Research Officer

Part-time Research Officer

Fixed Term Contract (T2 – 30 months)

Marine Resource Assessment and Management Group (MARAM) in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics

Faculty of Science

The Marine Resource Assessment and Management Group (MARAM) invites applications for the position of Part-time Research Officer. MARAM is based in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at the University of Cape Town and conducts research related to the sustainable use of renewable marine (mainly fish and especially South African) resources. Details of its activities can be found at https://science.uct.ac.za/maram .

If you meet the criteria listed below, you are invited to apply for this fixed term Academic Research position.

Requirements for the position:

• At least a PhD degree in a related subject area (Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Statistics)


• At least five years of relevant experience working on research projects in the field of renewable marine resource assessment


• Skills in quantitative research and report writing


• Skills in computer programming, including R and TMB


• Experience in fitting complex population models to resource monitoring data and conducting simulation testing of “management procedures” to provide a basis for setting catch limits for a resource

Responsibilities:

• Conduct assessments and management procedure simulation evaluations for renewable marine resources, and in particular for the South African hake resource


• Develop technical reports on such analyses and present those to meetings of the scientific groups responsible for providing recommendations for resource management


• Write scientific papers on analyses conducted for publication


• Assist young post-graduates in the group in conducting resource assessments and management procedure simulations


• Assist planning and conduct of activities including workshops etc. in the MARAM Group 

The annual cost of employment for 2026, including benefits, will be between R591 534 and R650 000. This is for a part-time appointment covering 32.5 hours per week.

For queries, please email Professor D Butterworth ([email protected])

To apply, please visit the UCT Jobs Site (www.jobs.uct.ac.za) to create a candidate profile and to submit your application.

Please complete/attach the following to your profile before submitting your application:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)


• Motivational letter explaining your fit to the position (not more than 2 pages)


• Three referee names which must include their title and name, position details, relationship to you, their e-mail address and their telephone number.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to undergo competency assessments. References may be requested by UCT at any stage of the selection process. An application which does not comply with the above requirements will be regarded as incomplete. Please note your full application should be completed on Success Factors.

Any inquiries for the application process are to be addressed to Ms Abigail Dixon at [email protected] or 021 650 1673. Please do not send or submit job application/CV via this e-mail.

Closing Date: 1 November 2026                   

Reference: ID1537

Website:   https://science.uct.ac.za/maram          

UCT is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity, and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups. Our Employment Equity Policy is available at www.hr.uct.ac.za/hr/policies/employ_equity

When you apply for a position at UCT, we collect your personal information to assess your application, communicate with you, and coordinate interview logistics. Information such as race, gender, nationality, and disability status is used to support our Employment Equity obligations. We also verify your references, qualifications, conduct criminal and, for certain roles, credit checks. For more information about how the University of Cape Town uses personal information and your rights, please email [email protected] .

The University reserves the right to extend the closing date for applications if deemed necessary and reserves the right to make no appointment.