​The Cardiovascular Research Group will embark on a large, international study in June 2014 investigating the relationship between HIV & antiretroviral treatment and cardiovascular dysfunction. 

The successful candidate will form an integral part of the research team, mainly focussing on the human / epidemiological investigations. State-of-the-art technology will be used to assess vascular function in the study participants, and the PhD student will be trained in these technologies and perform investigations on the study participants. 

The PhD student will visit our collaborators in Belgium on a regular basis (total of 12 months over 3-4 years) and also receive a stipend from Belgium.

Requirements: Successfully completed MSc (preferably in medical sciences)

Where: Division of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, Western Cape.

PhD project start: July / August 2014

Applications close: 15 March 2014

Contact: Prof Hans Strijdom (jgstr@sun.ac.za)

PLEASE NOTE THIS CALL IS OPEN FOR SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENS ONLY

​​​The Centre for Learning Technologies offers all academic and administrative staff training on the University's Learning Management System.

Basic training will be offered on both Main Campus and Tygerberg Campus. Training sessions will be scheduled from 13:00 – 16:00.

Register for training by completing the form under Facilitator Training on http://learn.sun.ac.za.

Queries: learn@sun.ac.za

The Office for Students with Special Learning Needs (Disabilities) which is part of the Student Counselling and Development Centre (CSCD) at Stellenbosch University will be hosting Beginners’ Sign Language classes in March and April 2014.

​A MSc position is availably in the Cardiovascular Research Group in the Division of Medical Physiology (obesity / HIV treatment / heart and endothelial function), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences on Tygerberg Campus.

This position needs to be filled as soon as possible (bursary available). Applications close on 17 February.

Contact Amanda Genis on 021 938 9072 or amanda_g@sun.ac.za.

​In the words of the conductor of the Stellenbosch University Choir: "It may not be Christmas now, but it will be Christmas again." 

The choir has a variety of CDs for sale, the most recent of which is their "Somerkerfees" CD. 

This CD contains not only Christmas music, but some of the spiritual pieces recorded over the past few years. 

CDs can be purchased for a mere R120, and for further information feel free to send questions to us_koor@sun.ac.za. The CDs can also serve as corporate gifts where you're travelling as they are light and hardly takes up any space.

​

​​The SU Wordfest is upon us and you will have to act if you want to get tickets since some shows are already sold out. 

Some of the most popular shows are Nataniël: Menopouse en ander gloede; 15 Vroue and Tango.

The good news is that there are still tickets available for some of the shows (and staff members van even win some tickets!).

Translation in English to follow:

Lottering Live: Mark Lottering bring sy gewilde karakters Auntie Merle Abrahams van Athlone en Smiley, die geldinsamelaar op die taxi, na die Spier Amfiteater toe op 8 Maart om 20:30. Wen 'n dubbelkaartjie na hierdie vertoning deur die antwoord van die vraag wat in die Boschtelegram gevra is, na die gegewe adres te stuur. Dui ook aan jou voorkeur is hierdie vertoning.

Die ongelooflike reis van Max en Lola met Vinette Ebrahim en Chris van Niekerk. Max is 80, wit en gay. Lola is 79, bruin en bekkig. Hulle baldadige vriendskap kom al amper 50 jaar, vanuit 'n tyd toe sulke verhoudings verbode was. Hulle eiesoortige humor en liefde vir bioscope was 'n leeftyd lank hulle ontvlugting. Hulle reis was sorgeloos en vol liefde. Maar nou het oudword hulle bekruip... 8 Maart 16:00 & 20:30 | 9 Maart 11:00 | kykNET Hoërskool Stellenbosch

Wellingtonse Suiker met Gerhard Steyn, Richard van der Westhuizen en die Kunstekaap Jeugorkes, 7 Maart 18:00 | Neethlingshof. Dit is maar net een van die piekniekkonsert by Neethlingshof.

US Jazz band-konsert met Jannie Moolman, Gloria Bosman en die Universiteit Stellenbosch Jazz Band Jazz Band. 13 Maart 18:00 | Neethlingshof. Daar is vyf dubbelkaartjies te wen vir hierdie vertoning. Stuur die antwoord van die vraag wat in die Boschtelegram gevra is na die gegewe adres. Dui ook aan jou voorkeur is hierdie vertoning.

Ander kunstenaars wat hier optree is Jeremy Loops en Matthew Mole (8 Maart), Elvis Blue (9 Maart); Koos van der Merwe (sing Leonard Cohen) (10 Maart), Radio Kalahari Orkes (11 Maart), Jaloersbokkies (12 Maart), Adam en die Heavenly Quartez (14 Maart) en die Heuwels Fantasties (15 Maart).

