Job Description

The School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences is inviting applications from any relevant field in Geological Sciences. However, preference will be given to applicants with expertise in Structural Geology and/or Economic Geology. The incumbent will be required to provide academic leadership, to teach both undergraduate and post-graduate courses, and conduct research in aspects of Geological Sciences. S/he will be expected to establish a research programme, attract research funds and supervise post-graduate students. We seek applicants with an experienced track record that demonstrate success in peer-review publishing and postgraduate supervision.

The incumbent will be expected to develop strong links with industry to promote scholarship and research in their field. S/he will also be required to initiate and maintain an active research programme that will involve postgraduate students and attract external funding.

The Discipline of Geological Sciences has a variety of equipment to facilitate research. This includes an analytical laboratory with Panalytical XRF and XRD equipment; a Perkin Elmer Nexion ICP-MS with LA system and a SGE-USGS heating-freezing stage for fluid inclusion studies, a basic paleomagnetic laboratory equipped with JR-6A Spinner Magnetometer, LDA5 AF Demagnetizer and Dual-blade rock saw; fully equipped thin-section laboratory; a sedimentology laboratory with a Malvern Particle Sizer; and a rock engineering laboratory with a variety of relevant testing equipment. It also offers access to a complete suite of Rock science programmes.

The incumbent will report to the Academic Leader: Geological Sciences.

Minimum requirements:

• PhD in a Geological Sciences
• Evidence of excellent teaching experience and leadership in curriculum development in a relevant field at tertiary level.
• Excellent and sustained publication of independent research in quality scientific journals, appropriate for the level.
• Excellent and sustained track record of successful supervision of postgraduate students at Masters and PhD level, appropriate for the level.
• Excellent and sustained track record of successful attraction of external research grants.
• Evidence of strong and sustained academic leadership within the Department / School/ College/ University, which includes mentorship and coaching.
• Evidence of national and international recognition in a research area within the discipline.

This appointment will be made in line with the University Guidelines/benchmarks which are available on the University Vacancies website on

Enquiries and details regarding this post, as well as requests for a job profile may be directed to the Academic Leader of Geological Sciences, Prof Molla Demlie, on email:

Appointment to this position will be on the 2018 condition of Service. The total remuneration package offered includes benefits.

Short-listed candidates may be expected to do a presentation on a specific topic.

All applicants are required to complete the relevant application form which is available here:

Apply by 2023-09-20

Kindly note that the University of KwaZulu-Natal ("the University") is required to process any Personal Information (as defined by the Protection of Personal Act, 2013 "POPIA") submitted by candidates when applying for positions at the University. The provision of the Personal Information is a requirement in terms of the University's recruitment and selection process. The retention of any personal information is as a consequence of the University being bound by legislative requirements and / or good governance practices as well as record keeping for statistical purposes. The University will endeavour to ensure that the appropriate security measures are in place and implemented for both electronic and paper-based formats that are used for processing of the personal information recorded through this recruitment and selection process.

posted: 21 August 2023

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