At the Stellenbosch Centre for Critical and Creative Thought (Stellenbosch Thought), critical thought is regarded as deadening if it is not also a creative insurrection. Critical thought is taken to mean creative world-making and self-making. We are interested in lived, dynamic actualities. The world, and all the parts that make it up, is approached critically because it can be imagined and made otherwise. As critical scholars of different hues located at Stellenbosch University (SU) with its colonial and apartheid history, being critical implies being inspired by an ethos of beautiful revolt against oppression in its different guises. To desire to make new worlds, imagine different subjectivities, and generate joyful encounters is what we mean by critical. You can read further on Stellenbosch Thought here: https://www0.sun.ac.za/psychology/centres/stellenbosch-centre-for-critical-and-creative-thought/

We are inviting applications for a creative and critical Postdoctoral Fellow and Researcher who will support the work of Stellenbosch Thought. The ideal candidate is someone who is not only critical but also seriously invested in creative world- and self-making. The fellowship award is for R300 000 per annum. The award will initially be for one year, renewable for a second year on condition of satisfactory performance. The Fellow will work under the supervisory mentorship of Professor Kopano Ratele while also supporting the work and collaborating with other members of Stellenbosch Thought. While the Centre is based within the Psychology Department, the Fellow’s PhD need not have been awarded in Psychology.

In addition to supporting the head and members of Stellenbosch Thought in their work, the Fellow is expected to:

  1. Co-author on joint publications and co-present on joint presentations
  2. Publish their own research emerging from their PhD
  3. Plan and coordinate events of the Centre
  4. Maintain and develop the social media platforms as vehicle for public engagement and dissemination of the work of the Centre
  5. Provide support and assist with development of postgraduate programme/module

Eligibility and Requirements

  • A PhD degree not older than five years.
  • Strong analytical and writing skills
  • Highly organised mind.
  • A strong interest in critical African thought as well as other critical traditions.
  • A strong interest creative work, such as African art, literature or photography
  • Demonstrable familiarity with disciplines others than the one in which the PhD was awarded.
  • Demonstrable expertise in different methodologies and method of analysis from both the qualitative and quantitative traditions

Advantages

  • Preference will be given to queer Black South Africans
  • Teaching and group facilitation experience
  • Creative lines of thought
  • Publications or creative outputs
  • Good with technology – for producing images and short videos
  • Motivation to publish own book

Application Process

Applications close on 4 August 2023 and should be sent to Prof Ratele [kratele@sun.ac.za]

Your application should include:

  1. A letter of motivation outlining how your research articulates with the work of Stellenbosch Thought
  2. A detailed and up to date CV
  3. A list of proposed publications
  4. Soft copy of PhD thesis and published work/creative outputs or links to these
  5. Copies of your academic transcript and PhD degree certificate
  6. Two letters of academic reference

CLOSING DATE 4 August 2023

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