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Job Title
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (one year, renewable up to three years): Department of Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science (Job ID 6558)
Organizational Unit
University of the Free State -> Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences -> Department Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science
Contract Type
Contract
Occupational Level
Temporary
Location
Bloemfontein Campus – Bloemfontein, FS ZA (Primary)
Closing Date
11/9/2026
Description
The University of the Free State (UFS) invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science. Candidates interested in pursuing an academic or professional career in statistical research, with special research interest in bayesian modelling and mixed models are encouraged to apply.
The fellowship is awarded on a competitive basis, taking into account the applicants’ academic achievements, publication outputs and research potential, as well as the relevance of prior experience and expertise. The fellowship is available for a period of one year, renewable for up to three years subject to satisfactory performance..
Duties and responsibilities:
• Conduct innovative research in actuarial applications of likelihood-based statistical inference for heavy-tailed distributions under censoring and truncation modelling.
• Author/co-author of at least three (3) publication outputs per year in the form of DHET– accredited scholarly journal articles or books/chapters in books. Renewal of the fellowship beyond the first year depends on satisfactory performance and submission of an annual progress report.
• Initiate projects and seek funding for them.
• Register and reside as a postdoctoral research fellow at the UFS and participate in relevant activities of the Department of Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Sciences.
Eligibility criteria
• Open to all South African and foreign nationals for full-time research at the University of the Free State.
• Graduated with a PhD degree in a relevant discipline within the last five years.
• Successful applicants may not hold full-time salaried employment during the fellowship.
• Successful applicants must be able to relocate to the UFS for the duration of the fellowship. This is a residential fellowship: the successful applicant is required to spend 80% of her/his postdoctoral period at the UFS.
Competencies
Application:
To apply, please email the following documentation by 11 September 2026 to email: esselmensahka@ufs.ac.za
• Motivation letter, including a 1-2-page outline of relevant expertise and experience.
• Full CV including a list of research publications, conference papers and other scholarly outputs.
• Full transcripts of academic record and copy of doctoral degree certificate.
• Copy of ID document (or copy of passport in the case of foreign applicants).
• Contact details of two academic referees who have taught/supervised the candidate.
Value of the fellowship:
• R 270,000 annual fellowship.
• R 30,000 additional research expenses fund.
Closing date:
11 September 2026
Commencement of fellowship:
02 January 2027
General:
The UFS is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity, and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups including candidates with disabilities. Our Employment Equity Policy is available at : ufs-employment-equity-plan_2025.pdf
The University processes personal information in line with its obligations under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and any personal information provided to the University will be treated as confidential and processed in accordance with the rights provided to data subjects under POPIA.
The University reserves the right not to fill the post. The UFS will only consider applications of candidates who meet all the inherent requirements of the position. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. Should you not be contacted within six weeks of the closing date for applications, you may assume that your application was unsuccessful.
How to apply to this job
esselmensahka@ufs.ac.za