Post-doctoral Quantitative Raptor Biologist

Vacancy: ABAX FOUNDATION POST DOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW

Closing date: 18th January 2024

Role: Quantitative Raptor Biologist

We invite applications for a full-time post-doctoral research fellowship at the FitzPatrick Institute, a world-renowned ornithological research institute with a strong emphasis on postgraduate studies. The FitzPatrick Institute is within the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Cape Town.

The successful applicant will join the Raptor Research Group to work on raptor conservation projects, including, but not limited to the analysis of existing data on the movement ecology of African raptors to improve our understanding of conservation requirements and making recommendations to further raptor conservation nationally. The candidate will be supported and supervised by Associate Professor Arjun Amar and the research will be carried out in close collaboration with Dr Megan Murgatroyd from HawkWatch International. We require an experienced individual to undertake analyses of long-term data on raptor dynamics and movement ecology and prepare the findings for publication in high ranking peer-reviewed journals. There will be additional opportunities for field work.

Qualifications, experience, and skill criteria:

Required:
• A relevant PhD, awarded within the previous five years
• Expertise in spatial analyses, movement ecology and handling large spatial datasets
• Expertise in R and GIS
• Excellent organizational capability and ability to meet deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Demonstrated ability to write publications for peer-reviewed journals

Desirable:
• Experience attaching transmitter devices to large birds
• Experience using Github and specific R packages; R Shiny, R markdown

Value and tenure:
• The fellowship is funded at R300 000 per year (tax free).
• The position is for 1 year, renewable for a further year depending on funding and performance. Performance will be reviewed at 6 months and 12 month intervals.
• Additional project running costs are available, inclusive of the opportunity to present results at a relevant conference.

Conditions of award:
•The successful applicant will be required to register as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Cape Town and will be expected to commence the required research at a mutually agreed date that is ideally no later than the end of March 2024.
• Postdoctoral fellowships at UCT are only available to individuals who have achieved a doctoral degree in a relevant subject within the past 5 years.
• Applicants may not previously have held full-time professional or academic employment
• The successful applicant will be required to comply with UCT’s policies, procedures and practices for the postdoctoral sector.

Application procedure:
To apply, please send a CV (including your academic record & names and contact details of two referees) and a short motivation letter to Hilary Buchanan at hilary.buchanan@uct.ac.za (subject ‘your surname’ and ‘Raptor PDRF’). Informal enquires can be directed to A/Prof. Arjun Amar: arjun.amar@uct.ac.za.

Selection process:
• Only eligible and complete applications will be considered by the selection committee.
• If you have not heard within one month of the deadline, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.
• Interviews of short-listed candidates are likely to take place in Jan/Feb 2024 and the successful candidate is expected to start as soon as possible thereafter.

Candidates from historically disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged to apply.