NOTE: Postdoctoral fellowships are intended for applicants who have recently (within the past 5 years) completed their PhD and who do not have a long-term contract or permanent academic role. A postdoctoral fellow cannot hold employment elsewhere, and a postdoctoral fellowship is different to a sabbatical visit. 
The Wits MIND Investec Chair in Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Business Transformation is establishing a globally recognised research programme examining how artificial intelligence is reshaping business, organisations, and society, with a particular focus on Africa and emerging markets. The Chair invites applications from outstanding recent PhD graduates seeking to contribute to high-impact, interdisciplinary research at the intersection of AI, business transformation, governance, and sustainable development. Postdoctoral fellows will contribute to a growing research programme across five core thematic areas:
Within these themes, fellows are encouraged to pursue research in areas such as:
Interdisciplinary approaches are strongly encouraged, including perspectives from management, economics, information systems, public policy, and the social sciences. The fellowship supports both academic excellence and applied, industry-relevant research, including collaboration with industry partners.
Fellows may not hold full-time salaried employment during the fellowship.
Funding: R350,000 per annum for a fixed, consecutive two-year period.
The Postdoctoral Fellow will:
This fellowship offers:
The University of the Witwatersrand and the Wits MIND Investec Chair are committed to advancing excellence, diversity and transformation in South African higher education. Applications from suitably qualified candidates from designated groups are particularly encouraged. International applicants who meet the eligibility requirements are also welcome to apply.
Please submit the following directly to Prof. Rennie Naidoo (Rennie.Naidoo@wits.ac.za) no later than 31 July 2026:
Applicants must submit:
For queries, please contact the relevant academic host listed in this project profile.
Brief Description: The Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, a multidisciplinary research entity within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, focusing on understanding the role of genetic variation in health and disease in an African context. It covers rare and common diseases and African population genetics. For this opportunity the aim is to strengthen expertise and expand our research on the use of genomic data and variant interpretation analysis to better understand rare diseases in Africa.
Detailed Description: A postdoctoral fellowship is available for research in the area of genomics of rare developmental disorders in Africa, building on the DDD-Africa research initiative. The research includes the use of bioinformatics tools and approaches, together with human genetics expertise, for the interpretation and analysis of genetic variants and epigenomic data from individuals with developmental disorders. This will augment knowledge on the genetic aetiology of these conditions. The successful candidate will work with existing cohorts of affected individuals and their families, integrating multi-omic datasets to identify novel disease-causing variants and regulatory mechanisms. The position represents an exciting opportunity to work as part of a multidisciplinary team, and to participate in developing new research project ideas and grant applications.
The postdoctoral fellow will have the following responsibilities:
Job requirements:
Additional details: The fellowship offers support for two years, with the possibility of extension depending on performance and funding availability.
How to apply: Please email your application through as follows:
Please make the subject of the email: APPLICATION Postdoc Genomics of African Rare Disease
Submit your application through to https://forms.gle/E68DiAH5UM8jcDDW7.
Contact sbimb@wits.ac.za and jocelyn.gayenga@wits.ac.za if you have trouble with the link.
For further information, you may contact the Principal Investigator: Prof. Zané Lombard: zane.lombard@wits.ac.za
Deadline: 31 July 2026.
The University is committed to employment equity. Preference may be given to appointable applicants from the underrepresented designated groups in terms of the relevant employment equity plans and policies of the University. The University retains the right not to make an appointment and to verify all information provided by candidates. Please note that correspondence will only be entered into with shortlisted candidates. The University reserves the right not to make an appointment or to re-advertise.
The DST-NRF SARChI Chair in Critical Diversity Studies is recruiting a Postdoctoral Fellow for 2026-2027. The Fellow will be based in the Wits Centre for Diversity Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
We are seeking an exceptional early career scholar with a strong interest in social justice. Applicants should undertake research that is broadly concerned with issues of diversity (for eg race, gender, sexuality, ability, nationality) and should be comfortable with interdisciplinary approaches. Their research should employ contemporary critical theoretical frameworks to examine diversity-related complexities beyond demographics. These may include decolonial, post-colonial, critical race, feminist, critical disability and queer approaches to difference, privilege and oppression.
