Jobs at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

About the job:

The CSIR has a vacancy for Principal Artificial Intelligence Specialist in the Emerging Digital Technologies for fourth Industrial Revolution (EDT4IR) Research Centre within the Next Generation Enterprises and Institutions Cluster. The incumbent will be responsible to design, develop and implement Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems architecture and solutions. This position is based in Pretoria

Key responsibilities:

• Provide leadership in the provision of technical solutions to client programmes;
• Propose and/or contribute to the strategic investment plan and implement Parliamentary Grant, Contract Research and Development and other grant-funded projects;
• Research, develop and test innovative solutions in AI and remain well-versed in new approaches in tools, methods or technologies in the evolving AI space;
• Advance theoretical AI approaches to deployable solutions, i.e. implemented and deployed into large-scale production systems
• Develop technology demonstrators to contribute to an increase in new localised technologies
• Supervise/mentor junior staff in the area(s) of expertise;
• Generate and lead science engineering and technology (SET) activity outputs e.g. reports, guidelines, system requirements, peer-reviewed publications, and technology and software packages;
• Understand and interpret client requirements by contributing to user requirement analysis and/or well-articulated proposals;
• Participate in external task teams or committees in relevant domains;
• Provide technical support on business development and participate in client interactions;
• Manage projects through planning of appropriate processes and policies to ensure Intellectual Property (IP) protection and technology transfer;

Qualifications, skills and experience

• An Honour’s degree in computer science/engineering, electrical/electronic engineering, information technology or related fields with at least seven years’ experience in artificial intelligence (AI) /machine learning (ML) and software development in artificial intelligence technologies;
• A Master’s degree will be advantageous;

Experience required in the following:

• Applied machine-learning and Big-data unsupervised learning; Data platform engineering;
• Artificial Intelligence architecture and Application Programming Interface (API) integration;
• Cloud-based platforms: Amazon Web Services (AWS), IBM Cloud, Azure;
• Building AI models with a deep learning framework such as TensorFlow, Keras or Theano;
• Production coding and design.
• Business Development and financial acumen;
• Excellent communication and presentation skills;
• Exposure to Project Management;
• Understanding of transforming/implementing software/algorithms for use in real-life systems would be advantageous;
• Conflict management skills will be advantageous;
• Knowledge of programming in modern object orientated languages, with Open-Source development tools and platforms;
• Ability to apply resource management techniques to run an ML model with the required latency; 
• Ability to demonstrate Object-orientated software engineering skills;
• Strong quantitative skills (mathematics/statistics/computer science);
• Demonstrated ability to supervise/mentor/develop junior staff;
• Demonstrated skills in: analytical thinking, flexibility and adaptability, investigative orientation, planning and organising, problem solving, verbal and written communication, team work, self-management (planning, prioritising and time management – includes the ability to work independently), systems level thinking, multi-disciplinary knowledge.
• All international qualifications require an evaluation report / certificate issued by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA);

Closing date: 21 August 2023

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About the Fellowships:

The CSIR, in collaboration with the United Kingdom (UK) Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), and the One Food Community have temporary vacancies for eight Post-Doctoral Fellowships. The incumbents in each of the eight focus areas will be involved in cross-disciplinary research and collaboration to develop the One Food Risk Analysis tool. The aim of the project is to promote cross-food system approaches to hazard identification and mitigation in support of climate-resilient, safer, healthier, and more sustainable food supplies. These positions will be hosted by the various Research Councils/Institutes in South Africa.

The Hosting Institutions are:

• Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
• Agricultural Research Council (ARC)
• Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
• South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI)

Research Focus Areas:

• Aquatic Animal Health (CSIR): Develop and implement methods to integrate aquatic animal health into the One Food Risk Tool. May include research on aquatic animal hazards, combining plant and animal health measures and economic models to link food yield to the Risk Tool requirements.
• Terrestrial Animal Health (ARC): Develop and implement methods to integrate Terrestrial animal health into the One Food Risk Tool. May include research on Terrestrial animal hazards, combining plant and animal health measures and economic models to link food yield to the Risk Tool requirements.
• Food Safety (CSIR): Look at food safety risks, chemical and microbiological, to integrate into the One Food Risk Tool. This may include consideration of the impact on the quality of food and risks to the consumer.
• Nutrition (CSIR / ARC): Conduct research to embed food nutrition into the One Food Risk Tool. Consider methods and metrics to represent elements of nutrition and hazards to nutrition.
• Plant Health (ARC): Develop and implement methods to integrate plant health into the One Food Risk Tool. May include research on plant hazards, combining plant and animal health measures and economic models to link food yield to the Risk Tool requirements.
• Biodiversity (SANBI): Test and implement methods to integrate biodiversity into the One Food Risk Tool. May also consider pollution and other relevant environmental concerns.
• Climate (ARC / HSRC): Test and implement methods to integrate climate resilience into the One Food Risk Tool. May also consider pollution and other relevant environmental concerns.
• Socio-cultural (HSRC): Conduct research to embed social science into the One Food Risk Tool. May consider socio-cultural hazards, methods, and metrics to represent elements of access to food, equity, and other aspects of physical and mental wellbeing.

Key responsibilities:

• Design, plan and execute projects, with a focus on commercial uptake and implementation;
• Contribute to the management of projects to gain experience as a Researcher;
• Disseminate research through reports, technology demonstrators and scientific publications;
• Contribute to the writing of peer reviewed journal publications, of which the successful candidate would be expected to be the lead author for at least one publication per annum;
• Present research findings to both internal, external, as well as at national and international stakeholders;
• Supervise and/or co-supervise postgraduate students;
• Keep up to date with trends and new developments, approaches and techniques in the field and initiate their introduction and adoption;
• Collaborate and communicate with the other fellows to ensure the research in the focus areas aligns with the needs of the One Food Risk Tool;
• Lead engagement in the community of practice for the respective Research Focus Area; providing content, managing conversations and facilitating community engagement.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

• A Doctoral degree in one of the Research Focus Areas (listed above) or related fields;
• Experience working on elements of food systems in South Africa or elsewhere will be advantageous;
• Experience in techno-economic evaluation and working in a cross-disciplinary environment will be advantageous;
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work closely with others in a research group;
• Must have clear demonstration of problem-solving and independent research abilities is essential;
• Must have a track record of publications;
• All international qualifications require an evaluation report / certificate issued by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

Closing date: 23 August 2023