About SARAO (South African Radio Astronomy Observatory):
SARAO, which stands for South African Radio Astronomy Observatory, is a facility of the National Research Foundation in South Africa. It is responsible for managing radio astronomy facilities and initiatives in the country. SARAO manages various key projects, including the MeerKAT Radio Telescope, Geodesy activities, and VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) research at the HartRAO facilities.
SARAO is actively involved in promoting radio astronomy and engaging South African youth in astronomy-related programs.
SARAO Postdoctoral Fellowship for 2025-2026:
SARAO is offering postdoctoral fellowships for the upcoming academic year. These fellowships will be awarded for a duration of three years, with the possibility of renewal based on the candidates’ performance, subject to annual progress reports.
The fellowship grant for 2025-2026 is R447,000, and it includes a R47,000 travel grant and a R72,000 equipment grant. The travel grant covers accommodation and subsistence during travel. SARAO has the authority to approve travel and equipment grant requests.
Candidates for the postdoctoral fellowship can choose from a list of hosts available for their research. Fellows are required to acknowledge SARAO’s financial assistance in all their published works during their fellowship.
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for the SARAO Postdoctoral Fellowship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Citizenship: The candidate must be a citizen of South Africa.
- Research Activity: The applicant must be actively engaged in research after obtaining a doctoral degree. If there was a break in research, the applicant should have received the doctoral degree on or after September 30, 2019.
- Start Date: Selected candidates should commence their postdoctoral fellowship on or before October 1, 2025-2026.
- University Affiliation: The applicant must pursue their postdoctoral fellowship at an accredited and recognized university in South Africa.
- Priority: Preference will be given to project proposals directly related to MeerKAT.
- Employment: During the fellowship tenure, candidates are not allowed to engage in full-time employment but may participate in up to 12 hours of assistance, tutorial work, teaching, or demonstration work per week.
How to Apply:
To apply for the SARAO Postdoctoral Fellowship, complete the online application form through the SARAO Postdoctoral Fellowship for 2025-2026 portal.
Documents Required:
Applicants are required to submit the following documents during the application:
- Certified copy of ID document
- Proof of registration, preferably on the institute’s letterhead
- Proof of employment
- Research project proposals or documents and papers related to the project (if ongoing)
Closing Date:
The application deadline for the SARAO Postdoctoral Fellowship is August 31. However, the internal closing date for the fellowship may be determined by the participating university. Applicants should stay updated with the latest information provided by the university.
Contact Details:
For inquiries or assistance regarding the fellowship, you can contact:
Dr. Mthuthuzeli Zamxaka
Telephone: +27 11 268 3424
Email: mzamxaka@sarao.ac.za
