The University of the Free State (UFS) invites suitably qualified South African and international researchers to apply for several Postdoctoral Research Fellowship opportunities for 2026 / 2027 at the QwaQwa and Bloemfontein campuses.
The available fellowships cover Economics and Finance, Public Health, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction, Environmental Sustainability and related research fields. Pasted text
Application Closing Dates: 19 October, 23 October and 30 October 2026
Locations: Bloemfontein and QwaQwa, Free State, South Africa
1. Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Economics and Finance
The University of the Free State invites applications for a two-year Postdoctoral Research Fellowship linked to the Restoring Biodiversity and Connection to Nature in the Southern African Mountains Research Chair.
Job ID: 6620
Closing Date: 30 October 2026
Location: QwaQwa Campus, Free State
Contract Duration: 2 years
Assumption of Duties: 01 January 2027 or as soon as possible. Pasted text
About the Research Project
The fellowship focuses on the economic and social impacts of improved rangeland management practices and livestock value-chain strategies.
Research will examine how interventions affect:
- Livestock owners’ incomes.
- Rural livelihoods.
- Livestock productivity.
- Sustainable land management.
- Climate-resilient agriculture.
- Community responses to improved rangeland practices.
The research is centred on communal and smallholder livestock systems around the Witsieshoek Indigenous and Communal Protected Areas in Phuthaditjhaba. Pasted text
Duties and Responsibilities
The successful fellow will:
- Examine perceptions and social uptake of improved rangeland management.
- Design impact-evaluation frameworks.
- Compare livelihood and income outcomes before and after interventions.
- Analyse household and community-level socioeconomic data.
- Analyse quantitative and qualitative research data.
- Conduct fieldwork in Phuthaditjhaba and surrounding areas.
- Apply econometric, quasi-experimental and mixed-method approaches.
- Contribute to journal articles, policy briefs and stakeholder reports.
- Participate in stakeholder workshops.
- Support postgraduate supervision.
- Contribute to grant writing.
- Engage with communities, policymakers and project partners. Pasted text
Minimum Requirements
Applicants must have:
- PhD in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Environmental Economics, Development Studies or a closely related field.
- PhD completed within the last five years.
- Strong knowledge of applied microeconomics, development economics or environmental/resource economics.
- Experience with quantitative analysis using tools such as Stata, R or Python and/or mixed-methods research.
- Evidence of peer-reviewed publications or manuscripts under review.
- Ability to undertake field-based research in rural or communal environments. Pasted text
Advantageous Experience
Experience in the following areas will be advantageous:
- Rangeland management.
- Livestock systems.
- Natural resource governance.
- Climate adaptation.
- Difference-in-Differences.
- Propensity Score Matching.
- Instrumental Variables.
- Panel-data analysis.
- Community-based natural resource management.
- Southern African rural contexts. Pasted text
How to Apply
Applications must be emailed to:
Applicants must include:
- Motivation letter with a 1–2 page outline of relevant expertise and experience.
- Full CV.
- List of publications, conference papers and scholarly outputs.
- Certified academic transcripts.
- Certified doctoral degree certificate.
- SAQA certificate for qualifications obtained outside South Africa.
- Certified South African ID or passport for foreign applicants.
- Contact details of two academic referees. Pasted text
Closing Date: 30 October 2026
2. Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Public Health
The University of the Free State invites suitably qualified candidates to apply for a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in the Division of Public Health.
Job ID: 6618
Closing Date: 19 October 2026
Location: Bloemfontein Campus, Free State
Duration: 2 years, renewable for an additional year
Fellowship Value: R270 000 per year
Additional Research Funding: R30 000
Commencement Date: 02 November 2026. Pasted text
Research Areas
The fellowship is suitable for candidates interested in:
- Public Health.
- Mental Health.
- Digital Health.
- Environmental Health.
- Planetary Health. Pasted text
Duties and Responsibilities
Successful fellows will be expected to:
- Conduct innovative Public Health research.
- Produce at least three DHET-accredited scholarly outputs per year.
- Initiate research projects.
- Seek research funding.
- Participate in activities of the Division of Public Health.
- Register and reside as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UFS. Pasted text
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be South African or foreign nationals.
- Have completed a PhD in a relevant discipline within the last five years.
- Not hold full-time salaried employment during the fellowship.
- Spend at least 80% of the postdoctoral period at UFS. Pasted text
How to Apply
Applications must be emailed to:
Applicants should submit:
- Motivation letter.
- Full CV.
- List of publications and scholarly outputs.
- Academic transcripts.
- Doctoral degree certificate.
- South African ID or passport.
- Contact details of two academic referees. Pasted text
Closing Date: 19 October 2026
3. Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Disaster Management and Climate Change
The University of the Free State invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (DiMTEC).
Job ID: 6627
Closing Date: 23 October 2026
Location: Bloemfontein Campus, Free State
Initial Duration: 1 year
Renewal: Renewable for up to 3 years, subject to satisfactory performance
Annual Fellowship: R270 000
Additional Research Expenses: R30 000
Commencement: As soon as possible. Pasted text
Research Focus Areas
The fellowship focuses on:
- Climate change adaptation.
- Disaster risk reduction.
- Environmental sustainability.
- Resilience.
- Climate-smart development.
- Disaster risk governance.
The successful candidate will contribute to a Northern Cape provincial project focused on integrating climate change response with disaster management planning. Pasted text
Duties and Responsibilities
Successful candidates will:
- Conduct interdisciplinary research.
- Undertake quantitative and qualitative analysis.
- Support the Northern Cape climate project.
- Assist with data management.
- Conduct literature synthesis.
- Prepare technical reports.
- Draft policy briefs and stakeholder reports.
- Participate in research seminars.
- Contribute to funding and grant applications.
- Develop research networks.
- Produce at least two DHET-accredited journal articles per year.
- Reside and participate in research activities at UFS. Pasted text
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be South African or foreign nationals.
- Hold a PhD awarded within the last five years.
- Have a PhD in a relevant field such as:
- Disaster Management.
- Environmental Science.
- Agricultural and Environmental Economics.
- Climate Change.
- Sustainability Science.
- Agricultural Sciences.
- Development Studies.
- Geography.
- Environmental Management.
- Related interdisciplinary field.
- Demonstrate potential for independent research.
- Have relevant research-methods experience.
- Not hold full-time salaried employment.
- Be able to relocate to UFS.
- Spend at least 80% of the fellowship period at UFS. Pasted text
How to Apply
Applications must be emailed to:
Applicants must submit:
- Motivation letter.
- 1–2 page outline of expertise, experience and proposed contribution.
- Full CV.
- Publications and scholarly outputs.
- Full academic transcripts.
- Doctoral degree certificate.
- SAQA certificate where the PhD was obtained outside South Africa.
- South African ID or passport for foreign applicants. Pasted text
Closing Date: 23 October 2026
Important Application Information
The University of the Free State will only consider applicants who meet the inherent requirements of the relevant fellowship.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Communication will generally be limited to shortlisted candidates. Applicants who are not contacted within six weeks after the relevant closing date should consider their application unsuccessful. Pasted text
Meta Description
Apply for University of the Free State Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 in Economics, Public Health, Climate Change and Disaster Management. Closing dates range from 19 to 30 October 2026.