Post-Doctoral Fellowship Opportunity (Prepare Epsilon - Wits EViTOH)

About the position

Background:

• Wits Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI) a division of our client Wits Health Consortium has a great Post-Doctoral Fellowship opportunity (PREPARE EPSILON) - Establishment of multipathogen molecular and serological assays and Pathogen discovery pipelines to solve outbreaks and describe the epidemiology of emerging and reemerging vectorbrone and zoonotic viral infections in Africa
• The Emerging Viral Threats, One Health Surveillance, and Vaccines (EViTOH) division, led by Professor Marietjie Venter, a Distinguished Professor and NRF-SARChI Chair, is a research group within the Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI) at the University of Witwatersrand
• Professor Venter also directs the Centre for Emerging and Re-emerging Arbo and Respiratory Viruses (CEARV) at the University of Pretoria (UP) and holds an extraordinary professorship in the Department of Medical Virology at UP
• Wits Emerging Viral Threats, One Health Surveillance, and Vaccines (EViTOH) division focuses on emerging and re-emerging pathogens, particularly vector-borne and respiratory viruses, aiming to enhance South Africa’s capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to novel diseases
• Through multidisciplinary One Health research, the division strengthens epidemic and pandemic preparedness both locally and globally
• Its vision is to lead syndromic and genomic surveillance across human, animal, and environmental sectors, achieved through innovative diagnostics, genomic studies, and the development of One Health vaccines
• The Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI) at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) is dedicated to advancing health science through transdisciplinary collaboration in infectious diseases and cancer research
• Wits IDORI aims to foster an ecosystem of research excellence, drive innovation, and translate scientific discoveries into clinical and societal impact

Project background:

• Special focus on emerging and re-emerging zoonotic arboviruses associated with febrile and neurological infections within a One Health surveillance framework Timely detection of emerging infectious diseases is critical for effective outbreak response and epidemic and pandemic preparedness
• The incumbent will be involved in establishment of rapid diagnostics and multipathogen serological assays to solve the causes of febrile and neurological infections in humans and animals in Africa, defining animal reservoirs and protective immune responses
• The project will further focus on defining the clinical epidemiology and modelling the impact of emerging and reemerging viruses to inform public-health decision-making for epidemic and pandemic preparedness
• This project aims to integrate diagnoses, pathogen discovery with the epidemiology of detected pathogens in hospitalised patients, ICUs and fatalities to improve early detection, surveillance of outbreaks of priority pathogens
• The work bridges laboratory science, data analysis, and public-health research, offering a multidisciplinary training experience
• Work will include BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratory environments, primarily involving vectorborne, and zoonotic viruses and liaising with clinical sites to establish surveillance in South Africa and other African partner sites as part of the Epidemic and pandemic preparedness network (EPSILON) program

Main purpose of the job:

• Establishment of multipathogen molecular and serological assays and Pathogen discovery pipelines to solve outbreaks and describe the epidemiology of emerging and reemerging vectorborne and zoonotic viral infections in Africa

Duration:

• 2 years contract with renewal dependent on achievement and project milestones with a 3 month probation

Location:

• Wits EViTOH chair in the Infectious disease and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI), at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) - Johannesburg

Key performance areas:

• To design and implement multiplex sero-diagnostic assays for use in surveillance studies to investigate the Epidemiological of emerging vectorborne and zoonotic diseases
• To support the establishment and coordinate clinical surveillance sites in collaboration with surveillance officer and clinical staff or collection of samples
• To conduct statistical and epidemiological analysis of laboratory and clinical data to define the epidemiology of detected diseases
• Design and manage databases for data collection across surveillance site
• To investigate trends in evolution of detected pathogens
• To work with senior investigators to communicate findings to health authorities and policymakers and, to report findings as high-impact publications and at national and international conferences
• The position will also entail post-graduate supervision and training, grant writing to develop your research independence within EViTOH and ensure long-term sustainability
• The candidate will be involved in project management, work in a BSL2 and BSL3 lab, be involved in administrative responsibilities (Ethics applications for field and lab research activities and other regulatory requirements

Required minimum education and training:

• PhD in Medical Virology, Molecular Biology, Immunology or a related field, as well as a background in Epidemiology or Data Analysis with an understanding of Infectious Diseases
• South African citizens or permanent residents will be prioritised

Required minimum work experience:

• The candidate must have strong laboratory skills with experience in nucleic acid extraction, PCR, realtime PCR, cloning, protein expression, serological assay development and troubleshooting, development of pseudovirions as well as protein structure and bioinformatics analysis
• The candidate should also have epidemiological and statistical data analysis skills, have strong written and oral communication skills and demonstrate experience in developing/validating diagnostic techniques
• A suitable candidate must show excellent attention to detail, documentation discipline, and understanding of laboratory workflow, database design and maintenance
• The candidate must have experience in pathogen surveillance studies, collection of clinical and epidemiological data in line with human ethics requirements with effective communication skills; publication record, grant writing experience will be an advantage
• Must be able to work flexible hours
• Self-learner with a desire to develop new skills to advance the project and your career
• You need to be able to work independently or in a group, able to troubleshoot and think creatively
• The candidate should have strong work ethics and be self-motivated

Desirable additional education, work experience and personal abilities:

• Sound knowledge on vectorborne, and zoonotic viruses and One Health experience working in a biosafety level 3 laboratory, protein expression and bioplex systems as well as protein structure and genomic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, and knowledge of Epidemiology and statistical data analysis programmes (R, STATA, EPI-info) and modelling will be beneficial

TO APPLY:

• Wits University invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at WITS in Johannesburg, South Africa under the supervision of Prof Marietjie Venter, NRF SARCHi Chair and Head of EViTOH to apply
• Please send an updated CV, Plus a motivation letting outlining your expertise, experience and resason for interest in joining the group, Plus an academic transcript (Complete record), and copy of your ID or Passport and VISA as well as an SAQA Certifiied qualification if outside of South Africa, and 2 contactable references
• Only if you meet the minimum job requirements and experience as mentioned above, you may submit a detailed updated CV plus all the document mentioned above
• Please Apply Online and complete your registration via our website to enable and protect you as a candidate, and to accept the new POPIA terms and conditions
• This will then create your permanent profile with which you can apply for all jobs as advertised by AJ PERSONNEL
• However, you may remove your profile from AJ PERSONNEL when you are no longer in the job market
• Please take note that the applicants who do not adhere to the above criteria will not be considered for the respective position
• Wits Health Consortium will only respond to shortlisted candidates
• Candidates who have not been contacted within two weeks of the closing date can consider their applications to be unsuccessful
• Closing date: 30 April 2026
• Note: No CV will be accepted after the closing date

Please note:

• WHC, in accordance with its Employment Equity goals and plan, will give preference to suitable applicants from designated groups as defined in the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 and subsequent amendments thereto
• AJ Personnel is only responsible for advertising and the response handling on behalf of their client Wits Health Consortium
• AJ Personnel does not have any salary or other information regarding the position

Desired Skills:

• Medical Virology
• Molecular Biology
• Immunology
• Epidemiology
• Data analysis
• Post Docotral Fellowship
• Phd