Postdoctoral Research Fellowship one year, renewable up to three years)

Organizational Unit University of the Free State -> Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies -> Research Development Contract Type Contract Occupational Level Temporary Location Bloemfontein Campus - Bloemfontein, FS ZA (Primary)

Closing Date 10/9/2026 Description The Flourishing Life Research Theme invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for a postdoctoral research fellowship tenable from October 2026. The Theme seeks an early-career scholar of exceptional promise to pursue an independent programme of research in conversation with one or more of its strands, and to help animate its intellectual life.

The intellectual home

The Theme takes as its point of departure a simple but demanding proposition: that flourishing is never an individual achievement, but the fruit of relational webs that may be sustained or torn. Our organising concept, flourishing denied, names that tearing at every scale in the body, in the household, in the polity, in the living world. Anchored in ubuntu and in the Zulu affirmation ngisazophumelela (I will still flourish) the Theme works across seven strands:

1. socioeconomic rights and the jurisprudence of becoming;

2. democratic resilience and the politics of hope;

3. feminism and the body politic;

4. ubuntu and global becoming;

5. planetary becoming and ecological flourishing;

6. flourishing in a technological age; and

7. language, translation, the aesthetics of becoming.

The fellowship

• A full-time fellowship tenable for one year, renewable for a second/third year subject to progress, based in Bloemfontein.
• A fellowship award of R300 000 per annum.
• The fellow will pursue their own research, publish, and contribute to the Theme's seminars, symposium and public writing. Some mentoring of postgraduate students may be expected.

The fellowship will enable an outstanding doctoral graduate to obtain experience in research and innovation at a higher education institution under the mentorship of established researchers within the Theme. The successful candidate will be required to conduct innovative research and produce publications engaging with the Theme's concerns.

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. Particular weight will be attached to the extent to which applicants' research proposals engage the Theme's organising concept of flourishing denied across its seven strands. The fellowship is available for a period of one year, renewable for up to three years subject to satisfactory performance.

Competencies Requirements:

• A doctorate in law, the humanities or the social sciences, awarded within the past five years (or to be conferred before taking up the post). In line with national postdoctoral norms, applicants should not previously have held a permanent academic appointment.
• A record of research and publication commensurate with career stage.
• A research proposal of three to five pages showing clearly how the intended work engages the Theme's concerns.
• The independence and discipline to carry a self-directed programme to completion.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Pursue independent, cross-disciplinary research within one or more of the Theme's strands, resulting in scholarly publications.
• Participate in the Theme's seminars, symposia and public-facing writing.
• Work in collaboration with the Theme's convenor when it comes to research, administration and other tasks.
• Assist in postgraduate supervision; some mentoring of postgraduate students may be expected.
• Author/co-author at least two (2) publication outputs per year in the form of DHET-accredited scholarly journal articles or books/chapters in books.
• Register and reside as a postdoctoral research fellow at the UFS and participate in relevant activities of the Flourishing Life Research Theme.
• Prepare and present papers during seminars and other research events.

Eligibility criteria

• Open to all South African and foreign nationals for full-time research at the University of the Free State.
• A doctorate in law, the humanities or the social sciences, awarded within the last five years (or to be conferred before taking up the post).
• In line with national postdoctoral norms, applicants should not previously have held a permanent academic appointment, and successful applicants may not hold full-time salaried employment during the fellowship.
• A record of research and publication commensurate with career stage.
• The independence and discipline to carry a self-directed research programme to completion.
• Successful applicants must be able to relocate to the UFS for the duration of the fellowship. This is a residential fellowship, based in Bloemfontein, and the successful applicant is required to spend 60% of her/his postdoctoral period at the UFS.

Application:

To apply, please submit the following documentation as a single PDF by 10 September 2026 to Flourishing@ufs.ac.za with the subject line "FLRN Postdoctoral Fellowship — [Surname]"

• Motivation letter.
• Research proposal of three to five pages showing clearly how the intended work engages the Theme's concerns.
• Full CV including a list of research publications, conference papers, and other scholarly outputs.
• A sample of written work.
• Certified copies of full transcripts of academic records and of the doctoral degree certificate.
• A SAQA Certificate for qualifications obtained outside South Africa.
• Certified copy of ID document (or copy of passport in the case of foreign applicants).
• Contact details of two academic referees who have taught/supervised the candidate.

Value of the fellowship:

• R300 000 annual fellowship award (not taxed).

Closing date:

10 September 2026. Applications received after this date will not be considered, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Enquiries may be directed to Flourishing@ufs.ac.za .

Commencement of fellowship:

October 2026, or as soon thereafter as possible.

General:

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-plan_2025.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.

How to apply to this job Application:

To apply, please submit the following documentation as a single PDF by 10 September 2026 to Flourishing@ufs.ac.za with the subject line "FLRN Postdoctoral Fellowship — [Surname]"

• Motivation letter.
• Research proposal of three to five pages showing clearly how the intended work engages the Theme's concerns.
• Full CV including a list of research publications, conference papers, and other scholarly outputs.
• A sample of written work.
• Certified copies of full transcripts of academi