The fellowship is for one year with the possibility of renewal. NRF-funded postdocs are offered a salary of R320,000 p/a, with an additional R50,000 p/a for research costs.
Interested candidates should email faith.lazarus@wits.ac.za before 20 July 2026. Please include the following documents as a single PDF:
Incomplete applications and applications that are in incorrect formats will not be considered. Applications that appear to be generated by AI are unlikely to be shortlisted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
The Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, a research entity within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, is strengthening its research team to build critical mass to explore genomic data from diverse African populations to study how evolutionary forces have been contributing to differences in disease susceptibility and treatment in African populations.
A postdoctoral fellowship is available for research in the area of evolutionary and population genetics. The work would involve an analysis of existing and novel African genomic datasets (WGS and genotype array) for identifying signatures of selection and modelling demographic history. The appointed candidate will also have the opportunity to participate/collaborate in a suite of research projects available at the SBIMB and interact with the Institute's six senior scientists to develop new research projects/grant applications.
The Fellowship support is for two years, with the possibility of extension depending on performance and funding.
Please make the subject of the email: APPLICATION-Post-doc-Genomics of African Populations
Submit your application through to the Wits vacancies site, or email sbimb@wits.ac.za and jocelyn.gayenga@wits.ac.za
For further information, you may contact the Principal Investigator: Prof. Ananyo Choudhury: ananyo.choudhury@wits.ac.za
Deadline: 31st July 2026
Applications are invited to apply for a prestigious two-year Hillel-Friedland Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Protein Structure-Function Research Laboratory within the School of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of the Witwatersrand. The successful candidate will join an internationally active research programme investigating how microRNAs regulate transcription factor function in health and disease. The project aims to uncover fundamental mechanisms that govern gene regulation and to identify novel therapeutic strategies for diseases driven by transcriptional dysregulation.
The fellow will contribute to a cutting-edge research project entitled:
"Mechanistic and Therapeutic Targeting of miRNA-Regulated Transcription Factor Networks in Neurodevelopmental and Immune Disease"
This interdisciplinary project sits at the interface of molecular biology, biochemistry, structural biology and biomedical research. The overarching goal is to determine how microRNA-mediated regulation alters transcription factor structure, DNA binding and interaction networks, and whether these mechanisms can be exploited therapeutically. The work focuses on disease-relevant transcription factors and their regulatory networks, with applications to neurodevelopmental disorders, cancer biology and autoimmune and immune-mediated disease. The project forms part of a broader effort to develop novel RNA-based therapeutic strategies for diseases in which conventional drug discovery approaches have had limited success.
The successful fellow will join a vibrant and collaborative research environment with expertise in transcription factor biology, protein structure-function relationships and molecular mechanisms of disease. The project combines molecular biology, biophysics, structural biology and computational approaches to address fundamental questions in gene regulation while maintaining a clear translational focus on therapeutic development.
This highly interdisciplinary environment provides a unique opportunity to work across multiple levels of biological organisation, from molecular mechanisms and biomolecular interactions to cellular function and disease relevance. The Fellow will be exposed to advanced experimental and computational methodologies and will be encouraged to integrate these approaches to develop innovative solutions to complex biomedical problems.
Beyond technical training, the Fellowship is designed to support the development of an independent researcher. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to publish in leading international journals, present research at national and international conferences, contribute to the supervision of postgraduate students, establish collaborative networks and develop independent research directions within the broader theme of transcriptional regulation and RNA therapeutics. The position therefore offers the opportunity to participate in a cutting-edge research programme while also building the scientific, leadership and research skills necessary for a successful long-term career in academia or the biotechnology sector.
