Researcher

Department Description/Departement Beskrywing

Faculty of AgriSciences

Department of Forest and Wood Science

Researcher: Quantitative Anatomical and Chemical Properties of Wood (Post Level 8)

(Three-year fixed-term contract)

(Stellenbosch Campus)

Ref. AW03/156/0626

The Hans Merensky Chair in Advanced Modelling of Eucalypt Growth and Wood Formation (EucXylo) is a research programme based in the Department of Forest and Wood Science at Stellenbosch University (SU) and funded by the Hans Merensky Legacy Foundation. The programme conducts a range of research into the growth and development of the important genus Eucalyptus. From 2024, a new 10 ha research facility at Lourensford near Somerset West, the IMPACT OAL, has become the main focus of EucXylo's research. Trees of four species have been planted at different densities to better understand how they respond to various stressors in the environment. The trees and environment are constantly monitored by a wide variety of electronic sensors (e.g. weather station, sap flow, soil water content, tree diameter). Regular measurements and sampling are being conducted at the site using various techniques. One key goal of EucXylo is to use samples obtained from the IMPACT OAL to understand xylogenesis and changes in wood chemical properties in Eucalyptus under various environmental stressors.

Duties/Pligte

• Leading innovative research in quantitative wood anatomy and wood chemistry, focusing on xylogenesis and wood formation processes in Eucalyptus.
• Publishing research results in internationally recognised, peer-reviewed journals and presenting the results at national and international conferences.
• Recruiting and supervising postgraduate students at MSc and PhD levels.
• Attracting third-stream funding through grant applications and collaborations.
• Developing and strengthening regional, national and international research networks and collaborations with academic institutions and the forestry industry.
• Participating in academically relevant activities as required by the Chair/ Department or Faculty.

Job Requirements/Pos Vereistes

• PhD in a relevant field, including Natural Science or a bioscience such as Plant Physiology, Microbiology or Molecular Biology, with a strong focus on plant or tree performance, ecophysiology, plant anatomy and/or plant-environment interactions.
• Demonstrated experience, together with evidence of specialised training, in quantitative wood anatomy (QWA), and advanced techniques relevant to plant anatomy research, particularly confocal Raman microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and quantitative image analysis.
• A minimum of five years' postdoctoral and/or relevant professional experience within forestry, plant physiology or related research environments.
• Proven experience in establishing, coordinating and managing large-scale field and nursery trials, including sensor-based monitoring systems, dataloggers and ecophysiological instrumentation.
• Experience in supervising and mentoring postgraduate students and providing practical instruction at undergraduate level.
• Proven track record of preparing research outputs, peer-reviewed publications, technical reports and funding reports for research stakeholders and funders.
• Demonstrated experience in securing external research funding, grants, collaborative training opportunities and/or industry-supported research initiatives.
• Evidence of collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and the development of national and international research partnerships.

Recommendation/Aanbeveling

• Experience in the quantification plant growth hormones and sound knowledge of how these impact wood formation and growth.
• Familiarity with institutional and research administration systems such as STEMLearn, SUNFin, SUNStudent, TeraTerm or equivalent systems will be advantageous.
• Membership of recognised professional or scientific societies relevant to forestry, wood anatomy, plant sciences or microscopy.
• The ability to communicate effectively in both English and Afrikaans will be advantageous.
• Experience in project administration, budgeting, procurement and financial tracking linked to externally funded research projects.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with students, technical staff, academic colleagues, industry partners and international collaborators.

How To Apply/Hoe Om Aansoek Te Doen

#PAS

The University is committed to employment equity (EE), and appointments will be made in line with the institutional EE Plan.

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 references), must reach the University before or on the closing date in the advertisement.

Apply online at https://www.su.ac.za/en/careers-su by clicking "Apply now" at the top to the right of the page for the specific vacancy.

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The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires people in occupations that entail potential exposure to certain hazards (such as noise, hazardous chemical substances and hazardous biological agents) to undergo medical screening to determine whether they be fit to work in those occupations.

If you have received no feedback from the University after four to six weeks of the closing date, kindly accept that your application was unsuccessful.

Enquiries/Navrae

Enquiries about this post: Prof David Drew on 021 808 3295, or at [email protected]

Enquiries about remuneration/benefits and technical assistance with the electronic application process: Human Resources Client Services Centre, on 021 808 2753 (Stellenbosch), or

021 938 9636 (Tygerberg), or at [email protected]

• Currency Commencement Date01-Aug-2026 Closing Date10-Jul-2026 Amount of Travel Work At Home