​​A Postdoctoral Research Fellowship is available in the Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science. 

Scope of Research: Solid-state supramolecular chemistry – design, synthesis and characterisation of novel porous materials. 

Requirement: PhD (must have graduated within the last five years) The successful candidate will have experience in one or more of the following areas: organic synthesis, X-ray crystallography, molecular modelling.

Commencement of duties: As soon as possible.

Duration of fellowship: Two years

Financial support: A bursary valued at R200,000 per annum is available

Closing date: 1 March 2015

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 Len Barbour, Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch (ljb@sun.ac.za).

Applicants should request their referees to forward confidential reports by the closing date directly to the same address (email preferred).

Please note:

• Postdoctoral fellows do not hold posts or positions and neither do they enter into an employment contract with the University.
  
• They receive a fellowship in order to conduct research, and do not receive a salary or remuneration for contract research or teaching.
  
• Their bursaries are paid out via the bursary system and not Human Resources.
  
• They are not part of the teaching staff of the University, neither are they contract researchers.
  
• They are not postgraduate students. 
  

​The Digitisation and Digital Services division in the JS Gericke Library requires the services of a student assistant for projects in 2015.

Working hours: 12 hours per working week (Mo.-Fr. 8:00-16:30), February to November 2015, arranged according to the availability of the successful candidate.

Duties:

• Preparation of material for digitisation
• Digitisation
• Uploading digitised content
• Creating and modifying pdf-documents and other image formats
• Administrative duties

Requirements:

• Computer skills
• Accuracy
• Knowledge of Adobe Acrobat Professional

Recommendations:

• Interest in information technology
  
• Knowledge of XML
  
• Knowledge of Adobe Photoshop
  

At post-graduate level in a suitable course of study with little regular class attendance

Commencement:  18 February 2015

Closing date for applications:  11 February 2015

Enquiries: Ms Mimi Seyffert at (021) 808 9489 or e-mail: mseyf@sun.ac.za. Please send a complete Curriculum Vitae with cover letter to Mimi Seyffert, Manager: Digitisation and Digital Services, JS Gericke Library. Applications can be handed in at her office, room 1071, in the JS Gericke Library or e-mailed to mseyf@sun.ac.za.

​​Stellenbosch is getting ready to welcome thousands of visitors to Stellenbosch University's annual 'Vensters' Street Theatre event on Friday (30 January). A total of 19 shows will be presented all over campus (see map).

However, staff members should keep in mind that this annual event usually leads to a number of road closures. The closures are indicated on the map.

The Stellenbosch Wine Festival also kicks off on Friday and could place added pressure on the town's road network. This is happening at Coetzenburg. Visitors to this festival will park at the Coetzenburg Centre and hockeyfields will extra parking available at Paul Roos Gimnasium. The festival opens its doors at 15:00, so it might be better to avoid this part of town when travelling home.

A Postdoctoral Research Fellowship is available in the Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science. 

Scope of Research: Increasing the practical applicability of nanofibrous antimicrobial membranes. 

Requirement: PhD (must have graduated within the last five years). The successful candidate will have experience in: polymer synthesis and modification, electrospinning (preferably also high-throughput versions thereof). Affinity with valorization of academic research is considered a large advantage.

Commencement of duties: As soon as possible.

Duration of fellowship: One year

Financial support: A bursary valued at R250,000 per annum is available

Closing date: 1 March 2015

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 Bert Klumperman, Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch (bklump@sun.ac.za).

Please note:

• Postdoctoral fellows do not hold posts or positions and neither do they enter into an employment contract with the University.
• They receive a fellowship in order to conduct research, and do not receive a salary or remuneration for contract research or teaching.
• Their bursaries are paid out via the bursary system and not Human Resources.
• They are not part of the teaching staff of the University, neither are they contract researchers.
• They are not postgraduate students. 

Human Resources is running a programme for SU Staff  – "Building Effective Relationships" – from 25 to 26 February 2015 and several spaces are still available.

For more information on this programme as well as how to enrol, please see attached document​.

Closing date for entries is 11 February 2015.

​​​Please find the following quick guide to the new workflow system to upload news / events / notices. 

GUIDE

This is the same for articles on the SU website and for the Boschtelegram. If you want something to be considered for the Boschtelegram, please indicate SU Main in the "visible featured" and "featured site" sections.

