Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (12 months’ contract - Wits Health Consortium)

About the position

Background:

• Wits Health Consortium (Pty) Limited ("WHC") is a wholly-owned Company of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (South Africa) under its Faculty of Health Sciences
• WHC provides Faculty with a legal framework within which to operate the research and other activities necessary to support its academic objectives
• In addition, WHC offers a range of products and services to Academics

Division:  Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit  (AGTRU)

Main purpose of the job:

• The candidate will be responsible for carrying out research on optimising ionizable lipid synthesis that incorporate novel compounds derived from bio-renewable sources at the Chemical Process Technologies Pharma (CPTP) site in Waltloo, Pretoria
• The incumbent will report to the CPTP R&D Manager and be part of a multidisciplinary team that applies synthetic organic chemistry for the production ionizable lipids for the develop of new mRNA vaccines and therapies

Location:

• Chemical Process Technologies Pharma (Pty) Ltd, 45 Battery Crescent, Waltloo, Pretoria

Key performance areas:

• Experience with working in an organic synthesis research laboratory
• Experience in isolation techniques for organic molecules
• Experience in identification techniques for organic molecules
• Experience in the optimisation of synthesis processes
• Familiarity with use of analytical equipment to follow reaction kinetics in order to optimise the reaction efficiencies

Required minimum education and training:

• PhD or Masters in Organic Chemistry,  Biochemistry or similar field

Required minimum work experience:

• Practical experience with organic synthesis and/or biochemistry research

Desirable additional education, work experience and personal abilities:

• Independence in the design and execution of research projects
• Written and verbal scientific communication
• Ability to meet reporting deadlines is another requirement
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

TO APPLY:

• Only if you meet the minimum job requirements and experience as mentioned above, you may submit a detailed updated CV
• Please Apply Online and complete your registration via our website to enable and protect you as a candidate, and to accept the new POPIA terms and conditions
• This will then create your permanent profile with which you can apply for all jobs as advertised by AJ PERSONNEL
• However, you may remove your profile from AJ PERSONNEL when you are no longer in the job market
• Please take note that the applicants who do not adhere to the above criteria will not be considered for the respective position
• Wits Health Consortium will only respond to shortlisted candidates
• Candidates who have not been contacted within two weeks of the closing date can consider their applications to be unsuccessful
• Closing date: 15 April 2026
• Note: No CV will be accepted after the closing date

Please note:

• WHC, in accordance with its Employment Equity goals and plan, will give preference to suitable applicants from designated groups as defined in the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 and subsequent amendments thereto
• AJ Personnel is only responsible for advertising and the response handling on behalf of their client Wits Health Consortium
• AJ Personnel does not have any salary or other information regarding the position

Desired Skills:

• Isolation Techniques
• Identification Techniques
• Communication
• Research
• PhD
• Masters
• Post Doctoral Research Fellow