MOUNTAINS
The University of Pretoria is offering a post-doctoral position on global change. Global
change denotes the interaction between climate and other global drivers and human
practice with respect to the ecosystem services, food and natural resources for humans.
The effect of global change is likely to be observed clearly in mountain areas because the
altitudinal variation in climate and natural resources in mountains is likely to provide a
sensitive indicator of global change. The position is based at the Centre for
Environmental Studies (CFES) at the University of Pretoria and funded by the Swiss
Development and Cooperation Agency (SDC) through the Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, with technical oversight by the Mountain
Research Initiative (MRI) at the University of Bern (Switzerland). The position will
promote global change monitoring and research in African mountains, available
immediately until December 31st 2012. Your responsibilities will be:
a) Develop and promote the network of researchers focused on global change research in
the mountains of Sub-Saharan Africa, in close collaboration with the MRI at the
University of Bern, Switzerland. Your work will include travel to Western and Eastern
Africa to meet scientists and to assist with the planning, facilitation and funding of an
Africa-wide network of research on global change in African mountains.
b) Facilitate the participation by the above research network in preparation activities and
documentation leading to the Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC, the IGBP Planet
Under Pressure Conference Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development, and
Conferences of the Parties of the UNFCCC, UNCBD and UNCCD.
Become part of a multidisciplinary team of scientists on the African continent. You will
obtain in-depth experience in research on global change. You will also gain extensive
experience in the interaction between the scientific world and the international treaties
and bodies around global change (e.g. IPCC, UNCBD), in planning for the Rio+20
conference and other similar events. Your overall insight into the continent-wide research
will enable you to generate at least one scientific article at the end of 2011, as well as a
body of more popular articles on global change in African mountains. You will work
closely with the MRI and CFES. The postdoctoral position includes a stipend of US$
16000 (approx. ZAR 112000) per annum, as well as extensive provision for travel and
project development.
Interested persons should send by 30 April 2011 a C.V. and a statement of interest
indicating why you would be appropriate for this position (300 words maximum) :
Prof. J.W.H. Ferguson, Centre for Environmental Studies, University of Pretoria
Phone: +27-12-420-2017 Fax: +27-12-420-3210
Email: willemferguson@zoology.up.ac.za