Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (one year, renewable up to two years) Job ID: 6686

University of the Free State; Bloemfontein; Vor Ort; ZAR 243.000 - 297.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

R 270,000 annual fellowship

R 30,000 additional research expenses

Zusammenfassung

The Centre of Labour Law within the Department of Mercantile Law at the University of the Free State invites applications for a postdoctoral research fellowship. The one-year post, renewable up to two years, focuses on labour law, disability rights, reasonable accommodation, health and safety, social protection, and inclusive employment.

The successful fellow will contribute to externally funded programmes, with opportunities for independent scholarship, national and international collaboration,

Qualifikationen

• Open to SA and foreign nationals for full-time research at the University of the Free State.
• Applicants must have graduated with a PhD in a relevant discipline within the last five years.
• Successful applicants may not hold full-time salaried employment during the fellowship.
• Successful applicants must relocate to UFS for the duration of the fellowship; a residential fellowship requiring at least 80% presence at UFS.

Aufgaben

• Conduct comparative and socio-legal research on disability discrimination, reasonable accommodation, inclusive employment and social protection.
• Investigate occupational health and safety, including climate-related workplace risks and the rights of workers with albinism.
• Contribute to externally funded interdisciplinary research and to research arising from the Albinism Care Kit initiative.

Kenntnisse

research

teaching support

Ausbildung

PhD in a relevant discipline

Jobbeschreibung

Job Title

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (one year, renewable up to two years) Job ID: 6686

Organizational Unit

University of the Free State -> Faculty of Law -> Department Mercantile Law -> Centre for Labour Law

Contract Type

Contract

Occupational Level

Temporary

Location

Bloemfontein Campus - Bloemfontein, FS ZA (Primary)

Closing Date

15/12/2026

Description

The Centre of Labour Law within the Department of Mercantile Law at the University of the Free State (UFS) invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for a postdoctoral research fellowship. The fellowship focuses on labour law, disability rights, reasonable accommodation, occupational health and safety, social protection and inclusive employment, with opportunities for comparative, interdisciplinary and socio-legal research.

The successful fellow will contribute to the Centre’s externally funded and collaborative research programmes, including projects on disability, gender and informal cross-border economies, the rights of persons with albinism, and research-informed community initiatives such as the Albinism Care Kit. The fellowship offers opportunities for independent scholarship, mentoring, national and international collaboration, and research with societal impact.

Selection will be competitive and based on academic achievement, research and publication record, research potential, methodological skills and alignment with the Centre’s research priorities. The fellowship is initially awarded for one year and may be renewed, subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of funding.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Conduct comparative and socio-legal research on disability discrimination, reasonable accommodation, inclusive employment and social protection.
• Investigate occupational health and safety, including climate-related workplace risks and the rights of workers with albinism.
• Contribute to externally funded interdisciplinary research, including work on disability, gender and informal cross-border economies, and to research arising from the Albinism Care Kit initiative.
• Support collaborative research and publications associated with national and international partnerships, including the Labour Law Teachers’ Symposium and related research network.
• Author/co-author at least three publication outputs per year in DHET-accredited scholarly journals or books/chapters in books, in line with the UFS template.
• Develop independent and collaborative research projects, contribute to research implementation, analysis, dissemination, grant applications and relevant project reporting.
• Register and reside as a postdoctoral research fellow at UFS; participate in relevant research development activities; and engage with the Centre’s academic and community research partners.
• Assist with teaching and assessment support at the Centre for Labour Law.

Eligibility criteria

• Open to South African and foreign nationals for full-time research at the University of the Free State.
• Applicants must have graduated with a PhD in a relevant discipline within the last five years.
• Successful applicants may not hold full-time salaried employment during the fellowship.
• Successful applicants must relocate to UFS for the duration of the fellowship. This is a residential fellowship requiring the fellow to spend at least 80% of the postdoctoral period at UFS.

Competencies

Value Of The Fellowship

• R 270,000 annual fellowship.
• R 30,000 additional research expenses fund.

Closing Date

15 December 2026

Commencement Of Fellowship

02 February 2027

General

The University processes personal information in line with its obligations under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and any personal information provided to the University will be treated as confidential and processed in accordance with the rights provided to data subjects under POPIA.

The University reserves the right not to fill the post. The UFS will only consider applications of candidates who meet all the inherent requirements of the position. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. Should you not be contacted within six weeks of the closing date for applications, you may assume that your application was unsuccessful.