Saypro-Senior Lecturer / Lecturer : Zoology, Ecology, Or Evolutionary Biology

Saypro; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 500 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading South African university is seeking a Senior Lecturer or Lecturer in Zoology, Ecology, or Evolutionary Biology. This role involves teaching and developing modules, conducting research, and securing funding. Candidates must have a PhD and demonstrable teaching and research experience in relevant fields. Strong communication skills in English are required, alongside proficiency in R coding for biostatistical applications. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative teaching and research initiatives.

Qualifications

• Experience in teaching undergraduate evolution or ecology modules.
• Evidence of published research in reputable journals.
• Involvement in mentoring or supervising students.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and postgraduate modules in evolution and ecology.
• Develop relevant lecture series for the Biodiversity and Ecology programme.
• Establish an active research programme and publish findings.

Skills

Good verbal and written communication skills in English

Demonstrated ability to understand and apply code in the R environment

Proven involvement in securing external funding

Education

PhD in zoology, ecology, evolutionary biology or equivalent

Tools

R coding

Biostatistics

Job description

Senior Lecturer / Lecturer: Zoology, Ecology, or Evolutionary Biology

Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University (Stellenbosch Campus).

Department Overview

The Department of Botany and Zoology at Stellenbosch University offers undergraduate and postgraduate modules in biodiversity, ecology, evolution, and global change biology.

As a research-intensive department, we are committed to advancing knowledge in these fields, with particular emphasis on the dynamics of biodiversity change, functioning of ecological systems, evolutionary processes, and the interactions between plants and animals.

We aim to strengthen our academic and research profile in terrestrial vertebrate evolutionary ecology.

Candidates eager to contribute to the development of this field through innovative teaching, training, and research are invited to apply.

For more on our research focus areas, please visit our website :

Duties

• Teaching undergraduate and postgraduate theoretical principles of evolution and ecology, and advanced behavioural and evolutionary ecology modules.
• Developing a relevant up-to-date lecture series for modules taught within the Biodiversity and Ecology programme.
• Establishing an active research programme and publishing in peer-reviewed journals within the fields of evolution, behavioural ecology, and evolutionary ecology.
• Conducting research and dissemination at national and international conferences or equivalent events.
• Recruiting and supervising postgraduate students in evolution, behavioural ecology, and evolutionary ecology, with an emphasis on terrestrial vertebrate systems.
• Securing research funding.
• Participating in activities promoting social impact and transformation.
• Participating in academically relevant departmental and faculty administrative activities, as required.

Job Requirements / Position Requirements

• A PhD in zoology, ecology, evolutionary biology or equivalent (with a research focus on terrestrial vertebrate ecology).
• Good verbal and written communication skills in English.

Requirements for Lecturer Appointment

• Proven experience in teaching undergraduate evolution or ecology as well as biostatistics (in the R environment) modules at tertiary level, at least as a teaching assistant.
• Evidence of published research in reputable international journals in the fields of evolutionary or behavioural ecology, and terrestrial vertebrate ecology.
• Involvement in mentoring or supervising students, to at least honours level.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and apply code in the R environment for data analyses and ecological applications.
• Knowledge of evolutionary ecology and terrestrial vertebrate ecology.
• Proven involvement in securing external funding.

Requirements for Senior Lecturer Appointment

• Proven experience in teaching undergraduate and / or postgraduate evolution or ecology as well as biostatistics (in the R environment) modules.
• Evidence of a sustained publication output in high-quality international journals in the fields of evolutionary or behavioural ecology, and terrestrial vertebrate ecology.
• Proven active research in behavioural / evolutionary ecology and terrestrial vertebrate ecology.
• Demonstrated proficiency in R coding, with a proven track record in teaching statistical methods using R, and a solid background in evolutionary and / or behavioural ecology.
• Evidence of successful supervision to completion of postgraduate students (MSc and / or PhD level).
• Proven ability to secure external research funding.

Application Process

• Applicants invited to interview will be required to deliver a lecture on data analysis in the R environment and to present a seminar on their recent research, to demonstrate both subject expertise and communication skills.

Additional Qualifications (Recommendation)

• Postdoctoral or appropriate academic / research experience.
• Basic communication skills in Afrikaans.

Recruitment Motto (Afrikaans)

PhD in dierkunde, ekologie, of evolusionêre biologie of gelykwaardige vakgebied (met 'n navorsingsfokus op die ekologie van gewerwelde landdiere).

Goeie mondelinge en skriftelike kommunikasievaardighede in Engels.

Bewese ervaring in die onderrig van voorgraadse modules in evolusie of ekologie, sowel as biostatistiek (in die R-omgewing) op tersi-re vlak, minstens as onderrigassistent.

Rekord van navorsingspublikasies in erkende internasionale vaktydskrifte op die vakgebied van evolusionêre of gedragsekologie, en die ekologie van gewerwelde landdiere.

Betrokkenheid by mentorskap van, of studieleiding aan studente (ten minste op honneursvlak).

Toon die vermoë om R-kodering te lees, verstaan en toe te pas vir data-analise en ekologiese toepassings.

Kennis van evolusionêre ekologie en die ekologie van gewerwelde landdiere.

Bewese betrokkenheid by die verkryging van eksterne befondsing.

Recommendation / Aanbeveling (Afrikaans)

• Nadoktorale of toepaslike akademiese / navorsingservaring.
• Basiese kommunikasievaardighede in Afrikaans.