Senior Research Officer, Centre for Minerals & Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, EBE (Cape Town, ZA) bei None

Senior Research Officer (Flotation)

Centre for Minerals Research (CMR)

Department of Chemical Engineering

Faculty Of Engineering and the Built Environment

The University of Cape Town (UCT) is one of the leading higher education institutions on the African continent. It embraces a tradition of academic excellence that is respected worldwide. The academic project remains at the heart of UCT’s mission, which is built on three pillars at the core of Vision 2030: excellence, transformation, and sustainability.

The Department of Chemical Engineering enjoys an international reputation in teaching and research and is actively committed to teaching and research. The undergraduate degree programme is accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). Research is carried out in the areas of bioprocess engineering, catalysis and catalytic processing, engineering education, environmental systems and process systems engineering, minerals processing, precipitation and crystallisation, energy systems modelling, and sea ice. The Department enjoys strong, global industrial support for its teaching and research programmes, and maintains close links with the South African chemical, petrochemical, biotechnological and minerals industries.

The Centre for Minerals Research (CMR) is a multi-disciplinary research Centre within the Department of Chemical Engineering, which provides a dynamic and exciting research, teaching and learning environment.  The CMR hosts academics, research and administrative staff, postdoctoral fellows, Doctoral and Masters’ students. Our main areas of research are comminution, classification, flotation, and process mineralogy. The CMR also engages significantly in technology transfer projects of our research and technical skills to industry partners. The number of researchers and research students in the Centre range generally between 30-40 in any given year.

The CMR seeks a dynamic Senior Research Officer specialising in flotation circuit optimisation to spearhead advanced research initiatives. This pivotal role involves expert-level circuit modelling and simulation, conducting robust surveys of industrial plants, and facilitating seamless technology transfer to industry partners. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in industrial-scale flotation processes, a strong track record in flotation plant optimisation, and the ability to supervise and mentor postgraduate students and graduate metallurgists. The role also requires fostering collaborative relationships across academic, professional, and industrial domains to drive impactful research and innovation.

Requirements for the position:

• Master’s degree in chemical or metallurgical engineering.
• 3 years’ industrial experience in mineral processing.
• 10 years’ experience in a flotation research environment.
• Ability to analyse and mass balance survey data, model-fit and simulate flotation circuits using the following packages: JKSimMet, JKSimFloat, IES, Excel and Python.
• Ability to plan, execute and manage circuit surveys of mineral processing flotation concentrators.
• Track record of developing industry research project proposals.
• Evidence of publication in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings.
• Track record of student research supervision

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead modelling and simulation flotation research in the Centre for Minerals Research.
• Develop and present proposals for industry-funded research and technology transfer projects.
• Manage laboratory-based contract research projects.
• Facilitate technology transfer and build strong industry collaborations.
• Convene and present mineral processing training courses for industry participants.
• Supervise and mentor student research projects.

The 2025 annual cost of employment, including benefits, is R1 147 460

To apply, please visit the UCT Internal Careers site (For Internal Applicants) and UCT Careers site (For external Applicants) to create a profile and submit your application.

Please complete/attach the following to your profile before submitting your application:

• UCT application form (download at https://forms.uct.ac.za//hr201.doc)

• A 1-2 letter of motivation
• A detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Certified copies of ID/passport and highest academic qualification
• Three referee names which must include their title and name, position details, relationship to you, their e-mail address, and telephone number

Shortlisted candidates may be required to undergo competency assessments and deliver a presentation to the department. References may be requested by UCT at any stage of the selection process.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo preplacement medical tests.

Any inquiries for this position are to be addressed to Mr. Ian Petersen at [email protected] or 021 650 2163. Please do not send or submit job application/CV via this e-mail.

Closing Date: 24 October 2025                                           Website: www.ebe.uct.ac.za

UCT is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups. Our Employment Equity Policy is available at https://uct.ac.za/media/9482.

UCT reserves the right not to appoint.