The Centre for Health Professions Education's Research Day will be held 20 March 2015. It promises to be a stimulating day, filled with current research on education related topics. Take this opportunity to share what you are doing in terms of your teaching practice or alternatively come and hear from other lecturers with regards to their teaching and learning initiatives.

Abstracts can be forwarded electronically to Elize Archer (elizea@sun.ac.za) by no later than the 19 February 2015. The abstract must not exceed 250 words and can include the following headings: Background, Methods, Results and Conclusions. Also indicate whether you would like to do an oral or poster presentation. 

​Applications are invited for MSc and PhD Fellowships in the Stellenbosch University Immunology Research Group (SUN-IRG) based at the NRF Center of Excellence in Biomedical TB research/MRC Unit for TB Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

​​Like the rest of the country, Stellenbosch University and its campuses are affected by load shedding and should therefore be prepared for any disruption in the power supply. To update the university community a website www.sun.ac.za/loadshedding was created to communicate important information about load shedding

Fortunately, most academic buildings and research facilities have emergency power, while some buildings have partial emergency power and other critical areas have been fitted with a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) with a back-up system lasting approximately two hours.

Information on these buildings and the applicable back-up power supply, as well as the Eskom load shedding schedules, will be updated by Facilities Management as Eskom provides new information. However, bear in mind that unexpected outages may occur at any time or that the power supply may not be interrupted as indicated in a load-shedding schedule if the electricity grid is not under pressure. Also consult: www.loadshedding.eskom.co.za.

​The Office for Students with Special Learning Needs (Disabilities) which is part of our Student Counselling and Development Centre (CSCD) at Stellenbosch University will be hosting Beginners' Sign Language classes in March and April 2015.

A commitment fee will be charged of R20.00 per class. The total cost is therefore R120.00 for the full set of classes. The classes will be on the following dates:

Wednesday 4 March 2015 13h00 – 14h00 CSCD, Den Bosch, 39 Victoria Street                                                                       

Wednesday 11 March 2015 13h00 - 14h00 CSCD, Den Bosch, 39 Victoria Street                                                                              

Wednesday 18 March 2015 13h00 - 14h00 CSCD, Den Bosch, 39 Victoria Street                                                                            

Wednesday 25 March 2015 13h00 - 14h00 CSCD, Den Bosch, 39 Victoria Street  

Wednesday 1 April 2015 13h00 - 14h00 CSCD, Den Bosch, 39 Victoria Street   

Wednesday   15 April 2015 13h00 - 14h00 CSCD, Den Bosch, 39 Victoria Street                                                                      

Bookings for the workshop sessions can only be made electronically at http://www.sun.ac.za/workshops. For further information send an e-mail to workshops@sun.ac.za.  Staff and students are welcome to sign up for the workshops.

Date: Wednesday 18 February

Time: 17h30 vir 18h00

Venue: STIAS

TITLE of the talk: "Under a lucky star? If so, find out what is so special about our Sun."

For more information please view http://www.nithep.ac.za/4nf.htm

Stellenbosch University is conducting neuroimaging research in social anxiety disorder (SAD).

Brain imaging research in the past has largely been focused on looking at regional differences in activity in the brain. So for example, researchers demonstrated that in the brains of people with SAD, there might be more activity in the amygdala (a part of the brain involved in anxiety) than would be expected in people without the disorder. While this work remains important, such regional differences only represent part of the picture!

Functional connectivity research is a recent method of brain analysis that allows scientists to examine how multiple, widespread connections in the brain result in these regional differences in activity. Groups of these connections form what are known as 'neural networks' and several of such networks have so far been detected. There is some evidence that one network in the brain (called the default mode network) may play a role in how social information is processed (social information includes our perceptions and thoughts about other people and how they perceive us).

We are interested in networks in the brains of SAD sufferers and whether they differ from those without the disorder. We want to investigate whether network differences can be linked to how people with SAD process social information. We also want to see the effect of treatment (using an established treatment for SAD – moclobemide) on these networks.

As part of our research, we are recruiting 15 volunteers with SAD and 15 volunteers without SAD (for comparison) to take part in a study that has begun in January 2015. All participants will undergo two types of brain scan (FDG PET/CT and fMRI) and a series of psychological tests. SAD volunteers will then receive an 8-9 week course of moclobemide followed by repeat testing and scanning. Excluding the initial (screening) visit, SAD participants will need to attend 8 study visits over the course of 9 weeks, while control participants will need to attend 4 study visits over the course of 1-2 weeks. Participants will be reimbursed for their food and travel costs.