Karen Zoid & Emo Adams – Sprokie vir 'n stadskind: Dié ongewone kombinasie van twee briljante musikante en 'n uitmuntende musiekgroep wat saam 'n 'paar songs doen', sal jou betower. 9 Maart 20:30 | Spier Amfiteater.

Vir die klassieke musiekliefhebber bied die Woordfees die Klassieke Musiekfees. Boschtelegram sal een stel kaartjies weggee na elk van die volgende vertonings. Stuur die antwoord van die vraag wat in die Boschtelegram gevra is na die gegewe adres. Dui ook jou voorkeur aan vir twee of drie van die onderstaande vertonings.

7 & 8 Maart 20:00: Universiteit Stellenbosch Simfonie-orkes (USSO)

9 Maart 13:00: TwoPianists met Luis Malgalhaes en Nina Schumann

9 Maart 16:30: Genova & Dimitrov Klavier Duo

11 Maart 20:00: Cape Town Tango Ensemble

12 Maart 19:30: Paul Cilliers-gedenkkonsert

14 Maart 20:00: Celli-familie

15 Maart 17:30: US Camerata

16 Maart 16:30: Afrikaanse Lied

Soos altyd, sal daar verskeie gesprekke wees om by te woon as deel van die Woordfees Diskoers-reeks. RSG sal regstreeks uitsaai vanaf die Erfurtkafee – die Woordfees se nuwe tuiste.

Kom luister gerus na, of skakel in op, Monitor (10-14 Maart) om 08:00, Spektrum (10-14 Maart) om 13:00 en Naweek aktueel (Saterdag 15 Maart) om 12:00.

Die Stellenbosch Moederkerk bied die gespreksreeks 'Geloof op die Markplein' aan terwyl die Van Zyl Slabbert-diskoersreeks interessante onderwerpe sal aanraak soos 'Die US – 'n Nuwe Hogwarts?'

Kom luister ook gerus na die gewilde Beste Professor-gespreksreeks onder leiding van oud-rektor professor Andreas van Wyk. Dit word soggens om 09:00 by die Vette Mossel restaurant oorkant die Eikestad Klankkamer: Boektent aangebied.

Tydens dié informele, informatiewe gesprekke word daar gesels oor ʼn verskeidenheid onderwerpe wat Suid-Afrikaners se daaglikse handel en wandel raak. Geniet ʼn ontbyt by De Vette Mossel (vir eie rekening), terwyl jy luister na die ryp insigte van meningsvormers wat ʼn lewe in die akademie agter die rug het.

• Op Maandag 10 Maart praat prof Owen Dean, wat 'n leerstoel beklee in Intellektuele Goederereg, oor "Sigaretpakkies sonder handelsmerke: binnekort ook wynbottels?"
• Emeritus professor in Politieke Wetenskap, Willie Breytenbach, kom Dinsdag aan die beurt met "Die algemene verkiesing op 7 Mei 2014: Ou trant, of keerpunt?"
• Op Woensdag 12 Maart gesels prof Christo Viljoen, voormalige Vise-rektor: Bedryf oor "Stellenbosch en Suid-Afrika se verlede en toekoms in ruimteverkenning".
• Die stigtersdirekteur van STIAS, prof Bernard Lategan, is Donderdag 13 Maart aan die woord oor "Post-Christelike waardes in die Weste en in Suid-Afrika".  
• Die reeks word Vrydag 14 Maart afgesluit deur die voormalige hoofekonoom van Rand Merchant Bank en buitengewone professor in Ekonomie, Rudolf Gouws, met "Wat makeer ons ekonomie?"

Die gesprekke duur 50 minute en kaartjies is beskikbaar by die deur.

Baie dankie aan diegene wat verlede week aan die Boschtelegram se Woordfees-kompetisie deelgeneem het.

Uit die antwoorde blyk dat Personeelsake en die Dagboek die twee mees gewilde items op die Boschtelegram is.​ 

​​The fifth general election since 1994 will be held on Wednesday 7 May this year. The President of South Africa has proclaimed a public holiday in terms of the Public Holidays Act (Act 36 of 1994) to enable voters to cast their votes. Stellenbosch University will be closed on 7 May. 

This additional holiday will not result in any roster changes for staff and students. 

Students who have scheduled tests on 7 May or have to hand in assignments on that day, should make alternative arrangements with their lecturers as soon as possible. 

​The University has just learnt that ESKOM has declared a power emergency and is currently applying load shedding. The power in Cloetesville, Franschhoek and Gordons Bay is currently down and Stellenbosch Campus is most likely to follow. Unfortunately we do not know if and when the power will be switched off. However the likelihood is very high.

Academic activities will continue uninterrupted as a large number of academic buildings on the Stellenbosch Campus do have emergency generators.

Also note that outages could affect access to buildings and staff members are requested to be vigilant in this regard.​

The HIV, leadership and social justice short course for Postgraduate students targets students as future professionals who can reach populations within and beyond South Africa. 

