CORE PURPOSE OF JOB

The Department of Botany at the Nelson Mandela University is recognized for its outstanding academic programmes and research contributions in the fields of marine botany particularly surf-diatom dynamics in the near shore and seaweed mariculture and estuarine microalgal and saltmarsh ecology. Currently the department specialises in contributing to our understanding of blue-carbon dynamics in estuaries as well as nutrient loading in permanently open estuaries. The department prides itself with close research collaboration with other departments in the Life, Earth, Environmental and Agricultural Sciences Cluster including a number of research entities (e.g. Ocean Science & African Centre for Coastal-Palaeoscience) also within the Cluster.

The department has well-equipped teaching and research laboratories as well as off-road vehicles, and both estuarine and coastal research vessels, to support field-work. Research infrastructure includes a newly acquired electronic micromanipulator microscope in the newly established Palynology research laboratory as well as the high resolution transmission electronic microscope (HRTEM) housed in Physics department also available for research use. There are GIS platforms and other research-related equipment and facilities that are available for use by staff and postgraduate students. The Department also manages the Ria Oliver herbarium.

The proximity of the university near the coast and bordered by the Sundays and Swartkops estuaries in the northeast and the Gamtoos estuary in the southwest, means the department is suitably positioned to access nearby research sites of interest including coastal wetlands.

The department has strategically positioned itself to strengthen its teaching, research and community engagement responsibilities geared at attracting individuals keen in pursuing novel ideas to address the challenges within the botanical educational and research space.

The successful candidate should:

• Facilitate and administer the learning process for students in modules presented by the Botany Department at undergraduate and postgraduate levels via different modalities of delivery including e-learning.

• Develop appropriate teaching and learning material that would be innovative and discipline oriented developed with a broad intention to address environmental and social challenges.

• Do research and contribute to the research activities of the department.

• Contribute to community engagement and be involved in the administrative and core functions of the Department, Cluster and University.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

• Facilitate teaching and learning at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Continually develop and update teaching/learning materials to ensure that relevance and quality are maintained.
• Assess and administer student performance in accordance with accepted benchmarks.
• Contribute to the creation of knowledge by virtue of involvement in relevant research and publications in recognised peer reviewed journals.
• Be involved in community engagement programmes and partnerships with industry and civil society.
• Be involved in the core administrative functions of the Department, Cluster and University.

Continually engage in personal professional development programmes.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Effective lecturing of undergraduate and postgraduate theory courses at university level.
• A sound knowledge of the theory and application of marine botany and ecology, aquatic plant ecology, and aquatic plant ecophysiology.
• Good interpersonal skills, a passion for students and the ability to effectively facilitate learning using modern teaching aids.
• Strong skills in computer data analysis and interfacing.

Evidence of successful experimental research in marine and/or aquatic botany.

REQUIREMENTS

• The candidate should have, as a minimum, a relevant PhD degree in Botany.
• Two (2) to five (5) years of experience in lecturing and administering Botany modules at university level.
• Evidence of research dissemination through peer reviewed publications in internationally recognized journals and participation at international conferences will be an advantage.
• Evidence of sourcing independent research funding.

Evidence of involvement in postgraduate teaching and supervision will be an advantage.

Disclaimer:

  No applicant would be allowed to apply and/or would be accepted after the closing date (26 February  2021).  

Nelson Mandela University reserves the right not to make an appointment. In considering candidates for appointment into the adverti