We are seeking an outstanding and highly motivated early-career researcher with a demonstrated commitment to excellence in biomedical research. Candidates must hold a PhD awarded within the past five years and should have an emerging track record of high-quality research outputs relative to career stage. Applicants should possess strong intellectual curiosity, excellent communication skills, and a desire to tackle challenging scientific questions at the interface of molecular biology, gene regulation and human disease.
Experience in biochemistry, biophysics and/or structural biology is preferred. Additional experience in molecular biology, RNA biology, gene regulation, cancer biology or computational biology would be advantageous; however, we particularly welcome candidates who can demonstrate scientific excellence, creativity and the potential to become future leaders in their field.
The successful candidate will be expected to contribute intellectually to the development of the project, drive research activities with a high degree of independence, and actively participate in the broader academic life of the research group through publication, collaboration, mentorship and scientific engagement.
Applicants should submit:
To apply click here: https://forms.gle/a8jjLnfC18gpBd7s7
Queries can be directed to
Professor Sylvia Fanucchi
School of Molecular and Cell Biology
University of the Witwatersrand
011 717 6348
sylvia.fanucchi@wits.ac.za
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.
The Global Higher Education Futures (GHEF@Wits) at Wits invites expressions of interest from outstanding early-career researchers for Postdoctoral Fellowships in the following focus areas in higher education:
These two-year, full-time postdoctoral fellowships, based in Johannesburg, offer a unique opportunity to conduct high-impact transdisciplinary research that collaboratively engages partners within the University, leverages global academic and industry partnerships, and extends to stakeholders such as government agencies, community organisations, and international research networks to address complex societal challenges.
Funding: R340,000 per annum for a fixed, consecutive two-year period.
The fellowship will remain open until filled.
Interested candidates should complete the form here: https://redcap.link/ghef_postdoc_2026
For queries, please contact Professor Nicole De Wet-Billings (Senior Director: Academic Affairs), Nicole.dewet-billings@wits.ac.za
UNESCO Chair in Teacher Education for Diversity & Development at the University of the Witwatersrand invites expressions of interest from outstanding early-career researchers for Postdoctoral Fellowships in the following focus areas in higher education:
These two-year, full-time postdoctoral fellowships, based in Johannesburg, offer a unique opportunity to conduct high-impact transdisciplinary research that collaboratively engages partners within the University, leverages global academic and industry partnerships, and extends to stakeholders such as government agencies, community organisations, and international research networks to address complex societal challenges.
Funding: R340,000 per annum for a fixed, consecutive two-year period.
The fellowship will remain open until filled.
Interested candidates should complete the application form: https://redcap.link/UNESCOWits_postdoc_2026
For queries, please contact Professor Nicole De Wet-Billings (Senior Director: Academic Affairs), Nicole.dewet-billings@wits.ac.za
The Machine Intelligence & Neural Discovery (MIND) Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand invites expressions of interest from outstanding early-career researchers for Postdoctoral Fellowships in the following focus areas:
These two-year, full-time postdoctoral fellowships, based in Johannesburg, offer a unique opportunity to conduct high-impact, interdisciplinary research at one of Africa’s leading AI institutes, working closely with academic hosts across Computer Science, the Social Sciences, and the Digital Arts.
Funding: R350,000 per annum for a fixed, consecutive two-year period.
The fellowship will remain open until filled.
Detailed project descriptions and requirements can be found below:
Interested candidates should complete the application form.
For queries, please contact the relevant academic host listed in the project profile, or the MIND Office at info.mind@wits.ac.za.
The School of Mining Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand invites expressions of interest from outstanding early-career researchers for Postdoctoral Fellowships in research areas in both surface and underground mining such as:
The two-year, full-time postdoctoral fellowships, based in Johannesburg, offer a unique opportunity to conduct high-impact, interdisciplinary research at one of Africa’s leading mining schools, working closely with academic hosts across various disciplines and expertise.
Funding: R350,000 per annum for a fixed, consecutive two-year period.
The fellowship will remain open until filled.
Interested candidates should complete the application form.
For queries, please contact the Head of School of Mining Engineering at Paseka.Leeuw@wits.ac.za.