ACADEMIC POSITIONS - INDIGENOUS FOOD RESEARCH Durban

Durban University of Technology is actively recruiting for a ACADEMIC POSITIONS - INDIGENOUS FOOD RESEARCH position in Durban. This is an excellent opportunity for professionals in the Education / Teaching sector looking to advance their careers.

• Experience Level: 10 - 15 years • Educational Background: PhD or equivalent • Industry Focus: Education / Teaching • Location Preference: in Durban

Educators in ACADEMIC POSITIONS - INDIGENOUS FOOD RESEARCH positions shape future generations. This role is fundamental to South Africa's educational development and social progress.

Your extensive experience in Education / Teaching qualifies you for leadership positions. This role offers the chance to shape industry practices and organizational direction.

When applying for this ACADEMIC POSITIONS - INDIGENOUS FOOD RESEARCH position, ensure your CV highlights: • Relevant experience matching the 10 - 15 years requirement • Educational qualifications in line with PhD • Specific achievements in the Education / Teaching field • Any certifications or specialized training

The Education / Teaching sector in South Africa continues to show strong demand for skilled professionals. This position represents a valuable opportunity in the current job market.

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Salary: Market Related Job Type: Permanent Sectors: Education Reference: 201621 Job Type: Permanent Sectors: Education Reference: 201621 Sectors: Education Reference: 201621 Reference: 201621

