The Wits Mining Institute (WMI) is seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Fellow who will support the activities of the Innovation and Technology Acceleration Programme by undertaking high?quality applied research and contributing to the intellectual outputs of both the Programme and the Sibanye?Stillwater Digital Mining Laboratory (DigiMine). DigiMine is a state?of?the?art research facility dedicated to making mining safer and more sustainable through the application of advanced digital technologies. The laboratory is equipped with cutting?edge digital systems that enable research into the “mine of the future,” providing a unique environment for testing, simulation, and innovation in real?time monitoring, automation, and intelligent mining systems.
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidate for the Postdoctoral fellowship will support the broader activities of the Innovation and Technology Acceleration Programme, as well as project?specific activities, including those of Sibanye?Stillwater Digital Mining Laboratory (DigiMine). Specific responsibilities of the Postdoctoral fellow will be:
- Conduct high?quality applied research within the Sibanye?Stillwater DigiMine Laboratory and contribute to the scientific outputs of both DigiMine and the Innovation and Technology Acceleration Programme.
- Support postgraduate students, particularly MSc candidates, by providing research guidance, technical inputs, and assistance throughout their research projects, including facilitating demonstrations of DigiMine systems and equipment to enhance learning and application.
- Contribute to knowledge generation, dissemination, and collaborative projects by producing high?quality research outputs, participating in multi?stakeholder research initiatives, and taking part in meetings, technology demonstrations, and other programme activities.
- Ensure that digital systems, platforms, and testbeds within the DigiMine Laboratory are fully optimised, maintained, and operational to support high?quality research, demonstrations, and student activities.
Requirements: Applicants must hold a PhD awarded within the past five (5) years in Information Management Systems, Computer Science, Data Science, Systems Engineering, Mining Engineering (with a digital or automation focus), Robotics, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Physics, Computational Geosciences, or any other related field aligned to digital mining, automation, advanced technologies, or real?time information systems. Candidates must have demonstrated evidence of strong scholarly performance, including a strong record of publications. In addition, the applicant may not hold salaried employment during the fellowship. Applications from PhD students who have not yet qualified or qualified more than 5 years ago will not be considered.
- Funding and Duration: R400,000 per annum for a fixed, consecutive two-year period.
- Conditions: The candidate must be available to assume this role on a full?time basis and will be required to be based at the Wits Mining Institute (WMI) at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
- Enquiries only: Dr Pontsho Twala, Director of the Wits Mining Institute, E-mail: pontsho.ledwaba@wits.ac.za
- To apply: Interested candidates should complete the application form: Application Form
- Note: Applications that are incomplete or do not meet fellowship requirements will not be considered.
Closing date for applications: 31 March 2026
