Chief Specialist Scientist (E) Job at The South African Medical Research Council

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership in cancer and/or NCD molecular research within the unit.
• Initiate, lead, and manage novel national and international multidisciplinary research programmes.
• Conduct high-impact translational research and publish in peer-reviewed ISI-indexed journals as first and/or senior author.
• Secure and manage substantial national and international grant funding as Principal Investigator.
• Lead and implement research strategy, innovation, and capacity development initiatives within the unit.
• Supervise and mentor postgraduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early- and mid-career scientists.
• Foster and maintain strategic collaborations with academic, governmental, clinical, and international stakeholders.
• Translate research findings into public health impact, policy contributions, intellectual property, and innovation outputs where applicable.
• Present research findings at national and international scientific conferences, including keynote presentations.
• Contribute towards unit management, budgeting, operational oversight, reporting, and risk management.
• Support transformation and equity initiatives within the SAMRC and BRIP.

Remuneration:

R 1,695,807 per annum

Requirements

Core Requirements:

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Cancer Biology, Epidemiology, or a related field.
• Excellent academic and scholarly track record, including at least 40 lifetime peer-reviewed ISI-indexed publications, with a minimum 12 as first author
• Internationally recognised leader in the cancer field with an NRF C1(pending B3-rating re-evaluation outcome) or equivalent standing.
• Proven track record of successfully securing and leading major research grants and programmes, including cumulative research income exceeding R10 million as Principal Investigator.
• Proven track record of postgraduate supervision to completion, including MSc and PhD students, with a minimum of 10 students graduated.
• Proven Leadership and management experience in cancer research with a strong record of mentorship, capacity development, and people management.
• Experience in budgeting, financial oversight, and risk management.
• Membership of national and international scientific bodies and committees.
• Work collaboratively to build an effective team with excellent scientific writing, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• University affiliation at Associate or Full Professor level.
• More than 20 years’ experience in molecular and cell biology research within the NCD and/or cancer field
• Strong understanding of ethical standards in human subjects research.

 Advantageous:

• Proven track record of international collaborative partnerships in cancer and/or NCD research.
• Experience in translational precision medicine in cancer research.
• Demonstrated contribution to national and international scientific guidelines, policy documents, or advisory committees.
• MBChB

 Closing date:

15 November 2026