PROFESSOR/ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN HYDROLOGY

OKAVANGO RESEARCH INSTITUTE (MAUN)

VACANCY NO. ORI 2/2019: PROFESSOR/ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN HYDROLOGY, OKAVANGO RESEARCH INSTITUTE (Re-advertisement)

Applications are invited for the following academic position at the Okavango Research Institute (ORI). The Institute is based in Maun in the North Western part of Botswana and specializes in natural resources management, sustainable natural resource use and conservation in the iconic Okavango Delta (now a World Heritage Site) and the Kgalagadi (Kalahari) region. The Institute has a good library (a branch of the University library in Gaborone) and excellent research laboratories. The Institute attracts significant international funding and is becoming generally acknowledged as a global research leader in natural resources management. Additional information on ORI including its Strategic Plan can be found on www.ori.ub.bw.

Duties: The successful candidate will conduct research focusing on the understanding of various aspects of hydrological processes in the Okavango Basin, particularly flooding dynamics, surface water-groundwater interactions, evapo-transpiration and vegetation/water relations. This involves the formulation of broad research projects, (successful) preparation and submission of research proposals, organizing and conducting field measurement campaigns, design and implementation of observation networks, analysis and interpretation of data, and presentation of results in the form of scientific journal articles and oral presentations to various audiences. They will be involved in providing technical input to Basin management, including the evaluation and quantification of exchanges between surface and groundwater across the entire basin, and of the potential for conjunctive use of surface and groundwater as an option to replace dams. They will be involved with assessing hydrological and sedimentological effects of proposed infrastructural developments and future land use change on pulsed river systems. They will be expected to participate in River Basin Organisation working groups and workshops, and in the design and implementation of basin-wide monitoring networks for hydro-climate, surface water and groundwater.

Close collaboration with researchers from other disciplines is expected, from within ORI and from outside the Institute. The candidate will also be expected to teach, supervise students and mentoring of junior staff.

Requirements:

Professor: Applicants should have: (i) a Master’s Degree with specialization in Hydrology, preferably focusing on wetland hydrology; (ii) have at least five (5) years of research/teaching experience at a University or comparable institution; (iii) have a good and sustained record of research and publications of at least forty-one (41) publications, twenty-one (21) of which should be refereed journal articles or book chapters and should be a lead and/or sole author in at least eighteen (11) of these; (iv) the overall  profile of research should provide evidence of research mentorship of junior scholars; (v) it should also demonstrate the ability to secure research grants to support the incumbent’s research work (vi) evidence of service to University, the Profession and the Community; (vii) evidence of effective academic leadership. The following will be added advantages: extensive experience in mathematical modelling and a demonstrated high level of numerical and statistical skills, ability to work with a variety of data types including remote sensing, GIS and climate modeling data, ability to lead collaborative research including multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural teamwork, experience in wetland research, preferably focusing on tropical or sub-tropical wetlands, flood-pulsed systems, and surface water-groundwater interactions, and ideally on southern African wetlands, and a PhD focusing on wetland hydrology.

Associate Professor: Applicants should have: (i) a Master’s Degree with specialization in Hydrology, preferably focusing on wetland hydrology; (ii) have at least three (3) years of research/teaching experience at a University or comparable institution; (iii) have a good and sustained record of research and publications of at least twenty one (21) publications, fourteen (14) of which should be refereed journal articles or book chapters and should be a lead and/or sole author in at least eleven (11) of these; (iv) the overall  profile of research should provide evidence of research mentorship of junior scholars; (v) it should also demonstrate the ability to secure research grants to support the incumbent’s research work (vi) evidence of service to University, the Profession and the Community; (vii) evidence of effective academic leadership. The following will be added advantages:  extensive experience in mathematical modelling and a demonstrated high level of numerical and statistical skills, ability to work with a variety of data types including remote sensing, GIS and climate modeling data, ability to lead collaborative research including multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural teamwork, experience in wetland research, preferably focusing on tropical or sub-tropical wetlands, flood-pulsed systems, and surface water-groundwater interactions, and ideally on southern African wetlands, and a PhD focusing on wetland hydrology.

Note: For Professor /Associate Professor, the curriculum vitae (CV) should contain a detailed list of publications: clearly specifying titles of publications, dates published, names of publishers, names of co-authors if any, and number of pages. The publications should be categorized into: books, monographs, chapters in books, refereed and non-refereed journals, consultancies etc. The CV should also have a detailed list of courses taught and the levels for which they were taught

Remuneration: The University offers competitive salaries and benefits commensurate with experience and qualifications. For more information on the University, please visit our website; www.ub.bw

How to Apply: SIGNED Letters of applications are to address the stated qualifications and provide any other information to assist the University to determine your suitability for the position. Applicants  should indicate clearly the position applied for, quote the vacancy numbers; provide current CVs which must include  contact information (telephone/mobile numbers, email address, postal address and fax number), certified copies of educational certificates, transcripts and THREE (3)  reference letters to: The Institute Administrator, Okavango Research Institute, Private Bag 285 Maun, Botswana or e-mail, [email protected] / [email protected] . Tel. 267 6817223; Fax. 267 6861835. Please note that applications with incomplete information shall not be acknowledged.

Hand delivered applications should be submitted to Office number N0. 2, Porta cabin E1.

NB: Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted

Closing Date:                Open Until Filled