Postdoctoral fellows are appointed to strengthen research capacity within the UFS and to bring a sense of diversity and instil a vibrant research culture. Postdoctoral fellows are an indispensable part of the university community and have increased in numbers over the years. Given the responsibility for the creation and dissemination of knowledge, the UFS is expected to be an important driver of global, national, and local innovation, development, and societal well-being.

Research has a critical role to play in creating a safer, healthier, fairer, and more sustainable planet, as well as in providing evidence of what could work. The UFS, through its research agenda, should therefore play a proactive and leading role in driving solutions to global challenges, and in so doing, the university itself will benefit.

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (PDRF)

Postdoctoral fellows are appointed to strengthen the research capacity within the UFS.  Postdoctoral fellows should hold a relevant PhD degree not older than five years.

Postdoctoral fellows are not employees of the university and therefore do not qualify for any employee benefits, including retirement funding, membership of retirement funds, support in respect of a medical aid scheme, or any other employee benefits.

The primary objectives of PDRFs include the following: 

• To place the University of the Free State at the forefront of research and innovation.
• To generate new knowledge and transfer knowledge and skills.
• To enable outstanding doctoral graduates to obtain experience of research and innovation at a higher education institution.
• To provide an opportunity to promising young researchers from different universities to enhance their research skills and expertise.
• To expand existing research and ideas and to pursue new lines of research.
• To interact with other academics and postdoctoral fellows.
• To emphasise an increase in publication outputs.
• To establish and enhance South African intellect.
• To develop knowledge for stakeholders such as the government, business, industry, and social communities.
• To promote national and international conference attendance by postdoctoral fellows and the presentation of research papers at these conferences.

Contact me:

Mandy Jampies
UFS Postdoctoral Fellow Coordinator
T: +27 51 401 9725
E: JampiesMG@ufs.ac.za

Johannes Brill Building, First Floor, Bloemfontein Campus