National Biodiversity Biobank Infrastructure Project
Call for applications for a postdoctoral scholarship to carry out a research project on the status of biodiversity biobanks in South Africa.
The National Biodiversity Biobank Project, which is funded by the Department of Science & Technology as part of the South African Research Infrastructure Roadmap (SARIR), is offering a two-year postdoctoral scholarship to carry out a research project on the status of biodiversity biobanks in South Africa.
The objective of this postdoctoral grant is to enhance capacity for research infrastructure assessment and management, specifically biodiversity biobanks.
The following requirements must be met in order to qualify for this fellowship.
Applicants must:
- have been awarded their PhD in the last five years (ie. after 2012).
- have completed a PhD in a relevant discipline where biodiversity biobank materials were collected, processed, stored and used for research purposes.
- not be employed on a full-time basis, or hold another postdoctoral grant.
- be South African citizens or permanent residents.
- be available to take up the postdoctoral fellowship no later than November 2018.
- have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- be willing to travel nationally and have an unendorsed driver’s licence which has been held for more than one year.
Expectations from the National Network of Biodiversity Biobanks:
A research project to assess the status of biodiversity biobanks in South Africa must be completed within the two year period. This will involve the following:
- Research in order to compile an inventory of institutions and departments that hold biodiversity biobank materials in South Africa.
- Development of a comprehensive questionnaire covering all aspects of biobanks for assessment.
- Visits to each collection to complete the questionnaire together with the institutional staff in order to assess scope, scale, and status in terms of management policies, practices and standards for samples and data.
- Assessment of international practices by biodiversity biobanks for managing and providing access to biodiversity biobank materials and data.
- Assessment of attitudes of researchers and institutions to providing access to samples and accessing samples from a national biobank network.
- Production of at least two papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
- Contribute to a report and comprehensive proposal for the national Network of a National Network of Biodiversity Biobank.
- Recipients will be expected to sign an agreement with SANBI. Should the agreement signed not be complied with, SANBI reserves the right to withdraw the scholarship.
Details of the postdoctoral scholarship:
- The scholarship is offered for two years, at a value of R255,000 per annum. Payment will be made directly to the postdoctoral fellow in four payments per annum.
- Operating costs for the project will be covered separately.
Applications:
Please submit the following information:
- Full CV, including record of studies, publications, conference presentations, posts held
- Copy of PhD certificate and academic record
- Details of experience relating to biodiversity biobanks
- 3 contactable references
- Cover letter detailing interest in the project.
The following criteria will be used to assess applications:
| 1. Relevance of PhD study and other experience to biodiversity biobanks | 30 |
| 2. Previous performance of applicant (publications, conference presentations, teaching, mentoring) | 30 |
| 3. Cover letter / motivation | 20 |
| 4. Equity (black (African, Indian, Coloured), female and persons with disabilities). | 20 |
| TOTAL | 100 |
Applications:
Applications must be submitted to Michelle Hamer at M.Hamer@sanbi.org.za