Call For Post-Doctoral Fellows

Application Deadline:

About the position
 

Nkabom Collaborative @ UG invites applications for dynamic and highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellows to undertake independent research and advance the mission of the Collaborative. Successful candidates will work closely with pillar leads, faculty, students, and stakeholders to provide expertise, mentorship, and technical guidance across the project’s pillars, particularly in Education, Access and Success, and Entrepreneurship. 

 

Successful fellows will play a key role in coordinating fieldwork, supporting innovative programming such as pitch competitions, boot camps, and job fairs, and contributing to the implementation of impactful initiatives such as the Honours Programme, Rural Mothers Programme, Innovation Hub, and Training of Trainers projects. 

 

This is an excellent opportunity for early-career researchers to engage in applied research, mentorship, and program implementation in a transformative and interdisciplinary environment. Interested candidates must have recently completed (within the past three years) a PhD or equivalent degree in Nutrition and Food Science, Agriculture, Public Health, Education, Entrepreneurship, or Development Studies.

Responsibilities

  • Mentorship: Mentor and guide the Collaboratives’ PhD and MSc students involved in their research.  

  • Stakeholder Engagement: facilitate collaboration between students, faculty, and external stakeholders to ensure project goals are met. Act as a liaison between project teams and community participants to enhance engagement in programs such as the Rural Mothers Programme and innovation initiatives. 

  • Grant writing, Research and Reporting: support the development of research grants, frameworks for fieldwork, data collection, and analysis. Contribute to scholarly publications, reports, and presentations related to project outcomes. Assist in monitoring and evaluating project progress and outcomes to inform continuous improvement. 

  • Teaching and Facilitation: support faculty with teaching courses in the PhD programme and facilitating short courses. 

  • Program Coordination: oversee the execution of events and activities such as pitch competitions, boot camps, and food innovation video projects. Job fairs, job shadowing, internships, and other career development initiatives. 

  • Organize Innovation Hub programming and Training of Trainers workshops. Ensure all activities align with project objectives and timelines. Assist in developing and delivering short courses and training modules. 

  • Capacity Building: develop and deliver training sessions for students and faculty on applied research, entrepreneurship, and professional development. Facilitate knowledge sharing and the development of innovative ideas through workshops and seminars. 
     

Independent research
 

  • Draft at least one paper for submission to peer-reviewed journals. 

  • Disseminate findings from independent research at conferences and seminars. 

  • Develop at least one research proposal for funding. 

  • Produce policy briefs and non-technical materials, and share research findings with policymakers, practitioners and other stakeholders. 

  • Participate in stakeholder engagements and training for early career researchers on the project. 

Qualification

  • A minimum of a PhD or Postdoctoral experience in a relevant field, such as Nutrition and Food Science, Agriculture, Public Health, Education, Entrepreneurship, Social Sciences, or Development Studies. 

  • Demonstrated experience in interdisciplinary research and program implementation. 

  • Demonstrated strong research methodological capabilities, either quantitative or qualitative. 

  • Strong written and interpersonal communication skills.

  • Previous experience in food systems research or health-related topics, preferably including peer-reviewed publications. Proven track record of working with diverse stakeholders, including students, faculty, and community groups. 

  • Strong knowledge of access to education, access & success models, and entrepreneurship development frameworks. 

  • Ability to plan, execute, and oversee complex projects involving multiple stakeholders. 

  • Proficiency in designing research projects, data analysis, and scholarly writing. 

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills to engage diverse audiences effectively. 
  • Ability to guide and inspire graduate students and young researchers. 
  • Skilled in organizing and executing academic and entrepreneurial events. 
  • Innovative and solution-oriented approach to addressing project challenges. 

  • Dedication to advancing education, access, and entrepreneurship for societal impact.  

     

Eligibility criteria

 

  • Applicants must be less than 35 years at the time of application.

  • Females, persons with disability and internally displaced persons are particularly encouraged to apply.

 

Fellowship duration

 

The fellowship is tenable for a period of one year. However, performance in the first six months will be evaluated and renewed for another six months if performance is satisfactory.

 

Compensation

 

Postdoctoral Fellows will receive a monthly stipend for the duration of the fellowship. In addition, they will receive seed funding for generating new research.  

 

Application procedure
 

Interested applicants should submit the following:

 

1. Cover letter

2. Curriculum vitae

3. Qualifications (Academic degrees, transcripts, and professional certificates).

4. Personal statement describing the candidate’s motivation and research interests to be pursued during the fellowship.

5. Writing sample showcasing the candidate’s current or recently completed research project. The writing sample should fit within the long-term research trajectory described in the personal statement. The writing sample may consist of an excerpt from the candidate’s dissertation; a publishable article, a book manuscript; or a recent publication, whether it be a peer-reviewed journal article, edited volume, or an excerpt from a published monograph.

6. Statement of teaching philosophy (2-3 pages, single-spaced) discussing the candidate’s teaching experience and pedagogical competencies. The teaching statement must also demonstrate commitment to show past evidence, and future plans for creating equitable opportunities for learning and mentoring, especially for underrepresented students such as women, persons with disability, and internally displaced persons. 

7. Reference names and contact information of three (3) referees and one reference letter from each named referee. 

8. Online submission applications must be submitted online using the following link [Registration]. All documents must be combined into a single PDF and uploaded as part of the application. 

 

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Registration Link