Postdoctoral Fellowship  

UFS-QQ Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre / Afromontane Research Unit

 Exploring Intersections Between Migration, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development in Marginal Mountain Communities 
(Qwaqwa, Free State, South Africa)

Background

The Afromontane Research Unit (ARU) is the flagship research unit of the University of the Free State Qwaqwa Campus (UFS-QQ) and seeks to become a continental leader in African mountain research.

The ARU was recently awarded a Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre (RVSC) by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)/National Research Foundation (NRF). The RVSC: UFS-QQ seeks to contribute relevant research to the global grand challenges from a South African perspective around the theme The Sustainable Development of Phuthaditjhaba as an African Mountain City. This theme has direct applications to other high-elevation, high-density conglomerations (‘ruralopoli’) of planned and unplanned settlements in former homelands in South Africa, with relevance to unstructured urban-rural development in other developing countries.

Phuthaditjhaba, and the former homeland of Qwaqwa (now located in the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality, Eastern Free State, South Africa), has a population of 400 000 people who are currently characterised by high unemployment (>60%) and experiences significant hurdles in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To this end, the ARU has established the project: ‘Exploring intersections between migration, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development in marginal mountain communities’, to understand economics and mobility from a sustainability science perspective. The study will feed into a wider collaborative research programme between the UFS-QQ and Japan’s Akita International University, Faculty of International Liberal Arts, Global Studies Programme. The programme links the rural mountainous communities of Qwaqwa and Gojome town in Akita Prefecture, Japan, through a trans-local learning approach. Transdisciplinary, trans-local approaches grounded in sustainability science have the potential to create nuanced knowledge about global sustainability challenges, such as migration. The project is also developing close links with the Global Mountain Safeguard Programme (GLOMOS); GLOMOS has a close relationship with the ARU and emphasises the role of the United Nations instruments, among others the SDGs, in such regional studies and interventions, including around migration. While the focus of this fellowship is Phuthaditjhaba/Qwaqwa, it feeds into a broader interest regarding human migration patterns relating to the greater Maloti-Drakensberg (Lesotho/South Africa), and the social, economic, ecological, and geo-political aspects of this.

Research focus

The RVSC: UFS-QQ seeks to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced postdoctoral research fellow for 2021, with the option of renewal for 2023 based on performance. The successful fellow will be registered in the Department of Geography and affiliated to the RVSC: UFS-QQ. The fellow will be an integral component of an interdisciplinary team that examines the links between migration, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development in Phuthaditjhaba/Qwaqwa. The fellow will be provided the opportunity to travel in order to represent the project and the RVSC-UFS, as well as career mentoring as part of the RVSC cohort at UFS-QQ.

This call presents an excellent opportunity for high-achieving researchers to be part of an innovative, internationally collaborative sustainability science research project of high significance. The fellowship is R255 000 per year, with R50 000 for fellowship running costs (the majority of the costs for the project will be covered by the research consortium).

Duties:

1. Contributing to original research. This will include analysing both qualitative interview/focus group data and quantitative survey data; helping to lead deliberative stakeholder workshops; conducting literature reviews; and employing sociological theories related to migration, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.

2. Willing to undertake fieldwork in Phuthaditjhaba and Qwaqwa, as well as elsewhere in the Maloti-Drakensberg.

3. Contributing to the publishing of relevant, high-quality research papers in relevant (preferably high-impact factor) journals.

4. Contributing to presentations at professional meetings (including participation in the Global Leadership initiative).

5. Co-supervising postgraduate students.

6. Representing the project and RVSC-UFS at relevant conferences, including a DSI-NRF RVSC Conference.

7. The fellow will be provided with undergraduate lecturing opportunities and will contribute to grant writing for experience.

8. For recently graduated fellows, an arrangement can be made to include the publication of their thesis chapters, provided that it does not clash with the project commitments.

Eligibility:

1. A PhD degree in a relevant background discipline (e.g., sustainability science, social science, human geography, or motivated other).

2. Applicants must have obtained their doctoral degrees within the past five (5) years.

3. Applicants who are currently completing their doctoral thesis for submission may apply, provided that they complete their doctoral degree by 31 December 2021 (awards that are not taken up by 30 June 2022 will be cancelled by the NRF).

4. Full-time employees are only eligible to apply if they intend to take unpaid leave for the duration of the fellowship.

5. Excellent people and organisational skills, including teamwork.

6. Be willing to undertake fieldwork among rural and remote, marginalised communities.

7. Self-driven and be able to set and meet own deadlines.

8. Proficiency in English, both verbal and written, is required; proficiency in Sesotho would be a major advantage.

9. A valid driver’s licence is preferable.

How to apply:

Applications should be submitted to Dr Melissa Hansen (hansenmm@ufs.ac.za) by 30 August 2021, with the following:

1. A one-page letter of motivation (which includes why you are interested in this project, relevant experience, and any areas of particular interest).

2. Full CV.

3. Academic transcripts.

4. Copy of ID or passport (the latter if a foreign applicant).

Shortlisted candidates will be notified of an interview via a virtual platform; the successful candidate will be nominated to the NRF for appointment. The UFS reserves the right to re-advertise for this post if a suitable candidate is not found.

For further enquiries, please contact Dr Hansen at hansenmm@ufs.ac.za

View the PDF advert with logos of key role players.