Senior Lecturer / Lecturer: Plant Molecular Genetics specialising in genome editing

Senior Lecturer / Lecturer: Plant Molecular Genetics specialising in genome editing

• Type of engagement: Permanent appointment

Background to Position

Faculty of AgriSciences

Department of Genetics

Ref. AW04/045/0325

The Department of Genetics (DoG) and the Institute for Plant Breeding and Biotechnology (IPBB), the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University (SU), are dynamic environments with a wide variety of research activities. The incumbent will teach genetics at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and will be responsible for establishing and expanding a research portfolio focused on activities related to genome editing in plants as part of the IPBB’s activities.

Job Description

Duties:

• Coordinating, administering, and teaching undergraduate and postgraduate modules in molecular genetics and biotechnology.
• Supervising postgraduate students at BScHons, MSc, and PhD levels.
• Conducting high-quality research in the use of new breeding technologies, specifically genome editing, for the improvement of crops.
• Publishing research results in internationally recognised, peer-reviewed journals and presenting the results at national and international conferences.
• Collaboration and developing partnerships with relevant agricultural industries to secure third-stream research funding.
• Developing regional, national, and international academic and research networks.
• Involved in administrative service delivery at the Institute and at departmental, Faculty, University, national, and international levels.

Inherent Criteria

Requirements:

• PhD in molecular plant genetics, molecular plant biology, or equivalent.
• Research experience in molecular plant biology, specifically genetic transformation, genome editing and tissue culture techniques, particularly for perennial woody fruit crops.
• Peer-reviewed scientific publications, commensurate with the level of appointment.
• Postgraduate supervision in molecular plant biology, specifically genetic transformation and genome editing, commensurate with the level of appointment.
• Proven experience with, or the ability to obtain external research funding, commensurate with the level of appointment.
• The ability to work within a multidisciplinary research team.
• Proven experience or the ability to create and maintain an international research collaboration in the aforementioned field.
• Good administrative and management skills.
• The ability to demonstrate and uphold SU’s core values.

Recommendations:

• Experience in bioinformatics software relevant for the analysis of high-throughput sequencing data and genome editing mutation analysis.

Application Requirement

Commencement of duties:

01 September 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter

Enquiries regarding this post: Prof Clint Rhode on 021 808 5834, or at clintr@sun.ac.za

Enquiries regarding remuneration/benefits, as well as technical assistance with the electronic application process: Human Resources Client Services Centre on 021 808 2753 (Stellenbosch) / 021 938 9636 (Tygerberg), or at sun-e-hr@sun.ac.za

Stellenbosch University is committed to employment equity (EE), and appointments will be made in line with the EE plan for the specific environment as well as the institutional EE Plan of the University.

Stellenbosch University reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Your application, comprising a comprehensive curriculum vitae (including the names and email addresses of at least three referees), must reach the University before or on the closing date of the advertised post.

The University reserves the right to investigate qualifications and conduct background checks on all candidates.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires people in occupations that entail potential exposure to certain hazards (such as, but not limited to: noise, hazardous chemical substances and hazardous biological agents) to be subjected to medical screening, to determine their fitness to work in the said occupations.

Should no feedback be received from the University within four to six weeks of the closing date, kindly accept that your application did not succeed.

About Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch University (SU) is home to an academic community of 29 000 students (including 4 000 foreign students from 100 countries) as well as 3 000 permanent staff members (including 1 000 academics) on five campuses. The historical oak-lined university town amongst the Boland Mountains in the winelands of the Western Cape creates a unique campus atmosphere, which attracts local and foreign students alike. On the main campus, paved walkways wind between campus buildings – some dating from previous centuries; others just a few years old. Architecture from various eras attests to the sound academic foundation and establishment of an institution of excellence. This, together with the scenic beauty of the area; state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly facilities and technology, as well as visionary thinking about the creation of a sustainable 21st-century institution, makes for the unique character of Stellenbosch University.