SANBI Intellectual Property Postdoctoral Fellowship 2024

We are pleased to announce that the application for the 2024 Intellectual Property Postdoctoral Fellowship at SANBI and UCT is now open.

Applications are currently open for the prestigious Intellectual Property Postdoctoral Fellowship offered by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and the South African Research Chair (SARChI Chair) in Intellectual Property, Innovation, and Development at the University of Cape Town’s Law Faculty. This fellowship is intended to address the critical knowledge gap identified in SANBI in terms of Intellectual Property (IP) protection and the identification of potential commercialisation opportunities.

Benefits

The fellowship, based at Kirstenbosch Research Centre or University of Cape Town in Newlands, Cape Town, provides an opportunity to work with both SANBI and SARChI Chair, supporting the protection and commercialisation of Intellectual Property (IP) at SANBI. The fellowship is valued at R300,000 per year for two years, and additional funding will be available for running expenses each year.

Successful candidates will be engaged in important research work, coordination, and convening of workshops for capacity building purposes, as well as interaction with key partner organisations across the country.

Eligibility

The fellowship is open to candidates who meet the following criteria:

1. Candidates must have completed a PhD within the last five years or submitted the final version of their PhD by the time of application.
2. Candidates should have a strong IP background. An understanding or appreciation of biodiversity and/or bioprospecting is preferable.
3. The ability to work independently and a proven track record of peer-reviewed publications is a requirement.
4. Candidates should not have previously held full-time permanent professional or academic posts.
5. Candidates should be comfortable engaging with partner organisations on IP-related matters and demonstrate an ability to conduct research, synthesize literature, and formulate defendable recommendations on SANBI’s management of IP and bioprospecting opportunities.

Application Procedure

Candidates wishing to apply should follow these steps:

1. Download and fill the standard bursary application cover sheet, which is attached to the advertisement on the SANBI website.
2. Prepare a full CV, certified copies of your ID and academic records, two letters of reference (one must be from an academic supervisor), examples of your published work, and a motivation letter no longer than a page describing your suitability for the position.
3. Send all documents to students@sanbi.org.za and students.sanbi@gmail.com with ‘SANBI-Intellectual Property Postdoctoral Fellowship’ in the subject line.

You can download the application form here.

Application Dates

The application window is currently open and will close on Friday, 18th August 2023. Successful candidates will be notified by the end of August 2023. If no response has been received by that time, candidates may assume that their applications were unsuccessful. SANBI and UCT reserve the right not to fill this fellowship.