Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: DST/NRF SARChI Research Chair: Intellectual Property, Innovation & Development

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Deadline: 2018-10-15

The DST/NRF funded South African Research Chair in Intellectual Property Innovation and Development, at the Department of Commercial Law, University of Cape Town has one post-doctoral fellowship available for 2019, for which applications are invited. The successful candidate must be capable of participating in the Chair’s research focus areas of intellectual property and innovation, within the context of South Africa’s National Development Plan Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis, taking into account the applicant’s academic achievements and researcher potential. The applicant’s research outputs contribute significantly to his/her selection for an award. Applicants should ensure that a full list of their research outputs, including publication records, are included in their CV.

Conditions, Value and Tenure of the Fellowship

In addition to complying with the University’s policies, procedures and practises for the postdoctoral sector, the fellow will be expected, under the auspices of the Chair, to prepare at least three subsidy- bearing journal articles (or the equivalent) for publication over the course of the 12-month duration of the fellowship. The fellow will also be expected to support the operation of the Chair actively and will be given opportunities to develop his/her professional profile through teaching and/or postgraduate supervision experience. This is a full-time position, based in Cape Town, and fellows may not hold any other full-time or part-time job or undertake any other work for remuneration for the duration of the fellowship.

The tenure of the fellowship is for one year, with the possibly of renewal for a second year subject to satisfactory progress. The value of the fellowship for 2019 is R220,000. The fellowship does not include benefits or travel/relocation costs but the Chair will assist the fellow to seek funding for conference expenses, where required. The release of funds is dependent on satisfactory progress reported. The fellow’s performance will be evaluated formally per semester, for which purpose the submission of progress reports will be required in June and October.

Requirements

Applicants must:

  • hold a PhD in Intellectual Property Law, or a related field, awarded within the last five years; or must provide proof that their PhD examination process will be successfully completed by the time the fellowship is taken up, and no later than December 2018.
  • provide evidence of strong scholarly performance (e.g. publications, participation in research projects, networks, conference presentations)
  • demonstrate willingness and ability to be both a team player and a team leader, and conduct research in an interdisciplinary environment
  • demonstrate good organizational and management skills; and excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Satisfy the relevant NRF criteria and comply with its rules and guidelines

Postdoctoral fellowships are open to all nationalities. Preference will be given to South African citizens and South African permanent residents, followed by African citizens and, finally, to other foreign nationals

Applications

Applications should be sent to SARChI-IP@uct.ac.za and should include:

  1. The applicant’s full curriculum vitae and list of publications
  2. The names and contact details of at least two academics who have taught, supervised or worked alongside the applicant, , who should also be requested to submit their confidential reports to SARChI-IP@uct.ac.za by the closing date
  3. Certified copies of all academic transcripts and degree certificates
  4. A specimen of the applicant’s writing, such as a journal article already published / accepted for publication or a chapter from the applicant’s doctoral thesis
  5. A proposal of the coherent body of research to emanate from the fellowship, indicating the overarching research pursuit, and the workplan that will result in the required number of publications, with potential topics.

The Chair will consider only eligible and complete applications, submitted on or before 15 October 2018. The University reserves the right to disqualify ineligible and/or incomplete applications, and to change the conditions of award and/or to make no awards at all.

Further information about postdoctoral fellows at UCT
Further information on NRF criteria, bursary values, rules and guidelines
Further information on the Chair on Intellectual Property, Innovation and Development Further information about SARChI Chairs at UCT
Further information on applying to the LLM/MPhil programme
Further information on applying to the PhD programme