Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in African Microbiome Innovation, Gut Microbiome, and Human Health Stellenbosch University in South Africa

Call for Applications: Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in DSTI-NRF/SU SARChI in African Microbiome Innovation at Stellenbosch University.

This opportunity is for a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the African Microbiome Group based in the Department of Microbiology and the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking at Stellenbosch University. The project focuses on the role of the gut microbiome in the health of African populations, including research on how diet influences acne and other inflammatory diseases.

The fellowship is designed to support both impactful research and independent career development. The successful fellow will contribute to ongoing projects on gut microbiome, diet, human health, microbial ecology, and multi-omics data, while also being encouraged to lead publications, develop novel research directions, build international collaborations, contribute to grant applications, and establish an independent research niche.

Professional development opportunities include co-supervising MSc and PhD students, gaining mentorship experience, and working in an interdisciplinary environment spanning microbiology, human health, and data science.

Eligibility highlights: PhD in Microbiology, Human Biology, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Nutrition, or a related field; experience in microbiome research, human health, multi-omics, or microbial ecology; experience analysing microbiome datasets; proficiency in R, Python, or related tools; strong understanding of microbial metabolism and regulation; excellent written and oral communication skills.

Funding: 2-year postdoctoral research fellowship, tax free. The advert notes that fellows are not employees and are not eligible for employee benefits.

Application window: Closing date is 25 July 2026. Commencement is as soon as possible.

How to apply: Send a letter of application, CV, publication list, and contact details of at least two referees to Professor Thulani Makhalanyane at [email protected]. See the advert and project website for more details.