Employer: Durban University of Technology

INDIGENOUS FOOD RESEARCH INSTITUTE (IFRi)SIX PERMANENT ACADEMIC POSITIONS ACADEMIC POSITIONSINDIGENOUS FOOD RESEARCH INSTITUTE (IFRi)(2 × Professors / 2 × Associate Professors / 2 × Senior Lecturers)With more than 34400 students, and approximately 1700 members of staff, the Durban University of Technology (DUT) is a leading university of technology proudly located in the beautiful cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg, along the warm east coast of South Africa. Founded in April 2002 through the historic merger of the former ML Sultan Technikon and Technikon Natal, DUT has evolved into a modern, metropolitan, multi-campus university with roots tracing back to 1907. Today, DUT is recognised nationally and internationally for its excellence in teaching and learning, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and engagement. A proud member of the International Association of Universities, DUT continues to expand its influence across South Africa and the world. In the 2025 Webometrics Rankings, DUT was ranked among the Top 6% of all universities and colleges worldwide, reflecting its academic excellence, research impact and strong global visibility. DUT's Philosophy of Education, "Our creativity and innovation shapes adaptive graduates who transform society" reflects the institution's deep commitment to meaningful impact for societal transformation. Guided by its inspirational and aspirational ENVISION2030 strategy, which is rooted in DUT's DNA of being 'people-centred and engaged' and 'innovative and entrepreneurial' and underpinned by its bespoke Living Values Framework, DUT focuses on 'contributing to the improvement of lives and livelihoods'. The University comprises six diverse Faculties:●       Accounting and Informatics●       Applied Science●       Arts & Design●       Engineering and the Built Environment●       Health Sciences●       Management SciencesDUT also includes a Business School and the award-winning Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology (IWWT), amongst other research centres and institutes, reinforcing its role as a hub for knowledge, innovation and societal impact. Over the years, the University substantially grown its research output, dominating the UoT sector. This is evidenced by the steady increase of NRF-rated researchers and the notable, unprecedented award of seven NRF SARCHi Chairs in 2025. This impetus helps us to remain deeply engaged with our communities glocally, thereby transforming societies and economies. At DUT, we believe in nurturing talent and empowering people to make a real difference. If you are passionate about contributing to education, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and engagement, DUT offers the ideal environment - Creative. Distinctive. Impactful. About the InstituteThe Durban University of Technology invites applications for six permanent academic appointments in the Indigenous Food Research Institute (IFRi): four Theme Leader posts at Professor/Associate Professor level and two Senior Lecturer posts. The appointments are distributed across IFRi's priority research themes to establish complementary senior leadership and research capacity in nutrition and food-as-medicine; indigenous crop genetic resources and agrobiodiversity; food processing, product innovation and value addition; and food systems, indigenous knowledge and policy. IFRi is positioned as an African institute for living indigenous food systems—protecting knowledge and biodiversity while improving nutrition, climate resilience and dignified livelihoods. Appointees will work across disciplinary and faculty boundaries and in respectful partnership with communities, knowledge holders, farmers, harvesters, processors, public institutions, civil society and industry. The Institute research agendaThe six appointments are distributed across IFRi's priority research themes to establish complementary senior leadership and research capacity:●       Sustainable Protein Innovation from Indigenous Foods●       Food Processing, Product Innovation and Value Addition●       Nutrition, Safety, Health and Food-as-Medicine of Indigenous Foods Position 1Associate Professor: Sustainable Protein Innovation from Indigenous FoodsTheme 1: Sustainable Protein Innovation from Indigenous FoodsReference Number: 30002802Status of Position: PermanentCampus: Durban / Pietermaritzburg, as determined by DUTPosition purposeThe appointee will lead a defined research stream on biotechnology, fermentation technology and bioprocessing for sustainable protein production and fermented products, complementing the Theme Leader agenda and extending the protein platform into biotechnological and fermentation-based protein research. Minimum requirements●       A doctoral degree (NQF 10) in Biotechnology, Fermentation Technology, Bioprocess or Biochemical Engineering, or Microbiology, or a closely related qualification to the theme.●       A good record of research and/or academic leadership, with demonstrated leadership in biotechnology, fermentation and bioprocessing research.●       A significant period of sustained academic experience in research and/or professional experience in higher education or a research environment.●       A minimum of seven (7) DHET-accredited research outputs/creative outputs over the preceding three years, relevant to the discipline, with evidence of research quality and impact.●       Successful supervision to completion of Master's and Doctoral students.●       Evidence of success in securing competitive research funding (grants, contracts or commissioned research).