Postdoctoral Fellowship – plant and fermentation microbiomes
The microbial ecology group in the South African Grape and Wine Research Institute (SAGWRI) at Stellenbosch University is looking to fill a Postdoctoral Position in Microbiome, Bioinformatics, and/or Computational Biology.
We are looking for a postdoctoral fellow to join the laboratory of Prof. Evodia Setati at SAGWRI on a project to study the microbiomes of various drought tolerant plant species, and their role in stress tolerance. The project forms part of an Africa-Japan collaboration with partners from Stellenbosch University, University of Limpopo, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology as well as University of Yamanashi.
We encourage applicants with backgrounds in bioinformatics, molecular microbiology, and/or microbial ecology to apply. The successful candidate will be involved in metagenome sequence analyses, generation of metagenome assembled genomes as well as functional characterization of the microbiomes associated with the rhizospheres of the various plant species.
Key areas
- DNA extraction and manipulation
- Microbial isolation and characterization
- Metagenomic and amplicon sequencing analysis
- Biologically informed data interpretation
- Experience with Python, R and command line
An ideal candidate is a computational biologist or bioinformatician with strong programming skills and a firm background in microbiology and has already been awarded a PhD. The candidate can guide and support junior students in basic microbiology, molecular biology and microbiome analyses.
What is offered
- Access to an international network of scientists and research facilities
- Mentorship for academic career development
- A 2-year fully funded postdoctoral fellowship
To apply
Prepare a full curriculum vitae, a motivation letter as well as contact information for two referees and sent to Prof. Evodia Setati (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Application deadline
20 July 2026
Commencement Date
August 2026 or soon after that