The course is offered by the Institutional HIV Office and will be presented from 31 March – 2 April 2014 (09:00-16:00). Training topics will include social justice and vulnerability, latest biomedical facts, developments in prevention and discussions of the role of gender, sexuality education and most at risk populations. The programme is offered free of charge to all registered postgraduate students and will accept a maximum of 30 participants.

The course outline and application forms can be requested from Michelle at michellem@sun.ac.za

Applications closes 18 March 2014.​

Three intern positions for a period of 12 months have become available at the African Cancer Institute. University graduates who are South African citizens with Honours or Master's degrees are welcome to apply. Candidates will work under supervision and must have an interest in Public Health/Epidemiology or Biological Sciences. Data collection, systematic reviews and/or laboratory investigations are some of the areas that the candidates will be exposed to.

For further details, please contact Professor Vikash Sewram on (021) 9384712 or email: vsewram@sun.ac.za.

Closing date:   14 March 2014

26 - 28 March 2014

If you have to write reports and proposals in your professional capacity, you will benefit from the Language Centre's workshop series Writing effective reports and proposals, presented from 26 to 28 March. The series will equip you to prepare these important document types with greater effectiveness and confidence.

Day 1, 26 March 2014: General business writing skills

Day 2, 27 March 2014: Focus on Reports

Day 3, 28 March 2014: Proposals that pay off

It is a prerequisite for participants attending the session on Day 2 or 3 to have completed General business writing skills as it equips participants to derive maximum value from the sessions.

The workshop series will be presented in English, with a language-friendly approach regarding the use of English and Afrikaans.

 The SU Skills Fund enables a limited number of SU staff members to attend this workshop free of charge. However, should a staff member be sponsored by the Skills Development Fund not attend the workshop, the complete registration fee will be charged to that member's environment.

Register via Sun-e-HR. Call Audrey Poole on 021 808 2167 or e-mail her at taalsentrum@sun.ac.za should you need assistance with registration.

Closing date for registration: 17 March 2014

For the content of our workshops visit our website http://www.sun.ac.za/languagecentre and look for the Professional Communication Workshops in the Short Courses section of the site.

Please note: The short courses of the Language Centre are registered on the database of Stellenbosch University. Mechanisms for quality assurance have been reported to the HEQC and comply with SAQA legislation and requirements.

A postdoctoral position is available at the MRC Unit on Anxiety & Stress Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, at the Faculty of Health Sciences of Stellenbosch University (SU).  The position involves work on a collaborative psychiatric genetics and brain imaging project between this Unit, the Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, and the Cape Universities Brain Imaging Centre (CUBIC).

The project entails an imaging-genetics-environment paradigm in which the impact of (the interaction between) selected genes in the glutamatergic system (e.g. GRIN2B and SLC1A1), and BDNF and SAPAP3 - which may have an impact on white matter integrity and/or interact with this system - and childhood trauma, on white matter volume in regions of interest in healthy controls, and patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or hair-pulling disorder (trichotillomania, or HPD), will be investigated.  Ultimately, this project will render the opportunity for the candidate to collaborate with experts in psychodiagnostic interviewing, genetics and neuroimaging, and related statistics, on a project aiming to relate imaging findings not only to genes and their expression, but also to environmental influences, which may be related to such processes, and to further our understanding of the brain.

Depending on his/her academic background and experience, the candidate will perform the activities related to all aspects of the study (i.e. clinical / genetics / brain imaging).

The Faculty of Health Sciences is situated 20 minutes’ drive from central Cape Town and 30 minutes from Stellenbosch campus.  Tygerberg and its surrounding areas offer excellent quality of life and easy access to the city and the countryside.  This area is well-known for its beautiful mountains, beaches, and winelands.

Applicants should have a PhD-degree and a strong background in psychology / psychiatry / molecular biology / brain imaging.  Previous experience of patient assessment and/or genotyping and gene expression in humans and/or brain imaging is essential. 

For more information, please contact Prof Christine Lochner on 021 – 938 9179 / email: cl2@sun.ac.za  or Prof Dan Stein on 021 – 404 2164 / Dan.Stein@uct.ac.za.

To apply, send a covering letter, a CV containing details of previous courses and associated grades and the email addresses of 3 referees to the above addresses.

​The appointments of all Service Providers to the University of Stellenbosch Retirement Fund are regularly reviewed by the Board of Trustees (“the Trustees”) as part of the Fund’s governance process.

During November 2013, the actuarial, administration and consultation service appointments were reviewed by the Trustees and after a thorough tender process the Board of Trustees has appointed Sanlam Employee Benefits: Retirement Fund Administration (“Sanlam RFA”) as the new Administrators and Simeka Consultants & Actuaries (“Simeka”) as the new Consultants and Actuaries to the Fund.