●       Evidence of leading multidisciplinary teams and building national/international research collaborations. Key responsibilities●       Lead a defined research stream within Theme 1: biotechnology, fermentation technology and bioprocessing for sustainable protein production including microbial and precision fermentation, enzyme and biocatalysis technology, complementing and advancing the Theme Leader's strategic agenda.●       Co-develop grant, contract and commissioned-research applications and contribute to securing competitive funding for the theme.●       Produce high-quality peer-reviewed outputs and supervise Doctoral and Master's students to timely completion.●       Co-supervise and mentor early-career researchers and the Senior Lecturer, and deputise for the Theme Leader when required.●       Build and strengthen research collaborations and partnerships and ensure adherence to IFRi's stage-gate governance and ethics requirements.  Ideal / additional recommendations●       An NRF rating or equivalent recognised research standing (particularly for Professor and Associate Professor appointments).●       Evidence of interdisciplinary, community-engaged or place-based research, and an ability to work across scientific and indigenous knowledge systems.●       Experience of research ethics, or indigenous knowledge governance, access and benefit-sharing, biodiversity or food-regulatory requirements relevant to the portfolio.●       Evidence of international, African and/or industry, government, civil-society or community research networks. Position 2Professor (Theme Leader): Food Processing, Product Innovation and Value AdditionTheme 2: Food Processing, Product Innovation and Value AdditionReference Number: 30002799Status of Position: PermanentCampus: Durban / Pietermaritzburg, as determined by DUTPosition purposeThe appointee will provide senior intellectual and strategic leadership in the development of processing technologies and market-ready products from indigenous foods, bridging laboratory science and industrial scale-up through the pilot processing facility and commercialisation pipeline. Minimum requirements●       A doctoral degree (NQF 10) in Food Technology, Food Processing/Engineering, or Food Science, or a closely related qualification to the theme.●       A strong record of research and/or academic leadership, with demonstrated leadership in indigenous-food processing, product innovation and value-addition research.●       A substantial and sustained period of distinguished academic experience in research and/or professional experience in higher education or a research environment, with recognised standing in the field.●       A minimum of ten (10) DHET-accredited research outputs/creative outputs over the preceding three years, relevant to the discipline, with evidence of research quality and impact.●       Evidence of a substantial record of successful supervision to completion of Master's and Doctoral students.●       Demonstrated success in securing competitive research funding (grants, contracts or commissioned research).●       Evidence of leading multidisciplinary teams and building national/international research collaborations. Key responsibilities●       Provide overall academic and strategic leadership for Theme 2 — Food Processing, Product Innovation and Value Addition, setting its research direction and leading its flagship programme, the Indigenous Foods Pilot Processing and Product Innovation Plant.●       Build, grow and sustain a high-quality, externally funded research programme, leading major grant, contract and philanthropic funding applications for the theme.●       Drive high-impact peer-reviewed publications, postgraduate completions (Master's and Doctoral) and innovation/IP outputs across the theme.●       Establish and lead national and international research collaborations and industry, community and policy partnerships, and represent IFRi in relevant professional and policy forums.●       Mentor academic staff, postdoctoral fellows and students, and ensure all theme research proceeds through IFRi's stage-gate governance, ethics and quality-assurance framework. Ideal / additional recommendations●       An NRF rating or equivalent recognised research standing (particularly for Professor and Associate Professor appointments).●       Evidence of interdisciplinary, community-engaged or place-based research, and an ability to work across scientific or indigenous knowledge systems.●       Experience of research ethics, indigenous knowledge governance, access and benefit-sharing, biodiversity or food-regulatory requirements relevant to the portfolio.●       Evidence of international, African and/or industry, government, civil-society or community research networks. Position 3Associate Professor: Food Processing, Product Innovation and Value AdditionTheme 2: Food Processing, Product Innovation and Value AdditionReference Number: 30002803Status of Position: PermanentCampus: Durban / Pietermaritzburg, as determined by DUTPosition purposeThe appointee will lead a defined research stream on processing-technology development and product formulation for indigenous foods, complementing the Theme Leader's agenda and advancing flagship products through spin-off pipeline. Minimum requirements●       A doctoral degree (NQF 10) in Food Technology/Food Processing/Engineering, or Food Science, or a closely related qualification to the theme.●       A good record of research and/or academic leadership, with demonstrated leadership in indigenous-food processing, product innovation and value-addition research.●       A significant period of sustained academic experience in research and/or professional experience in higher education or a research environment.●       A minimum of seven (7) DHET-accredited research outputs/creative outputs over the preceding three years, relevant to the discipline, with evidence of research quality and impact.●       Successful supervision to completion of Master's and Doctoral students.