ACADEMIC POSITIONS - HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGY

INSTITUTE OF HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGY

SIX PERMANENT ACADEMIC POSITIONS

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ACADEMIC POSITIONS

DUT INSTITUTE OF HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGY

(2 × Professors / 2 × Associate Professors / 2 × Senior Lecturers)

With more than 34 400 students and approximately 1 700 members of staff, the Durban University of Technology (DUT) is a leading university of technology proudly located in the beautiful cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg, along the warm east coast of South Africa. Founded in April 2002 through the historic merger of the former ML Sultan Technikon and Technikon Natal, DUT has evolved into a modern, metropolitan, multi-campus university with roots tracing back to 1907.

Today, DUT is recognised nationally and internationally for excellence in teaching and learning, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and engagement. A proud member of the International Association of Universities, DUT continues to expand its influence across South Africa and the world.

DUT's Philosophy of Education, “Our creativity and innovation shapes adaptive graduates who transform society”, reflects the institution's commitment to meaningful societal transformation. Guided by ENVISION2030, rooted in DUT's DNA of being “people-centred and engaged” and “innovative and entrepreneurial”, the University focuses on contributing to the improvement of lives and livelihoods.

The University comprises six Faculties—Accounting and Informatics; Applied Sciences; Arts and Design; Engineering and the Built Environment; Health Sciences; and Management Sciences—and includes a Business School and leading research institutes and centres.

At DUT, we nurture talent and empower people to make a real difference. If you are passionate about education, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and engagement, DUT offers the ideal environment—Creative. Distinctive. Impactful.

The Institute is positioned as an African platform for integrated hydrogen systems, linking renewable production, safe storage and conversion, industrial use and an inclusive local hydrogen economy. Its applied and translational mandate encompasses materials and components, system testing under coastal and African conditions, techno-economic and lifecycle evidence, postgraduate skills, and demonstrators co-designed with credible partners and off-takers.

The Institute research agenda

The six appointments are deliberately distributed across all three themes:

• Green Hydrogen Production
• Biohydrogen Production
• Hydrogen Storage, Fuel Cells and Distributed Power

Appointment note. Candidates must demonstrate depth in the advertised specialisation and an ability to collaborate across engineering, science, economics, policy and engagement boundaries.

Position 1

Professor: Green Hydrogen Production

Theme 1: Green Hydrogen Production

Reference Number: 30002757

Status of Position: Permanent

Campus: Durban / Pietermaritzburg, as determined by DUT

Position purpose

The appointee will provide senior intellectual leadership in renewable hydrogen production, with particular strength in electrolysis and integrated operation under African and coastal conditions.

Minimum requirements

• A doctoral degree (NQF 10) in Chemical Engineering, Electrochemical Engineering, Materials Science/Engineering, Energy Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Process Systems Engineering, or a qualification closely related to the theme.
• A minimum of ten (10) DHET-accredited research outputs/creative outputs over the preceding three years, relevant to the discipline, with evidence of research quality and impact.
• Evidence of substantial record of successful supervision to completion of Master's and Doctoral students.
• Substantial and sustained period of distinguished academic experience in research and/or professional experience in higher education or a research environment recognised standing in the field.
• A strong record of research and/or academic leadership with demonstrated leadership in green hydrogen production.
• Demonstrated success in securing competitive research funding (grants, contracts or commissioned research).
• Evidence of leading multidisciplinary teams and building national/international research collaborations.

Theme-specific expertise

Applicants must demonstrate a coherent record in several of the following areas, with clear depth in at least one: Electrolysis catalysts, membranes, electrodes, coatings, bipolar plates, seals or scarce-material reduction; Dynamic electrolyser operation, degradation, diagnostics, predictive maintenance and renewable intermittency; Water-hydrogen systems using responsible sources, including treatment, wastewater reuse, desalination, recovery and competing-use assessment; Renewable/grid integration, power electronics, controls, balance-of-plant, thermal integration or digital twins; Techno-economic optimisation and lifecycle-carbon assessment for hydrogen production and scale-up.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and sustain an internationally visible research programme in Green Hydrogen Production and Renewable-System Integration.
• Publish high-quality peer-reviewed research and pursue appropriate intellectual-property, technology-transfer and innovation outputs.
• Supervise Master's and Doctoral candidates to completion and mentor postdoctoral fellows and emerging researchers.
• Contribute to postgraduate curriculum development, specialist short courses, teaching and assessment in relevant academic programmes.
• Lead or contribute to competitive grant proposals, commissioned research and multi-partner projects with clear deliverables.
• Build productive collaborations with DUT faculties, national hydrogen institutions, government, industry, communities and international partners.
• Apply safety-by-design, research ethics, responsible data management, lifecycle integrity and applicable codes and standards.
• Contribute to institute planning, laboratories, shared research platforms, seminars, reporting, engagement and administrative responsibilities.
• Translate research into demonstrators, test methods, policy or standards evidence, skills, local-enterprise opportunities and measurable societal impact.

Ideal / additional recommendations

• An NRF rating, or equivalent recognised international research standing.
• Professional registration where relevant to the discipline and scope of work.
• Experience with laboratory or pilot-scale systems, research infrastructure, safety governance and industry-facing demonstrators.
• A record of interdisciplinary, multi-institutional or international collaboration.
• Strong communication, organisational, mentoring and stakeholder-engagement capability.

Position 2

Professor: Biohydrogen Production

Theme 2: Biohydrogen Production

Reference Number: 30002758

Status of Position: Permanent

Campus: Durban / Pietermaritzburg, as determined by DUT

Position purpose

The appointee will provide senior intellectual leadership in Direct Biophotolysis, Indirect Biophotolysis, Dark Fermentation, Photo-Fermentation and Microbial Electrolysis Cells (MECs)

Minimum requirements

• A doctoral degree (NQF 10) in Biotechnology, Fermentation Science, Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, or a qualification closely related to the theme.
• A minimum of ten (10) DHET-accredited research outputs/creative outputs over the preceding three years, relevant to the discipline, with evidence of research quality and impact.
• Evidence of substantial record of successful supervision to completion of Master's and Doctoral students.
• Substantial and sustained period of distinguished academic experience in research and/or professional experience in higher education or a research environment.
• A strong record of research and/or academic leadership with demonstrated leadership in biohydrogen production.
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