Associate Professor / Senior Lecturer – Plant Breeding

About the role

The University of Pretoria invites applications for an academic position at the level of Associate Professor or Senior Lecturer, specialising in plant breeding. The incumbent will lead the development of DNA‑marker based molecular breeding and high‑throughput phenotyping (phenomics) programmes, supporting climate‑smart crop and forestry research.

Key responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and postgraduate courses with a focus on molecular plant breeding and precision agriculture.
• Supervise honours, master’s and doctoral research projects.
• Develop and steward a research programme in DNA‑marker breeding and phenomics.
• Secure external research funding and publish in high‑impact international journals.
• Contribute to curriculum development and departmental collaborations.

Required profile

• PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics, Molecular Biology or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in DNA‑marker based molecular breeding and high‑throughput phenotyping.
• Strong record of peer‑reviewed publications and successful grant acquisition.
• Experience in teaching and supervising graduate students.
• Ability to develop curricula and collaborate across research institutes.

Required skills

• DNA marker based molecular breeding
• High‑throughput phenotyping (phenomics)
• Molecular plant breeding techniques
• Precision agriculture methodologies

What we offer

• Access to state‑of‑the‑art plant growth facilities and field sites.
• Opportunities for interdisciplinary research with FABI and other institutes.
• Support for professional development and international collaborations.