●       Evidence of success in securing competitive research funding (grants, contracts or commissioned research).●       Evidence of leading multidisciplinary teams and building national/international research collaborations. Key responsibilities●       Lead a defined research stream within Theme 2: processing-technology development (milling, extrusion, drying and fermentation) and the design of nutritious, convenient and shelf-stable indigenous-food products, complementing and advancing the Theme Leader's strategic agenda.●       Co-develop grant, contract and commissioned-research applications and contribute to securing competitive funding for the theme.●       Produce high-quality peer-reviewed outputs and supervise Doctoral and Master's students to timely completion.●       Co-supervise and mentor early-career researchers and the Senior Lecturer, and deputise for the Theme Leader when required.●       Build and strengthen research collaborations and partnerships and ensure adherence to IFRi's stage-gate governance and ethics requirements. Ideal / additional recommendations●       An NRF rating or equivalent recognised research standing (particularly for Professor and Associate Professor appointments).●       Evidence of interdisciplinary, community-engaged or place-based research, and an ability to work across scientific or indigenous knowledge systems.●       Experience of research ethics, indigenous knowledge governance, access and benefit-sharing, biodiversity or food-regulatory requirements relevant to the portfolio.●       Evidence of international, African and/or industry, government, civil-society or community research networks. Position 4Senior Lecturer: Food Processing, Product Innovation and Value AdditionTheme 2: Food Processing, Product Innovation and Value AdditionReference Number: 30002804Status of Position: PermanentCampus: Durban / Pietermaritzburg, as determined by DUTPosition purposeThe appointee will build an emerging research portfolio in indigenous-food product development, sensory and consumer science, deliver defined project tasks within the pilot processing plant, and contribute to teaching in food processing and food technology. Minimum requirements●       A doctoral degree (NQF 10) in Food Technology, Food Science or Food Processing, or a closely related qualification to the theme.●       A record of research and/or academic leadership in indigenous-food product development, sensory and consumer science.●       An appropriate period of relevant academic experience in research and/or professional experience in higher education or a research environment.●       A minimum of three (3) DHET-accredited research outputs/creative outputs over the preceding three years, relevant to the discipline.●       Evidence of participation in the supervision of Master's students.●       Evidence of participation in grant writing.●       Evidence of participation in multidisciplinary teams and research collaborations. Key responsibilities●       Contribute to Theme 3 research by delivering defined project tasks and building an emerging independent research portfolio in indigenous-food product development, sensory and consumer science.●       Undertake postgraduate and undergraduate teaching and curriculum delivery within relevant DUT programmes.●       Supervise Master's students and co-supervise Doctoral students within the theme.●       Participate in grant writing and in the multidisciplinary collaborations led by the Theme Leader and Associate Professor.●       Support laboratory and/or field operations, data management, and compliance with IFRi's stage-gate governance and ethics requirements. Ideal / additional recommendations●       Progress towards an NRF rating or equivalent emerging-researcher recognition.●       Evidence of interdisciplinary, community-engaged or place-based research, and a willingness to work across scientific or indigenous knowledge systems.●       Awareness of research ethics, indigenous knowledge governance, access and benefit-sharing, biodiversity or food-regulatory requirements relevant to the portfolio.●       Emerging participation in international, African and/or industry, government, civil-society or community research networks. Position 5Professor (Theme Leader): Nutrition, Safety, Health and Food-as-Medicine of Indigenous FoodsTheme 3: Nutrition, Safety, Health and Food-as-Medicine of Indigenous FoodsReference Number: 30002801Status of Position: PermanentCampus: Durban / Pietermaritzburg, as determined by DUTPosition purposeThe appointee will provide senior intellectual and strategic leadership in the nutritional, micronutrient and bioactive characterisation of priority indigenous foods and their mechanisms of health benefit, building a "Food is Medicine" platform that translates evidence into dietary guidance and non-communicable-disease prevention with relevant organisation and NGO's. Minimum requirements●       A doctoral degree (NQF 10) in Nutrition, or Dietetics/ Food Science or Public-Health Nutrition, or a closely related qualification to the theme.●       A strong record of research and/or academic leadership, with demonstrated leadership in food nutrition, bioactives or public-health-nutrition research.●       A substantial and sustained period of distinguished academic experience in research and/or professional experience in higher education or a research environment, with recognised standing in the field.●       A minimum of ten (10) DHET-accredited research outputs/creative outputs over the preceding three years, relevant to the discipline, with evidence of research quality and impact.●       Evidence of a substantial record of successful supervision to completion of Master's and Doctoral students.