This communication is designed to answer questions about the change in Service Providers and whether this will affect the Members of the Fund.

​Human Resources Wellness invites all staff to a lunch hour session.

Topic: Nutrition titbits – fact or fiction

Speaker: Lauren Phillips

Date: 20 March 2014

Time: 12:45

Venue: Committee Room A2067, Administration Building A

RSVP by Tuesday 18 March 2014 with Maureen Kennedy ( maureenk@sun.ac.za )

Enquiries: Maureen Kennedy at 021 808 4824

​A postdoctoral position is available on the effect of lifestyle factors on sperm function.

Position: Stellenbosch University supports a system for postdoctoral research fellowships in line with its ideal for developing a stimulating research environment where new knowledge and skills can be developed, shared and applied to the benefit of the South African community. A postdoctoral position is available on the effect of lifestyle factors on sperm function in the Stellenbosch University Reproductive Research Group (SURRG) at the Division of Medical Physiology. This fellowship is tenable for one year (starting 2014) with the possibility to extend to a second year, depending on progress and is valued at R 180 000 per annum.

Research: SURRG has extensive experience in the area of male gamete (spermatozoa) research, with more than 50 papers published in the field. Infertility and in specific male factor infertility is on the increase worldwide. This decline in fertility potential can predominantly be attributed to environmental and lifestyle factors as well non-communicable diseases. The research group is involved in a vast number of studies on both the in vitro and in vivo effects of lifestyle factors on semen parameters and sperm function.

Requirements: A Ph.D. in Reproductive Physiology (or applicable field) obtained within the past five years, with a strong background in andrology and human sperm function.

Applications: A cover letter and detailed curriculum vitae to be e-mailed to:
Prof SS du Plessis, Division of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, Western Cape, South Africa (E-mail: ssdp@sun.ac.za).

Closing date for applications: 20 March 2014.

Interested musicians are invited to audition for the Stellenbosch University Medical Orchestra (SUMO).

This orchestra is the first of its kind in South Africa and comprises of medical, allied health and postgraduate students, doctors working in the surrounding hospitals and members of the community. We aim to balance the enjoyment of playing together with producing music of an excellent standard. The orchestra is conducted by Reghardt Kuhn and rehearse Wednesdays 17:45 - 19:30 on Tygerberg medical campus. Lifts are available from Stellenbosch main campus. We are especially looking for strings and brass players.

Contact Karla Arends at sumedicorchestra@gmail.com to arrange an audition. Not a player but still a fan? For updates on performance like us on www.facebook.com/StellenboschUniversityMedicalOrchestra or follow us on twitter @SUMOnotes.

​

A position for a postdoctoral fellow is available in the Department of Medical Imaging and Clinical Oncology at Stellenbosch University. The successful candidate will be required to evaluate protein expression in human peripheral blood lymphocytes as a potential biomarker for radiation exposure, and subsequently validate protein biodosimetry for high throughput triage of exposed populations. The person should preferably have experience in handling whole human blood samples, and in molecular biological techniques such as Western blot analysis and flow cytometry. A proven research track record in the focus areas of biodosimetry and radioprotectors would be an advantage. The fellowship is available for a minimum period of one year, with the possibility of renewal for a second year, depending on satisfactory progress. The value of the fellowship will be R180 000 per annum, and is not subject to taxation (providing the candidate adheres to certain conditions).

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• A PhD in biodosimetry, radiobiology, or related field obtained in the last 2 years.
• Ability to work independently.
• Excellent social and team working skills
• Fluent in written and spoken English

Closing date: 31 March 2014

Enquiries:

Send a letter of application accompanied by a comprehensive curriculum vitae, including a list of publications, and the names and contact details of at least two referees to Prof John Akudugu at jakudugu@sun.ac.za

​​

Applications are invited for the Africa Collaboration Grant of the Postgraduate & International Office (PGIO).  The grant is funded from the budget of the Vice-Rector (Research & Innovation) and provides seed funding for SU staff to establish or strengthen academic collaboration with one or more partners based at universities or research institutions elsewhere in Africa.

Three categories are funded: 

• Workshop/Conference joint​ly organised with a partner/partners from another country in Africa (up to R 80 000)
• Research visit to one or more other African countries (up to R40 000)
• Host research visitor(s) from one or more African countries (up to R40 000)

Applications will be peer reviewed and awarded based on quality, potential impact on the strengthening of SU's African Academic Networks, and a number of additional terms and conditions.

The 2014 call for applications will be open from 6 March to 17 April 2014.

The application form as well as the terms and conditions can be downloaded from the website of the PGIO.

For more information contact:

Christoff Pauw,  cpauw@sun.ac.za, tel: 021 808 3727 or

Shamin Gaffoor, sgaffoor@sun.ac.za, tel: 021 808 2750