DIVISION OF RESEARCH AND ENTERPRISE
OKAVANGO RESEARCH INSTITTUTE
VACANCY NO.: IRC 3522
The University of Botswana (UB), a premier state-owned tertiary institution dedicated to shaping the future through excellence, research, innovation and meaningful societal impact, invites applications from accomplished and suitably qualified professionals for the position of Research Scholar: Research Fellow in Wildlife Sciences (Carnivore Ecology) at the Okavango Research Institute, tenable in Maun.
The Research Scholar: Research Fellow-Wildlife Sciences specialising in Carnivore Ecology is responsible for advancing the Wildlife Sciences discipline, contributing to research and/or scholarship and teaching, as well as administrative activities of the Institution. The position holder will generate high-quality ecological knowledge and apply extensive analytical skills to implement innovative research projects focusing on carnivore ecology and conservation within the Okavango Delta and adjacent dryland ecosystems.
Duties: The successful candidate will be expected to conduct research on several of the following topics; a) Carnivore distribution and habitat Ecology (e.g. spatial distribution, habitat selection and habitat suitability of large carnivores across protected areas, wildlife management areas and communal landscapes using field surveys, camera trapping, GIS and remote sensing); b) Spatial ecology and movement patterns (e.g. home-range dynamics, dispersal, landscape connectivity, and movement patterns through GPS satellite telemetry and spatial modelling to understand how carnivores respond to environmental variability and human activities), c) Behavioural ecology (e.g. predator-prey interactions, social organisation, communication, territorial behaviour, activity patterns and interspecific competition among carnivore species); d) Population ecology and population dynamics (e.g. abundance, density, survival, recruitment, mortality, reproductive success and long-term population trends using robust ecological monitoring and statistical modelling techniques); e) Human-carnivore coexistence (e.g. the ecological, social and economic drivers of human-carnivore conflict, including livestock depredation, carnivore movements around settlements and farms and evaluate practical conflict mitigation strategies that promote coexistence between rural communities and wildlife, f) Landscape connectivity and conservation planning (e.g. ecological corridors, habitat fragmentation, transboundary movements and connectivity within the Kavango–Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area to support long-term carnivore conservation planning); g) Ecological monitoring (e.g. long-term monitoring programmes for large carnivore populations and their prey to support adaptive wildlife management and national conservation policy). The successful candidate will need to employ modern; h) Conservation technologies and innovation (e.g. GPS telemetry, camera trapping, drones, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, environmental DNA (eDNA), artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve wildlife monitoring, ecological modelling and conservation decision-making: 2) Teaching: i) Offer guidance and support to students throughout their research process, ensuring academic success and scholarly growth; ii) Deliver high-quality ; instructions and facilitate meaningful learning experiences through course modules and short courses (Wildlife scientists- carnivore ecology); iii) Utilize holistic approach to assess students’ academic performance and provide constructive feedback to promote continuous improvement: 3) Personal/Professional Development: i) Register as a member of professional bodies/ committees in relevant area of expertise; ii) Assist with organising faculty/ university symposium and conferences of national importance; iii) Engage in continuous professional development to stay current in both academic and professional realms locally; iv) Adhere to performance targets as reflected in the performance contract and prepare for performance review and appraisals; v) Identify learning opportunities and follow up on own training and development in line with departmental needs; 4) Risk and Compliance: i) Participate in the identification of operational risk; ii) Participate in internal and external audits in line with University policies; iii) Comply with relevant regulations and legislation; 5) Customer Service: i) Respond to customer/stakeholder queries and inquires related to area of expertise; ii) Collaborate with relevant internal and external stakeholders as needed to effectively deliver duties as defined. Undertake any other duties as directed by the Drector: Okavango Research Institute or as required by the University in line with the role.
Requirements: The successful candidate should have i) A PhD in Wildlife Ecology, Conservation Biology, Zoology, Ecology, Wildlife Management or a closely related discipline. ii) Demonstrate expertise in carnivore ecology or large mammal conservation, iii) The ability to apply Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing and spatial analysis techniques for habitat mapping, home-range estimation, movement ecology, landscape connectivity and conservation planning, iv) A solid foundation in using coding platforms such as R and Google Earth Engine for complex analyses, and v) The ability to communicate effectively with both scientific and non-scientific audiences.
The following will be added advantages: i) Experience in planning, deploying and managing camera trap networks, including image processing, species identification and analysis of camera trap data, ii) Experience in capturing carnivores, fitting and monitoring GPS/satellite collars, including programming collars, downloading, managing and analysing telemetry data, and interpreting animal movement patterns, iii) Evidence of engagement in research (i.e., proof of submitted manuscripts and/ or published journal articles, book chapters, peer reviewed conference proceedings, etc. in reputable outlets), iv) Evidence of teaching and/or supervision of undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Remuneration: the University offers competitive salaries and benefits commensurate with experience and qualifications.
How to Apply: Letters of application are to address the stated qualifications and provide any other information to assist the University to determine your suitability for the position. You should quote the vacancy number of the post applied for; provide current CVs (including telephone, telex and telefax number and e-mail), certified true copies of educational certificates, transcripts and names and addresses of three referees. Applicants should inform their referees to (i) quote the Vacancy Number(s) and Position(s) applied for and (ii) submit their references directly to the below address before the stipulated closing date. Send your application to: The Manager: Administrative Support Services, Okavango Research Institute, Private Bag 285 Maun, Botswana, Tel. 681-7228; Fax. 686-1835: e-mail, ori_recruitment@ub.ac.bw
Hand delivered applications should be submitted to Manager: Administrative Support Services at the Administration Building, Okavango Research Institute, Sexaxa, along Shorobe Road, Maun, Botswana. Google maps; -19.93871, 23.48969
The Institute is based in Maun in the Northwest District of Botswana, and specializes in natural resources management, sustainable natural resource use and conservation in the world-famous Okavango Delta and the Kgalagadi (Kalahari) region. Additional information on ORI including its Strategic Plan can be found on www.ori.ub.bw.
NB: Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Closing Date: 24 September 2026