Research Chair (Professor)
Position summary
Introduction
Job description
The School of Medicine’s vision is to be globally recognized for excellence in research, education, and clinical practice delivered in a collegial and effective environment and always grounded in the realities and needs of our local context.
We are also proud to have world-class research institutes producing research with global impact.
The Discipline of Family medicine within the School of Medicine wishes to appoint a Research Chair.
Family Medicine is a relatively young academic and clinical discipline in South Africa. Despite its relatively recent development, it occupies a central position within local, national, and international health policy agendas. The discipline is grounded in Primary Health Care (PHC), which is internationally recognised as the cornerstone of effective, equitable, and sustainable health systems. Family Medicine plays a pivotal role in strengthening PHC by providing comprehensive, continuous, and person-centred care, while also serving as a critical link between health services, communities, and broader health systems.
In South Africa, the evidence base for Family Medicine is still emerging, particularly in the areas of clinical practice, health systems strengthening, organisational development, medical education, and social science research. As a result, there is a significant need to expand research activity, generate contextually relevant evidence, and build sustainable research capacity within the discipline.
Against this backdrop, the Research Chair will play a strategic leadership role in advancing Family Medicine research by broadening the evidence base of the discipline, building research capacity at UKZN, mentoring emerging researchers, and fostering local, national, and international research collaborations. The position will maintain a minimum of 80% focus on research activities, aimed at enhancing research excellence, increasing scholarly output, attracting external funding, and contributing to the advancement of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care in South Africa and beyond.
Minimum requirements
- Be at Full Professor level or must meet the minimum requirements to be appointed at Professoriate level;
- Current registration as a family medicine medical specialist with HPCSA;
- A PhD in family medicine;
- Evidence of curriculum development;
- Nine (9) years in teaching and assessment at undergraduate and postgraduate levels across medical and health sciences modules with at least five years in postgraduate teaching;
- Ten(10) years of Research experience.
- A total of 40 published papers or more, in high impact peer-reviewed journals;
- Evidence of sustained record of attracting and winning substantial research grants as PI (or co-PI) from external sources;
- Evidence of providing service in a leadership position/s (academic leader of discipline, programme coordinator);
- Evidence of academic citizenship through academic contributions such as delivery of keynote addresses, development of policy and research briefs, or development of practice guidelines that contribute to the professionalisation of family medicine;
- Evidence of successful and verifiable mentorship of emerging scholars/researchers AND
- Valid driver’s license.
The post reports to the Head of Discipline. Enquiries regarding this post may be directed to Professor BM Gaede 031 260 4321 or Gaede@ukzn.ac.za. A request for a job profile may be directed to Ms C Mbuli on mbulic@ukzn.ac.za
The academic designation/salary grade of the successful incumbent will be determined during the selection process in line with the University Senate-approved criteria for academic promotions, which is available on the HR Website https://hr.ukzn.ac.za/forms/
Appointment will be Fractional 5/8th post. The incumbent member will be expected to undertake research and postgraduate supervision in the name of UKZN, and to develop linkages and collaborative projects with existing staff and students at UKZN. The incumbent member will be expected to travel to UKZN to achieve these outcomes, but does not need to spend a continuous three-month period at UKZN.
The closing date for receipt of applications is 23 October 2026.
The University, however, reserves the right in exceptional circumstances to accept late applications or extend the above date to facilitate further searches.
All applicants are required to complete and submit the relevant application form: Academic, which is available by clicking the following link: https://hr.ukzn.ac.za/forms/, when applying for this post.
Kindly note that the University of KwaZulu-Natal (“the University”) is required to process any Personal Information (as defined by the Protection of Personal Act, 2013 “POPIA”) submitted by candidates when applying for positions at the University. The provision of the Personal Information is a requirement in terms of the University’s recruitment and selection process. The retention of any personal information is as a consequence of the University being bound by legislative requirements and / or good governance practices as well as record keeping for statistical purposes. The University will endeavour to ensure that the appropriate security measures are in place and implemented for both electronic and paper-based formats that are used for processing of the personal information recorded through this recruitment and selection process
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is committed to meeting the objectives of Employment Equity to improve representivity within the Institution. Preference will be given to applicants from designated groups in accordance with our Employment Equity Plan.
- Please do not send us copies of your degree and other certificates. We will request certified copies if you are short listed for interview.
- Please read the advertisement carefully. We do not consider applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements.
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