Overview
Senior Researcher (GIS and Remote Sensing, and Environmental Management) (5-year Contract) (Job ID: 6477) Jobs in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa at University of the Free State
Title: Senior Researcher (GIS and Remote Sensing, and Environmental Management) (5-year Contract) (Job ID: 6477)
Company: University of the Free State
Location: Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa
Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa
Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Senior Researcher (GIS and Remote Sensing, and Environmental Management) (5-year Contract) (Job ID: 6477)
Duties and responsibilities:
• Provide and coordinate high-impact research programmes in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and environmental management with emphasis on disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, and sustainable development.
• Contribute to developing innovative geospatial methodologies and models for environmental assessment, hazard mapping, and risk analysis.
• Pioneer the integration of GeoAI and advanced machine learning techniques in disaster risk and environmental research.
• Establish and maintain a strong publication record in high-impact, internationally recognised journals.
• Present research findings at prestigious international conferences and scientific forums.
Inherent requirements:
• PhD on NQF Level 10 in Environmental Management, Geography, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Geoinformatics, or a closely related discipline.
• Proven experience in the presentation of papers/posters at national scholarly conferences.
• Proven national recognition for specialist expertise and research in a specific area of scholarship.
• An NRF rating or demonstrated potential for obtaining an NRF rating.
• Proven experience in supervision of graduated master's-degree students.
• A proven research record of relevant publications in national and international accredited journals.
• Proven experience of service as an active member of a national or international scholarly society or committee or agency concerned with research at higher-education levels.
Recommendations:
• Minimum of 2 years postdoctoral research experience in relevant fields.
• Demonstrated track record of research excellence with substantial publications in high-impact peer-reviewed journals (minimum 10 publications).
• Proven experience in leading research projects and managing multidisciplinary teams.
• Extensive expertise in advanced GIS and remote sensing software and methodologies.
• Strong record of postgraduate student supervision with successful completions.
• Excellent scientific writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• Spatial modelling, geostatistics, and predictive analytics.
• Disaster risk assessment and vulnerability analysis using GIS and Remote sensing.
• GeoAI and machine learning applications in environmental science.
• Big data analytics and cloud computing for geospatial applications.
Assumption of duties:
As soon as possible.
Closing date:
11 June 2026
Salary:
The salary is available on request.
Fringe benefits:
(Subject to specific conditions): pension scheme, medical aid scheme, group life insurance, housing allowance, leave and sick leave, service bonus and study benefits.
Enquiries:
For enquiries, please feel free to contact 051 401 7659 or email [email protected] or [email protected]. Additionally, kindly contact 051 401 2558 / 9813 for assistance.