The Wits School of Public Health (SPH) and Global Change Institute (GCI) seek to recruit a postdoctoral fellow to manage the theme on the impact of climate change and variability on human health with a specific focus on the use of spati0-temporal statistical methods. The fellow will be hosted by Wits GCI and also spend time at the Wits SPH full time for one year. Responsibilities will include the co-development of the research focus, management of the theme, postgraduate cosupervision, and publishing of research. The fellow will have full guidance and mentorship by the theme leads within the SSACAB programme.

Funding comes from SSACAB, a consortium of 6 African and 2 northern partner institutions, and 9 collaborating institutions, led by the University of the Witwatersrand. SSACAB received funding through the Developing Excellence in Leadership, Training, and Science in Africa (DELTAS Africa) program. DELTAS Africa is an initiative of the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA) with funding support of Wellcome and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The funding aims to develop and improve biostatistical skills among researchers to create biostatistical research nodes of excellence and a network to nurture researchers with advanced skills and expertise.

The Postdoctoral fellowship is open to candidates with a strong background in Statistics, Mathematics, Demography, Climate modelling and other quantitative fields. Previous knowledge of spatial statistics is required. Former DELTAS Africa SSACAB fellows who have recently been awarded or have completed a PhD in Biostatistics are also encouraged to apply. The scholarship is open to nationals of low and middle-income countries in the Sub-Saharan African region who are resident in the region as per World Bank definition: http://data.worldbank.org/about/country-and-lending-groups#Sub_Saharan_Africa Applicants should be under 55 years old for the post-doctoral fellowships.

The scheme will provide full scholarship for the 2026 academic year and carries an attractive financial package per annum. The fellow may apply for additional funding in agreement with the Supervisor, for research costs, and conference support, on a competitive basis. The Fellowship is exclusive to DELTAS Africa SSACAB II and cannot be held concurrently with another job or supplementary funding.

The Post-Doctoral fellowship application should provide:

• Proof of a PhD obtained within the last eight years.
• Comprehensive curriculum vitae, including relevant research and work experience
• Letter of motivation explaining the desire to pursue a Postdoctoral fellowship in biostatistics
• Certified copies of degree certificates
• A proposal outlining the plan for the fellowship not exceeding 5 pages and outlining the proposed area of research. The research proposal must have a description of the research area, highlight the research objectives, research questions and research methodology, and a clear timeframe indicating particular research inputs and outputs.
• Proven ability to write and publish papers in accredited peer-reviewed journals.
• Names and contact details of two contactable referees

Enquiries and applications should be submitted to:

1. Dr Yolandi Ernst (yolandi.ernst@wits.ac.za)
2. Prof Ngianga-Bakwin Kandala (ngianga-bakwin.kandala@wits.ac.za)

Please copy tobias.chirwa@wits.ac.za and caroline.vika@wits.ac.za