year, full-time postdoctoral fellowships, based in Johannesburg, offer a unique opportunity to conduct high-impact transdisciplinary research that collaboratively engages partners within the University, leverages global academic and industry partnerships, and extends to stakeholders such as government agencies, community organisations, and international research networks to address complex societal challenges.

Fellows will be expected to:

• Conduct original, high-quality research aligned with the specified project themes
• Publish in leading international journals and conferences
• Contribute to postgraduate supervision and the research culture of the institution
• Engage with transdisciplinary teams addressing higher education futures in the Global South.
  
  

Funding: R340,000 per annum for a fixed, consecutive two-year period.

Eligibility:

• PhD awarded within the past five (5) years
• May not hold a current academic position
• Previous post-doc positions are allowed
• May not hold any salaried employment during the fellowship

The fellowship will remain open until filled.

Interested candidates should complete the application form: https://redcap.link/UNESCOWits_postdoc_2026 

For queries, please contact Professor Nicole De Wet-Billings (Senior Director: Academic Affairs), Nicole.dewet-billings@wits.ac.za 

The Global Higher Education Futures (GHEF@Wits) at Wits invites expressions of interest from outstanding early-career researchers for Postdoctoral Fellowships in the following focus areas in higher education:

• Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) in Higher Education Teaching and Learning
• Political Economy of Higher Education
• Democracies, Leadership, Equality and Governance
• Inclusivity in Higher Education
• Building Public Trust in Science, the Academy and the Fourth Estate
• Preserving heritage, arts and culture
  
  

These two-year, full-time postdoctoral fellowships, based in Johannesburg, offer a unique opportunity to conduct high-impact transdisciplinary research that collaboratively engages partners within the University, leverages global academic and industry partnerships, and extends to stakeholders such as government agencies, community organisations, and international research networks to address complex societal challenges.

Fellows will be expected to:

• Conduct original, high-quality research aligned with the specified project themes
• Publish in leading international journals and conferences
• Contribute to postgraduate supervision and the research culture of the institution
• Engage with transdisciplinary teams addressing higher education futures in the Global South.
  
  

Funding: R340,000 per annum for a fixed, consecutive two-year period.

Eligibility:

• PhD awarded within the past five (5) years
• May not hold a current academic position
• Previous post-doc positions are allowed
• May not hold any salaried employment during the fellowship

The fellowship will remain open until filled.

Interested candidates should complete the form here: https://redcap.link/ghef_postdoc_2026 

For queries, please contact Professor Nicole De Wet-Billings (Senior Director: Academic Affairs), Nicole.dewet-billings@wits.ac.za 

The School of Mining Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand invites expressions of interest from outstanding early-career researchers for Postdoctoral Fellowships in research areas in both surface and underground mining such as:

• Mine planning and optimisation
• Operations research applications in mining
• Data science and AI in mining
• Drilling and blasting optimisation
• Mine transportation systems (fleet optimisation)
• Mineral economics and valuation
• Mine ventilation and climate control
• Deep mining technology
• Just energy transition
• Critical minerals
• Environmental management, health and safety aspects in mining

The two-year, full-time postdoctoral fellowships, based in Johannesburg, offer a unique opportunity to conduct high-impact, interdisciplinary research at one of Africa’s leading mining schools, working closely with academic hosts across various disciplines and expertise.

Fellows will be expected to:

• Develop quantitative and empirical reasoning through application of scientific and mathematical principles in solving problems in the extractive industry.
• Carry out original, high-quality research projects and present findings in scientific conferences apart from publishing in scholarly leading international
• Present and communicate effectively through written, oral and use of visual communication aids when unveiling research findings or project results to mining professionals.
• Contribute to postgraduate supervision and the research culture of the school.
• Engage with interdisciplinary teams in addressing challenges in mining industry.

 
Funding: R350,000 per annum for a fixed, consecutive two-year period.

Eligibility:

• PhD in Mining Engineering and other engineering disciplines, Computer Science and any other related degree, awarded within the past five (5) years.
• Skills in any computer programming language (such as Python, MATLAB, R, etc.) is an added advantage.
• Candidates must have demonstrated evidence of strong scholarly performance, including a strong record of publications.
• May not hold full-time salaried employment during the fellowship.

The fellowship will remain open until filled.

Interested candidates should complete the application form.

For queries, please contact the Head of School of Mining Engineering at Paseka.Leeuw@wits.ac.za.