The University seeks to appoint Distinguished Visiting Academics (DVAs) to conduct multi-disciplinary research involving multiple academic departments and aligned to 4IR disciplines. We’re interested in outstanding scholars and practitioners, both established and fast emerging, who have a distinguished, national or internationally renowned academic profile or innovation portfolio. We are particularly interested in appointing DVAs who are capable of work between academic departments. For example, an artificial intelligence (AI) expert might collaborate extensively with Humanities and Social Sciences departments, centres and academics. Our goal is to lead 4IR research, ideation and innovation in both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ knowledge areas and skillsets, so as to provide innovative solutions to the challenges the Fourth Industrial Revolution must overcome to be a force for good. We, therefore, also welcome applications from candidates whose work critiques and problematises the notion of 4IR in the contemporary socio-economic and geopolitical context. Ultimately, the aim is to find constructive, critical and future-focused ways to ensure that South Africa can participate actively in and contribute productively to 4IR.
Distinguished Visiting Academics include both internationally established (Distinguished Visiting Professors) and fast emerging academics (Emerging Visiting Scholars). At the same time, we’re also interested in persons in industry who have led the creation and development of intellectual property (IP) relating to 4IR. We wish for their collaboration with the University and to allow the infusion of innovation with our students, postdoctoral research fellows and the academy generally.
Distinguished Visiting Professors
Candidates must:
- Hold doctoral degree or equivalent qualification;
- Be appointable at the level of a Full Professor benchmarked internationally;
- Ideally be an A- or B-rated researcher (National Research Foundation (NRF)), if in the South African university system;
- Be outstanding and innovative researchers, whose accomplishments have made a major impact in their field;
- Be recognised internationally as an undisputed leader in their field and/or have received substantial international recognition for their research contributions (citations and impact of their research and/or innovation);
- Have a proven track record of multi-disciplinary research activities with clear expertise in AI or other 4IR areas, for instance, relating to other disciplines, such as, ethics and/or the policy/legislative environment/education, etc. or alternatively pursue an approach that will allow for substantial leveraging of 4IR;
- Have achieved a high volume and quality of research output as evidenced by accredited publications (e.g. journal articles, books, book chapters, accredited publications) and/or other significant publications, artefacts, patents and research grants awarded;
- Have a sustained and proven track record in successfully supervising and mentoring postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows, taking into account the practices of the relevant field;
- Have a portfolio of evidence of strong networks and collaboration with international partners, as well as publishing with prestigious international institutions and highly acclaimed scholars;
- Demonstrate collaboration with industry or science councils, where applicable; and
- As this is a ‘visiting’ appointment – the primary employer must allow appointments and collaborative/affiliated research, creative or innovation outputs with UJ.
Emerging Visiting Scholars
Scholars are sought at all levels, and must display excellence at their career stage. Successful candidates will:
- Either hold a doctoral degree or equivalent qualification, or supply compelling evidence that the doctorate will be awarded no later than six months after date of appointment;
- Demonstrate potential for becoming future international leaders in their field on the basis of exceptional research performance and output from their doctoral and/or early postdoctoral research careers;
- Ideally holding a P or Y1 rating (National Research Foundation (NRF)), if in the South African university system; otherwise, be suitable for consideration and willing to apply;
- Have a track record of multi-disciplinary research activities commensurate with career stage with clear expertise in AI or other 4IR areas, for example (but not limited to): cognitive science; computational linguistics; philosophy of artificial intelligence; history of science and technology; sociology of science and technology; policy frameworks relating to 4IR; education and 4IR; and other similar fields;
- Show evidence of networks and collaboration with international partners, as well as publishing in high impact journals, relative to career stage;
- Develop public appreciation and understanding of 4IR, dialogue and conversation, development of op-eds, and communication;
- Collaborate with industry, where applicable; and
- As this is a ‘visiting’ appointment, if there is a primary employer, they must allow appointments and collaborative/affiliated research outputs with UJ.
Expected Outputs for DVAs
Expected outputs would be negotiated on the basis of appointment terms and in a mutually beneficial way. Ultimately, outputs must be measurable and time bound enabling a return-on-investment:
- DVAs are expected to conduct multi-disciplinary research aligned to 4IR involving different academic entities of the University;
- Postgraduate co-supervision with an emphasis on timely completion;
- Produce UJ-affiliated and recognised research, creative or innovation outputs with an emphasis on citations and impacts;
- Demonstrable socio-economic, political, legal, creative, technological or other impact of the research;
- Strategic collaboration with international entities in international events, such as conferences, as well as publishing with international institutions, scholars and scientists;
- DVAs must leverage additional project and programme-based external funding, nationally, regionally and/or internationally;
- Develop public appreciation and understanding of 4IR, dialogue and conversation, development of op-eds, and communication;
- Contribute to curriculum design, such as contributing to the development of curricula or continuing education programmes (CEPs) relevant to 4IR, where applicable; and
- Strongly encouraged to apply for NRF rating, if not already rated.
Appointment Terms
- DVAs are appointed on a five-year contract and are expected to spend three months a year, negotiable, at the University of Johannesburg (may be structured following negotiations with the host).
- Subject to availability of funding, the contract is renewable based on exceptional performance.
Your application, comprising a detailed Curriculum Vitae as well as the names and full contact details (including telephone numbers and email addresses) of at least three traceable and credible referees must be uploaded before or on the closing date of the advertised post. Please also attach the following: a copy of your highest academic qualification, proof of registration with professional bodies you might belong to and a list of accredited research output and/or a portfolio of your creative output.
Applications should be marked ‘Confidential” and addressed to the Executive Director: Human Resources, University of Johannesburg, Po Box 524, Auckland Park 2006 or email applications to Ms. T Kwinana at email: [email protected]
In conjunction to merit on the basis of qualifications, experience and proven achievements, the University of Johannesburg is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and those individuals from the historically disadvantaged groups. As necessitated by operational requirements, the University reserves the right not to make an appointment to positions advertised. If you have not received a response from the University within 21 weeks of the closing date, you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful.
ENQUIRIES:
Please note that the following contact details are for enquiries about JOB CONTENT and NOT for application purposes.
Professor Babu Paul (Director:Institute for Intelligent Systems) on [email protected].
LOGIN AND APPLY ONLINE AT http://jobs.uj.ac.za
To submit your application for the above-mentioned post, please register (first-time users of the UJ e-recruitment portal) or login (existing users of the UJ e-recruitment portal) by going to the website of the UJ e-recruitment portal (http://jobs.uj.ac.za) and uploading a detailed Curriculum Vitae as well as the names and full contact details (including telephone numbers and e-mail addresses) of at least three traceable and credible referees. Please also attach the following: a copy of your highest academic qualification, proof of registration with professional bodies you might belong to and a list of accredited research output and/ or a portfolio of your creative output.
Enquiries (UJ e-recruitment Portal)
If you have general enquiries regarding the advertised post, please send an e-mail with the subject line being the reference number of the post to [email protected]
If you require technical support / assistance on the UJ e-recruitment website, please contact our service provider PNET on the following contact details:
0861 227337/010 140 3099 or email [email protected]
Candidates may be subjected to appropriate psychometric testing and other selection instruments.
In conjunction to merit on the basis of qualifications, experience and proven achievements the University of Johannesburg is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and those individuals from the historically disadvantaged groups. For this post candidates from the designated groups in terms of the 1998 Employment Equity Act, including designated women, will be preferred. As necessitated by operational requirements the University reserves the right not to make an appointment to positions advertised. If you have not received a response from the University within 21 weeks of the closing date, you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful.
Apply here!