Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Climate Change and Sport at University of Cape Town (South Africa)

The Climate Risk Lab at the University of Cape Town (UCT) is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (PDRF) to research climate change risks to sport.

The PDRF is an excellent opportunity for those with interest or experience in sport/physical activity or climate change risk research, and who want to push forward the frontiers understanding the risks and adaptation options for a sector of major economic and cultural importance globally.

The PDRF will be highly motivated to engage with decision-makers in the sport and climate sectors, and generate high quality, peer-reviewed publications. The PDRF will work in an international team that is a mix of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.

Project research will address the following key objectives:

(1) Identifying and characterising the emerging risks from climate change on sport events, athlete performance, other sport outcomes (e.g., income), as well as risks to physical activity more broadly;

(2) Identify effective and feasible adaptation options across multiple sporting disciplines that enable safer and more inclusive sport performance and participation;

(3) Develop improved understanding of future climate change risks to sport events and participants, including exposure, vulnerability, and the adaptation response options available.

The overall aim of the project is to link these key objectives in order to provide improved understanding of climate change risks and the options for adaptation to sport participants and decision-makers.

Candidates will be encouraged to develop their own research ideas within the goals of the project and this can be across a variety of sports, such as tennis, football, surfing, golf, athletics, and cricket, among others. Research is focused on sport events and participants at all levels from amateur to professional, including youth. Research will exploit existing data but may also include fieldwork and data collection.

The PDRF will be advised by Dr Nicholas Simpson and Dr Christopher Trisos and will be based in the Climate Risk Lab at the African Climate and Development Initiative at UCT.

The PDRF will have access to funding for travel to international meetings and to work with collaborators. The PDRF will also be part of a team of PDRFs and senior researchers in the Climate Risk Lab working on climate change risks and adaptation across biodiversity, health, education, heritage, and sport. Interdisciplinary work is encouraged.

The PDRF will be given the necessary resources for their work: desk and office space, IT and communication infrastructure and may participate in the Emerging Researcher Programme (ERP) and other supportive training at University of Cape Town for early career researchers.

Value and tenure:

• The value of the fellowship is ZAR 450,000 – 540,000 per year, tax free, for three years, renewable annually, subject to performance and funding. Application for tax exemption of the fellowship stipend will be made by the University of Cape Town.

Academic / experience criteria:

Required

• A PhD, awarded within the previous four years or under examination, in a relevant discipline (e.g. sport, economics, health, education, climate change).

• Demonstrated ability to produce peer-reviewed research articles in international journals.

• Familiarity with climate change risk research or research on sport or physical activity

• Desire and ability to work in an interdisciplinary research team setting.

• Experience in synthesizing and managing diverse datasets (quantitative and/or qualitative data).

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Desired

• Experience with research or policy on sport and/or physical activity and climate change.

• Interest and experience in engagement with decision-makers.

• Strong interest and/or experience in science communication and public communication of science

• Excellent data visualisation skills.

Conditions of award:

• Applicants may not previously have held a full-time permanent academic post.

• The successful applicant will be required to register as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Cape Town and will be expected to commence the required research at a mutually agreed date that is ideally no later than mid-May 2025.

• The successful applicant will be required to comply with the university’s approved policies, procedures and practices for the postdoctoral sector.

• Working from ACDI is strongly preferred but more flexible remote work options can be discussed.

Application requirements:

Applicants should submit as a single PDF: (i) an application letter no longer than 2 pages that includes a description of research interests, research expertise, and suggestion for how they can work towards one or more of the project objectives; (ii) a CV including a publication list; (iii) copies of academic transcripts and/or certificates; (iv) an example of written work; (v) email addresses of two references who have been directly involved in their PhD and/or previous postdoctoral research.

Selection process:

• Only eligible and complete applications will be considered for selection.

• Interviews will take place during April/May 2025 and the successful candidate is expected to start as soon as possible thereafter.

Closing date: Applications received before 14 April 2025 are guaranteed to be considered.

Applications received thereafter may be considered if the position has not been filled.

Contact details for submission of applications: Fundisiwe Malinga, fundisiwe.malinga@uct.ac.za. Please type “Postdoc Climate Change and Sport” as the email subject line.

Contact details for enquiries about the fellowship topic and Climate Risk Lab: nick.simpson@uct.ac.za

Additional information on Climate Risk Lab, ACDI, and UCT can be found at: climaterisklab.com / www.acdi.uct.ac.za / www.uct.ac.za

Selection process

Eligible and complete applications will be considered by the ACDI and we will communicate with short-listed applicants. If you have not heard within two months of the deadline, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.

The University of Cape Town reserves the right to:

• Disqualify ineligible, incomplete and/or inappropriate applications;

• Change the conditions of the award or to make no awards at all.

Application Deadline: 14 April 2025 or until position is filled.

Link to job posting: https://acdi.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/media/documents/acdi_uct_ac_za/1205/acdi-crl-postdoc-advert-climate-change-sport.pdf