Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (one year, renewable up to three years): Department of Mathema[

Job Title

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (one year, renewable up to three years):
Department of Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science (Job )

University of the Free State ->
Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences ->
Department Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science

Contract

Temporary

Bloemfontein Campus - Bloemfontein, FS ZA (Primary)

11/9/2026

The University of the Free State (UFS) invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science. Candidates interested in pursuing an academic or professional career in statistical research, with special research interest in bayesian modelling and mixed models are encouraged to apply. The fellowship is awarded on a competitive basis, taking into account the applicants  academic achievements, publication outputs and research potential, as well as the relevance of prior experience and expertise.

The fellowship is available for a period of one year, renewable for up to three years subject to satisfactory performance.

• Conduct innovative research in actuarial applications of likelihood-based statistical inference for heavy-tailed distributions under censoring and truncation modelling.
• Author/co-author of at least three (3) publication outputs per year in the form of DHET– accredited scholarly journal articles or books/chapters in books. Renewal of the fellowship beyond the first year depends on satisfactory performance and submission of an annual progress report.
• Initiate projects and seek funding for them.
• Register and reside as a postdoctoral research fellow at the UFS and participate in relevant activities of the Department of Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Sciences.

• Open to all South African and foreign nationals for full-time research at the University of the Free State.
• Graduated with a PhD degree in a relevant discipline within the last five years.
• Successful applicants may not hold full-time salaried employment during the fellowship.
• Successful applicants must be able to relocate to the UFS for the duration of the fellowship. This is a residential fellowship: the successful applicant is required to spend 80% of her/his postdoctoral period at the UFS.

• R 270,000 annual fellowship.
• R 30,000 additional research expenses fund.

11 September 2026

02 January 2027

The UFS is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity, and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups including candidates with disabilities. Our Employment Equity Policy is available at : ufs-employment-equity-.pdf

The University processes personal information in line with its obligations under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and any personal information provided to the University will be treated as confidential and processed in accordance with the rights provided to data subjects under POPIA.

The University reserves the right not to fill the post. The UFS will only consider applications of candidates who meet all the inherent requirements of the position. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. Should you not be contacted within six weeks of the closing date for applications, you may assume that your application was unsuccessful.