Postdoctoral Research Fellow

AHRI; Durban; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) seeks a postdoctoral research fellow to work with an interdisciplinary team in the clinical trials unit. The role supports scientific writing, results dissemination, grant development, clinical trials implementation, student mentorship and stakeholder engagement.

Led by AHRI's director of science, Professor Limakatso Lebina, the two-year fellowship focuses on advancing public health research across KwaZulu-Natal.

Qualifications

• PhD in public health, infectious disease, or related field.
• Understanding of the South African health system advantageous.
• Strong computer skills.
• Experience in systematic literature review.
• Experience in quantitative research.
• Publications in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals.
• Experience in writing research grants.

Responsibilities

• Support scientific writing and dissemination of results.
• Contribute to grant development and funding applications.
• Assist in clinical trials implementation and protocol reviews.
• Mentor graduate students and engage with stakeholders.

Skills

Strong computer skills

Systematic literature review

Quantitative research

Publications in high-impact journals

Grant writing experience

Understanding of SA health system

Education

PhD in public health, infectious disease, or related field

Job description

The application closing date: 11 Sept 2026 Description: The Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) seeks to appoint a postdoctoral research fellow (PDRF) to work with an interdisciplinary team within the clinical trials unit. The main purpose of the job is to support scientific writing and results dissemination, grant development, clinical trials implementation, student mentorship and stakeholder engagement. This fellowship will be led by AHRI director of science, Professor Limakatso Lebina. More on Prof Lebina's works is available here: https://www.ahri.org/scientist/limakatso-lebina/ This position is for a period of two years. Background AHRI's clinical trials unit (CTU) aims to bring the latest drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics to the people who need them most, first. The CTU was established in 2021 at the AHRI-Somkhele campus in rural northern KwaZulu-Natal, and was officially opened in March 2022. The CTU leverages on the institute's extensive population/epidemiological, implementation and clinical research. The focus is on investigational products for diseases that are major public health concerns in communities surrounding the AHRI campuses. Priority diseases include HIV, tuberculosis, emerging infections, and non-communicable diseases in the context of high HIV prevalence.

Qualifications and experience:

• PhD in public health, infectious disease, or related field
• An understanding of the South African health system will be highly advantageous
• Strong computer skills
• Experience in systematic literature review
• Experience in quantitative research
• Established track record of publications in high-impact, peer review journals
• Established track record in writing research grants

Worker Type: Contingent Worker

AHRI is a values-driven organisation. As an employer we are committed to staff engagement and development. Our culture is one of high performance and partnership.

Our values

The successful candidate will be expected to live by AHRI's values, including collaboration, ubuntu, leadership, innovation, transformation, and excellence.

Employment equity

AHRI is fully compliant with South African labour law and is committed to employment equity. This position is primarily open to South African or other African applicants, with a valid work permit desirable.

AHRI reserves the right in special circumstances to accept late applications or to extend the above date to facilitate further searches. Furthermore, AHRI reserves the right not to make an appointment. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, kindly consider your application as unsuccessful if you do not hear from us within 14 days of the application closing date.

The salary for this position depends on previous experience and follows AHRI's official scheme and NRF grades and will be exempt from tax deductions due to the tax-exempt status for postdoctoral positions.

Africa Health Research Institute's vision is optimal health and well-being of under-resourced populations.

Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) is an independent, transdisciplinary scientific research institute based across two campuses in the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in South Africa.

AHRI's research combines population, basic and translational, social, and clinical sciences to understand and intervene in the health and well-being of South African communities.

AHRI works in partnership with local communities and South African academic, governmental, and other policy stakeholders and collaborates with over 60 institutions globally.

AHRI prioritises the training of the next generation of African scientists.

The work lives of AHRI's ~700 scientists, students and staff members are driven by our values: ubuntu, transformation, leadership, innovation, excellence and collaboration.