South African Radio Astronomy Observatory, Call for Applications for Postdoctoral Fellowships Commencing in 2020

South African Radio Astronomy Observatory
Call for Applications for Postdoctoral Fellowships Commencing in 2020

Closing date for applications: 30 September 2019

The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for five postdoctoral fellowships, commencing in 2020.

For 2020, SARAO will consider post-doctoral applications that focus on observational research programmes, which utilise key existing radio astronomy instruments located in South Africa. These include MeerKAT, HERA, C-BASS, early versions of HIRAX, and HartRAO facilities (including astrometry and geodesy applications). Amongst these, MeerKAT is the highest priority area.

1. Applicants for SARAO Postdoctoral Fellowships must have been active in research since obtaining their Doctoral degree. In the case of a break in research, an applicant must have obtained his/her Doctoral degree on, or after, 30 September 2015.

2. SARAO postdoctoral fellowships are only tenable at South African universities, and successful applicants must commence with their postdoctoral fellowships in South Africa on, or before, 1 October 2020.

3. SARAO postdoctoral fellowships are awarded for a period of three years.

4. The current value of a SARAO postdoctoral fellowship is ZAR 390,000 per annum (non-taxable). (Please note that the current value of the postdoctoral fellowship may be adjusted in 2020, to account for annual inflation changes.) The fellowship is supplemented by travel and equipment grants.

5. There is NO relocation grant for SARAO post-doctoral fellows, and successful applicants may NOT use their postdoctoral fellowship travel grants to cover the costs of their relocation to South Africa.

6. All applications must be endorsed by a host/supervisor, at the university in South Africa where the fellowship will be undertaken. A list of supervisors who have indicated that they are willing to host SARAO post-doctoral fellows is provided in the application guide on the online application system. Applicants are required to investigate the research specialisations of the individual hosts and institutions to inform their choices, and match their own strengths and interests. Applicants must contact the respective hosts to discuss the willingness of a host to endorse the application, and to discuss and draft a research project and implementation plan, for submission as part of the application.

SARAO Contact Information

Queries with regards to the application requirements or the application procedure, may be directed to:
Dr. Mthuthuzeli Zamxaka Email: [email protected] Telephone: (011) 442-2434

Application forms are available at https://skagrants.nrf.ac.za