Postdoctoral Fellow (Mental Health Genetics in Africa 2026 - Wits SBIMB)

SUMMARY:
Background:

• The Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Witwatersrand, is recruiting a Postdoctoral Fellow to work on projects to explore the genetic and environmental contributions to depression and anxiety in African populations
• The latest advanced statistical genetics methods will be applied to find genetic risk factors for depression and anxiety that may be both unique to African populations and shared across populations
• Understanding the combination of genetic and environmental risk factors that underlie depression and anxiety is key to developing new therapeutics and relieving the increasing burden that mental health conditions place on societies and economies worldwide
• While the last decade has seen huge advances, these have been predominantly in European and East Asian populations
• These studies aim to contribute towards the development of a better understanding of African populations to address health and economic inequality
• The project is funded through the Wellcome Trust and is a multi-country collaboration

POSITION INFO:
Main purpose of the job:

• The responsibilities of the candidate would include data curation, management, storage and analysis of phenotype and genomic data from over 10,000 participants
• The Fellowship support is for two years, with the possibility of extension depending on performance and funding

• Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience (SBIMB) University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

• As a multi-disciplinary project, applicants should be willing and able to rapidly acquire new skills in disciplines outside their core training area
• The project would suit someone with a background in Systems Biology, Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, and/or Genetics/Genomics

• Applicants must have an appropriate PhD Degree obtained within the last 5 years

• The ideal candidate would have some experience in big data management and Genome-Wide Association Study Methodologies
• The outputs would be well-curated datasets, high-impact publications and public communication of key outcomes
• Preference will be given to applications from South African citizens or those who have Permanent Residence in South Africa
• The selected applicant will be expected to be available within the next 6 months (ideally by April 2026)

• Previous experience in using Bioinformatics and Computational Models and Tools to help interpret Biomedical data would be advantageous, but is not mandatory

• Only if you meet the minimum job requirements and experience as mentioned above, you may submit the following documents:
• A detailed updated CV of maximum 4 pages
• A Cover letter indicating how your knowledge and skills would align with the research topic, and what your expectations are should you be successful
• Academic record/transcript
• Copy of ID/Passport
• Contact details of 3 academic referees
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• 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: 20 February 2026
• Note: No CV will be accepted after the closing date

• 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
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• AJ Personnel does not have any salary or other information regarding the position