ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR – NS06

Organization: School of Geosciences

FACULTY OF SCIENCE

SCHOOL OF GEOSCIENCES

Lecturer/ Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor in Geosciences

The School of Geosciences at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) is seeking a dynamic and research-active candidate to join our academic team at the rank of Lecturer/Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor. We welcome applications from candidates with expertise across the geosciences, particularly those with backgrounds in hydrogeology and/or geometallurgy. The successful candidate will join one of Africa's largest and most diverse geosciences institutions, contributing to our academic training programmes while developing their own internationally recognised, externally funded research programme. They will also be expected to be an inspirational and engaging lecturer, particularly at the first-year level, helping to attract the next generation of students into the geosciences.

The School of Geosciences is an acknowledged leader in Earth Science research and training with a specific focus on, but not limited to, the geoscience and natural resources of Africa. The vibrant and diverse academic staff incorporates specialists in geology, economic geology, exploration and mining geoscience, geochemistry, geochronology, geophysics, palaeontology, hydrogeology and environmental science, supported by state-of-the-art research and training facilities (https://www.wits.ac.za/geosciences/). The School of Geosciences hosts the African Research Centre for Ore Systems Science (CORES), as well as the Wits Seismic Research Centre and the Bushveld Geology and Metallogeny Research Chair (BUGEMET). In addition, the School co-hosts the national DSTI/NRF Centre of Excellence in Integrated Mineral and Energy Resource Analysis (CIMERA) and the international AfricaArray Geophysics Programme, as well as several industry-academic partnerships and research programmes.

The School benefits from its location in Johannesburg, surrounded by many superlative geological features, with strong collaborative links with the international mining and mineral exploration industry. The School places a strong emphasis on facilitating cutting-edge and societally relevant science while producing graduates with the requisite skills for the global workplace.

The Wits School of Geosciences also hosts world-class geochemical and geophysical analytical capabilities in a central facility known as the Earth Observatory. This includes a TESCAN Integrated Mineral Analyser (TIMA), quadrupole ICP-MS, a LA-SF-ICP-MS setup dedicated to U?Pb age dating and trace element analysis, as well as Africa?s only multidisciplinary isotope facility that includes an ultraclean, metal-free laboratory as well as a collision cell MC-SF-ICP-MS and a TIMS for analysis of a wide range of isotopes. The School also hosts a virtual SIMS link with the Helmholtz GeoForschungsZentrum (GFZ) and has dedicated hydrogeology and geometallurgy laboratories. Our wide ranging cutting-edge geophysical instrumentation includes gravity, magnetic, electrical resistivity, ground penetrating radar, electromagnetics, and active and passive reflection and refraction seismic equipment, supported by a comprehensive physical properties lab and computational facilities.

Requirements, Key Performance Areas & Competencies

The successful candidate is expected to establish an active and well-funded research programme in their area of geoscience expertise, publishing in internationally-accredited journals, as well as attracting and mentoring a diverse body of postgraduate students. They will be required to teach undergraduate courses within the School's existing curriculum, with a particular focus on first-year courses, and to contribute to leading and organising at least one undergraduate-level field trip.

Applicants must provide evidence of:

·       A PhD in Geosciences, with a research focus relevant to one or more of the School's core areas of expertise. Expertise in hydrogeology and geometallurgy would be an advantage, although outstanding applicants in other areas of geoscience will also be considered.

·       Demonstrated expertise in their field, with the ability to apply this across disciplinary boundaries and contribute to the School's broader research and training mission. This will translate into the ability to complement and strengthen one or more of the School's existing research groupings, spanning geology, economic geology, exploration and mining geoscience, geochemistry, geochronology, geophysics, palaeontology, hydrogeology, and environmental science.

·       A strong record of, or clear potential to establish, an internationally-recognised and externally-funded research programme.

·       A publication record in internationally-accredited journals commensurate with the level of appointment.

·       A demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including the ability to develop and deliver courses that strengthen the School's academic programme.

·       Experience in, or a clear commitment to, supervising and mentoring a diverse body of postgraduate students, commensurate with the level of appointment.

·       Evidence of, or potential for, securing external research funding from national and international funding agencies, commensurate with the level of appointment.

Enquiries: For further information contact the Head of School, Professor Grant Bybee (Tel: +27 11 717 6633; email: [email protected]). Follow the School of Geosciences at these links.