●       Demonstrated success in securing competitive research funding (grants, contracts or commissioned research).●       Evidence of leading multidisciplinary teams and building national/international research collaborations. Key responsibilities●       Provide overall academic and strategic leadership for Theme 3 — Nutrition, Safety, Health and Food-as-Medicine of Indigenous Foods — setting its research direction and leading its flagship programme, the Indigenous Foods Nutrition and Food-as-Medicine Observatory.●       Build, grow and sustain a high-quality, externally funded research programme, leading major grant, contract and philanthropic funding applications for the theme.●       Drive high-impact peer-reviewed publications, postgraduate completions (Master's and Doctoral) and innovation/IP outputs across the theme.●       Establish and lead national and international research collaborations and industry, community and policy partnerships, and represent IFRi in relevant professional and policy forums.●       Mentor academic staff, postdoctoral fellows and students, and ensure all theme research proceeds through IFRi's stage-gate governance, ethics and quality-assurance framework. Ideal / additional recommendations●       An NRF rating or equivalent recognised research standing (particularly for Professor and Associate Professor appointments).●       Evidence of interdisciplinary, community-engaged or place-based research, and an ability to work across scientific or indigenous knowledge systems.●       Experience of research ethics, indigenous knowledge governance, access and benefit-sharing, biodiversity or food-regulatory requirements relevant to the portfolio.●       Evidence of international, African and/or industry, government, civil-society or community research networks. Position 6Senior Lecturer: Nutrition, Safety, Health and Food-as-Medicine of Indigenous FoodsTheme 3: Nutrition, Safety, Health and Food-as-Medicine of Indigenous FoodsReference Number: 30002805Status of Position: PermanentCampus: Durban / Pietermaritzburg, as determined by DUTPosition purposeThe appointee will build an emerging research portfolio in food safety, nutrition and community/clinical dietary studies for non-communicable-disease prevention, deliver defined project tasks within the theme programme, and contribute to teaching in nutrition and dietetics. Minimum requirements●       A doctoral degree (NQF 10) in Nutrition/Dietetics/Food science, or a closely related qualification to the theme.●       A record of research and/or academic leadership in indigenous-food nutrition and community dietary studies.●       An appropriate period of relevant academic experience in research and/or professional experience in higher education or a research environment.●       A minimum of three (3) DHET-accredited research outputs/creative outputs over the preceding three years, relevant to the discipline.●       Evidence of participation in the supervision of Master's students.●       Evidence of participation in grant writing.●       Evidence of participation in multidisciplinary teams and research collaborations. Key responsibilities●       Contribute to Theme 2 research by delivering defined project tasks and building an emerging independent research portfolio in indigenous-food nutrition and community dietary studies.●       Undertake postgraduate and undergraduate teaching and curriculum delivery within relevant DUT programmes.●       Supervise Master's students and co-supervise Doctoral students within the theme.●       Participate in grant writing and in the multidisciplinary collaborations led by the Theme Leader and Associate Professor.●       Support laboratory and/or field operations, data management, and compliance with IFRi's stage-gate governance and ethics requirements. Ideal / additional recommendations●       Progress towards an NRF rating or equivalent emerging-researcher recognition.●       Evidence of interdisciplinary, community-engaged or place-based research, and a willingness to work across scientific and indigenous knowledge systems.●       Awareness of research ethics, indigenous knowledge governance, access and benefit-sharing, biodiversity or food-regulatory requirements relevant to the portfolio.●       Emerging participation in international, African and/or industry, government, civil-society or community research networks. Application Information applies to all six positions:Application requirements●       A fully completed prescribed DUT application-for-employment form, obtainable from www.dut.ac.za under Quick Links / Careers.●       A detailed curriculum vitae explicitly demonstrating how the applicant meets the rank and theme-specific requirements.●       A covering letter identifying the exact position, rank and research theme applied for.●       Copies of all relevant academic records and certificates.●       A copy of an identity document or passport, and current contact details for referees. Salary: Market relatedContact Person: Ms. ZJ. NgcoboApplication email / portal: DUT Careers Portal Please noteWhile DUT strives to ensure equal opportunities, preference will be given to suitable candidates in accordance with the University's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy and aligned to its strategic objectives. The Durban University of Technology reserves the right not to make an appointment. Correspondence will be entered into only with shortlisted candidates. Applicants who do not receive communication from the University should consider their application unsuccessful. Successful candidates will be subject to appropriate background checks, including qualification verification, reference checks and criminal-record screening. Submission of an application constitutes consent to these checks. DUT may require psychometric or other assessments where justified by the position.