Living Grasslands is a transdisciplinary Biodiversa+ project seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow (Postdoc) in faunal diversity to explore wilding as a Nature-based Solution (NbS) for grassy ecosystems. The Fellowship is for 12 months but seeks candidates who want to benefit from a unique “sandwich programme” that offers a second year through the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden, entailing exceptional opportunities for international collaboration with favourable rates of remuneration (current rate ~ 39 500 SEK per month before tax for this second year). The Fellowship provides a challenging and exciting research environment for a candidate wanting to collaborate across disciplines, gain international partnerships, benefit from working with a large team, and advance scientific knowledge while contributing to solutions for grassland conservation and restoration.
The Postdoc will be based at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and conduct fieldwork in the uMzimvubu Catchment (near Matatiele, Eastern Cape, SA) as part of a transdisciplinary team including three other Postdocs (a plant scientist and two social scientists). The two natural science Postdocs will be under the general supervision of academics at UCT and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). Key project members are at UCT, SLU, University of Fort Hare, Nelson Mandela University, and Utrecht University (knowledge institutions) 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.
Biodiversity in 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’ where wilding outcomes can be tested. As a postdoc in faunal diversity, you will:
The position is open to any eligible person, South African or otherwise, who is in possession of a PhD degree in ecology or another field relevant to the focus of this postdoc obtained in the last 5 years, and who 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 :
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, 3 referees must be requested to email references with the email subject line as above to the email address shown below by the closing date.
Tagged as: Life Sciences
Please send your application to heidi.hawkins@uct.ac.za
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