Co-creating scenarios for Nature-based approaches to restore biodiversity-livelihood connections in South African grassy ecosystems
Value: R335 000 for 12 months plus research costs. Awards do not include any benefits and are normally exempt from taxation.
In collaboration with the uYilo e-mobility Programme that is located at the Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), the post-doctoral student will supervise and coordinate novel laboratory scale research projects in the field of battery material and electrochemistry. The projects will focus on developing an understanding of electro-active materials used in battery systems such as Li-ion, Na-ion and Pb-acid batteries. Advanced material analytical techniques such as in-situ PXRD, synchrotron, Impedance Spectroscopy and high-resolution TEM will be applied to study the behaviours of cathode materials. Suitable battery systems will be assembled and their life-cycle in application studied using advanced computer simulation software.
The Postdoc will conduct fieldwork in the uMzimvubu Catchment (near Matatiele, Eastern Cape, SA) as part of a transdisciplinary team including three other Postdocs (two ecological scientists and one other social scientist), senior academics from Nelson Mandela University (NMU), UU, University of Fort Hare (UFH), University of Cape Town (UCT), and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) as well as Conservation South Africa and Environmental & Rural Solutions (NGOs collaborators). Community members, other NGOs, landowners, and government are other stakeholders with whom you will interact. You and the other social science postdoc will be under the general supervision of academics at UU, NMU, and UFH.
Biodiversity in the uMzimvubu Catchment is threatened by direct wildlife extirpation, habitat loss, unplanned fire and grazing, and alien plants invasions. The Catchment is also home to people of diverse cultural backgrounds, many of whom face enormous socio-economic challenges including severe poverty and among the highest unemployment rates in South Africa. At the same time, the catchment hosts a growing number of innovative restoration and conservation initiatives that aim to restore ecological functioning while lifting people’s livelihoods. This setting provides us with a ‘living lab’ in which you will be asked to:
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Iteratively co-create scenarios of wilding together with local communities, landowners, researchers and NGOs through a series of participatory workshops. The scenarios are informed by indigenous and scientific knowledge delivered by the other postdocs in the team.
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Conduct focus group discussions with each stakeholder group to mobilise inter- and intragenerational knowledge and values of the different groups.
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For each scenario, and as a team of postdocs, you will analyse scenario outcomes in terms of biodiversity and human well-being values and possible trade-offs and synergies among these outcomes.
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Lead a process to i) select one or more preferred wilding scenario(s) that delivers benefits for biodiversity and people; and ii) co-develop realistic and equitable pathways towards the preferred scenario in a final series of participatory workshops. You will investigate levers for change for the selected scenarios, including financing opportunities such as potential for biodiversity credit programs but also governmental poverty relief initiatives.
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Work in a transdisciplinary way with the Postdocs and key project members to co-create research questions and seed findings into inclusive wilding scenarios
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Lead and contribute to knowledge products (conference presentations, journal papers) and knowledge utilization (e.g., white paper with policy recommendations).
The position is open to any eligible person, South African or otherwise, who is in possession of a PhD degree in sustainability science or other field relevant to the focus of this postdoc. The PhD must be obtained no later than 5 years ago at the time of starting the postdoc and the candidate has not previously held comprehensive professional or permanent academic positions. Candidates may apply for the fellowship prior to obtaining their PhD but may not hold the fellowship until their PhD has been awarded.
Applications should be emailed with the subject line “Living Grasslands Postdoc” as a single PDF file containing :
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A cover letter that clearly motivates your interest in the biodiversity-livelihood nexus and why you are a suitable candidate for the position.
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In the cover letter and CV, applicants should further take the following evaluation criteria into account: 1) demonstrable experience with participatory (action) research and/or indigenous knowledge approaches, preferably within an African or Indigenous context, and ideally with co-creating scenarios and transformation pathways with local communities; 2) a collaborative spirit and the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a transdisciplinary team of other postdocs, senior scientists, and societal partners; 3) experience with stakeholder engagement, where experience with stakeholders relevant to above project description counts as a merit; 4) strong project management and organizational skills; and 5) experience with the socio-ecological conditions of the South African living lab counts as a merit.
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A curriculum vitae that includes a web-link to the applicant’s Google Scholar profile, a list of publications with DOI numbers, and details of conference presentations.
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The certified copies of all academic transcripts and degree certificates.
Applications (cover letter, curriculum vitae, academic transcripts) must be submitted electronically in a single PDF file by 20 March 2026. Receipt of applications will be acknowledged. Also, please include the names of 2-3 referees that have agreed to email references upon request of the selection committee.
Please send applications by email to graham.kerley@mandela.ac.za, i.dorresteijn@uu.nl and joris.cromsigt@slu.se (note: ensure to send to all). For enquiries and further information, please email Ine Dorresteijn (i.dorresteijn@uu.nl).
All applicants are subject to the policies surrounding the postdoctoral sector at Nelson Mandela University and South Africa. The funding may not be held concurrently with other substantial funding, unless with prior permission. The programme reserves the right to make no awards at all, to cancel the award if the conditions are not met, and to effect changes to the conditions of award.