Lecturer - Department of Statistics

BACKGROUND

Statistics is a fundamental scientific discipline and is offered as such by the Department of Statistics at the University of Pretoria. Programmes in Statistics and Mathematical Statistics are presented in the Faculties of Natural and Agricultural Science as well as Economic and Management Science. Courses in Statistics are also presented as components of various other programmes in many faculties.

The professional nature of statistics is intertwined with the Department of Statistics' academic orientated goal, and highlighted through research- and research related consulting activities. Research consultation is offered to industry and to the broader university. Through these activities the core components of the discipline are strengthened, positioning the Department at the forefront of research, teaching, and professional practice. The Department of Statistics is a research-intensive department with expertise in a variety yet focussed number of fields; including statistical theory and methodology, time series analysis, statistical data science, biostatistics, and more.

Statistical training programmes should include the latest knowledge, modern Statistical thinking and skills, in partnership with industry, combined with core fundamental principles and scientific foundations. Technology significantly transformed the availability of information and data, and how advance analytics allows for an in-depth understanding of patterns in data, making automation of many manual processes possible. Enhancement of the current teaching programme that incorporate data science components is expected from the incumbent. The department offers core modules, and it is expected from the incumbent to teach advanced level modules offered by the department including, not limited to, stochastic processes, multivariate analysis, survival models, extreme value theory and time series analysis.

The incumbent will have an academic mandate including teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and supervising Honours, Masters and PhD students. The research mandate also requires an active research programme, producing accredited academic research outputs, conference presentations. It will also be expected from the incumbent to build a strong internationally acclaimed research programme.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The successful incumbent will be responsible for:

• Teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses;
• Mentoring and supervising postgraduate students;
• Actively conducting independent and collaborative research and publishing research outputs in accredited journals;
• Developing and/or expanding collaboration with academics internationally;
• Delivering specialist courses at national and international levels;
• Participating in administrative duties within the Department.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• A Doctoral degree in Mathematical Statistics/Statistics;
• An indication of an emerging research career with evidence of publications in academic journals in the relevant field of Statistics/ Mathematical Statistics;
• Evidence of papers presented at international conferences;
• Proven competency and prior experience of at least two years is required in:
• Teaching of statistics/mathematical statistics at undergraduate and (or) postgraduate levels, especially in the field of stochastic processes;
• The application of a variety of statistical techniques, statistical model building and statistical programming;
• Demonstrable advanced knowledge of at least one major statistical software programming language.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES):

• Recognized by peers as a scholar with high academic standing.

PLEASE NOTE:

All applicants invited for an interview might be expected to present a lecture on a specific topic in stochastic processes.

The annual remuneration package will be commensurate with the incumbent's level of appointment, as determined by UP policy guidelines. UP subscribes to the BESTMED and UMVUZO medical aid schemes and contributes 50% of the applicable monthly premium.

Applicants are requested to apply online at www.up.ac.za, and follow the link: Careers@UP.

In applying for this post, please attach:

• A comprehensive CV;
• Certified copies of qualifications;
• Names, e-mail addresses and telephone details of three referees whom we have permission to contact;
• Names and contact details of peer reviewers (academic and research);
• Self-evaluation.

No application will be considered after the closing date, or if it does not comply with at least the minimum requirements.

ENQUIRIES:

Mrs E Kühn, elsabe.kuhn@up.ac.za for application-related enquiries, and Prof A Bekker, andriette.bekker@up.ac.za for enquiries relating to the post content.

Should you not hear from the University of Pretoria by 30 June 2021, please accept that your application has been unsuccessful.

The University of Pretoria is committed to equality, employment equity and diversity.

In accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets, preference may be given, but is not limited to candidates from under-represented designated groups.

All candidates who comply with the requirements for appointment are invited to apply. All candidates agree to undergo verification of personal credentials.

The University of Pretoria reserves the right to not fill the advertised positions.