Senior Lecturer

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is a vibrant, diverse, and dynamic university, rooted in the African continent with an increasing global reach. UWC actively responds in critical and creative ways to the development needs of the country, within an ever-changing and challenging global context.

The Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of the Western Cape is internationally recognised for its excellence in teaching and research. The Faculty comprises nine academic departments, a School of Pharmacy, and a number of world-class research institutes and Centres. The Faculty offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the major scientific disciplines and a professional degree in Pharmacy.

The Department of Medical Biosciences is comprised of the three interrelated disciplines of Physiology, Anatomy, and Medical Microbiology. Housed within the Faculty of Science, the Department offers service courses to the Faculties of Dentistry, Community and Health Sciences, and the School of Pharmacy at the undergraduate level and across Faculties at the postgraduate level.

Key Responsibilities:

• Facilitate learning and teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in Medical Microbiology with emphasis on Immunology, infections of different organ systems, and oral microbial infections in particular.
• Be able to teach specific medical microbiology content across the various modules of MBS.
• Conduct research and publish in the fields of Microbiology and/or Immunology.
• Undertake undergraduate and postgraduate supervision.
• Provide academic leadership and administration.
• Undertake curriculum development and assessment.
• Participate in community engagement and outreach.
• Play a role in the administrative activities of the Department and Faculty.
• Fulfil any other duties as assigned by the Head of Department.

Minimum Requirements:

• Doctoral qualification or equivalent, in the research field of Medical Microbiology.
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating learning and teaching, in the field of Medical Microbiology.
• A record of publications, in the field of Medical Microbiology.
• A record of successful postgraduate supervision.

Required Competencies:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Presentation and facilitation skills.
• Adaptability and the ability to operate in a diverse environment.
• Student-focused approach.
• Planning and organising skills.
• Computer literacy and e-learning skills.
• Possesses technical expertise and professional knowledge in their discipline, along with proficiency in key strategic areas, including learning and teaching, research and scholarship, community engagement, and professional leadership.
• Clear demonstration of the ability, or knowledge of key steps, to independently conduct research.