Eligibility criteria:

• Over the age of 18
• Fluent in English (the psychological tests are only available in English)
• Right-handed (left-handed people's brains are different)
• Not pregnant or breastfeeding
• No dominant psychiatric conditions other than Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD participants)
• No significant psychiatric conditions at all (volunteers without SAD)
• Not currently on any medications for a psychiatric condition, or willing to temporarily interrupt medications to participate in the study.
• Not on any medications that might interfere with moclobemide (SAD participants)
• No previous or current medical conditions that directly affect the brain, (including previous head injury with loss of consciousness or brain surgery), no metal implants in the skull, no diabetes (affects the scan)
• Able to lie still in a scanner for up to an hour at a time

If you are interested (either as a SAD participant or as someone without SAD), please speak to any of the investigators:

Prof Christine Lochner (cl2@sun.ac.za ): Tel: 021 – 938 9179
Dr Alex Doruyter (doruyter@sun.ac.za): Tel: 021 – 938 5290
Dr Sharain Suliman (sharain@sun.ac.za): Tel: 021 – 938 9020

​​A clinical, genetics and brain-imaging study on gambling disorder

Do you suffer from gambling disorder (also known as compulsive or pathological gambling)? Or are you interested to participate in a study on gambling disorder? You can take part in an important new study on the condition that is conducted by the MRC Unit on Anxiety & Stress Disorders at the Universities of Stellenbosch and Cape Town.

The study covers many aspects of gambling disorder (GD) – symptoms, illness severity and impact on the quality of life, while also looking at genetics and the structure of certain brain regions implicated in this condition.

What is gambling disorder?

In DSM-IV (which is one of the major diagnostic tools used in practice), pathological gambling was categorised as an impulse control disorder. In DSM-5 however, this condition has been renamed gambling disorder and now falls under the category of substance-related and addictive disorders. Gambling disorder is a psychiatric disorder characterised by the uncontrollable urge to gamble despite serious personal or social consequences. Individuals with gambling disorder may continually chase bets, hide their behaviour, tell lies about where they go, how much they spend or owe, accumulate debt or even resort to fraud or theft in order to continue gambling.
These behaviours are often associated with depression, substance abuse and dependence, and difficulties with interpersonal relationships.

How prevalent is this disorder in SA?

Current estimates, derived from urban areas in 3 provinces, suggest that 1.4% of South Africans are experiencing pathological gambling, with 5.6% of regular gamblers meeting the criteria for gambling disorder (according to data from The National 2006 Prevalence Study on Gambling and Problem Gambling in South Africa, (Collins et al., 2006)). The causality or "working" of this condition is not yet fully established. It can therefore be argued that it is necessary to do research on GD, so that the symptomatology and the underpinnings can be better understood and that improved treatments can be found.

Who will be conducting the research?

This research project draws on the expertise of the MRC Unit on Anxiety & Stress Disorders at the Universities of Stellenbosch and Cape Town in South Africa. The work is cross-disciplinary in nature (psychologists, psychiatrists, geneticists and brain imaging experts are involved) and puts them on par with, and even ahead of other GD researchers worldwide.

What will the study entail?

Specifically, the study covers clinical aspects of GD (e.g. the symptoms, illness severity and the impact on their quality of life).
Other foci are the structure of certain brain regions implicated in this condition, and participants' thinking patterns and emotional responses, as determined by structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), respectively.
The study also aims to find out more about the role of specific polymorphisms in certain candidate genes (the hereditary material) that contribute to the development of GD via analysis of candidate genes of patients from South Africa.
Who can volunteer?
– Persons with problems related to problematic gambling
– Healthy controls
– Volunteers should be right-handed and aged between 18 and 65 years

How will it work?

Participation involves attendance of 2 sessions, with the first session comprising a screening interview, filling out of self-report questionnaires and taking a blood sample for genetic analysis.
If suitable for brain imaging, participants are scanned during a subsequent session.
Participants also complete a number of neuropsychological tasks in the form of computerised games.
Participation is cost-free and participant information will be kept strictly confidential.

Who to contact to take part

If you want more information or want to participate, please contact: MHIC 021 9389229, e-mail: mhic@sun.ac.za; Prof Christine Lochner 021 – 938 9179, e-mail: cl2@sun.ac.za; Ms Natascha Horak, 021 – 938 9762, e-mail: nhorak@sun.ac.za for more information

​A project on obsessive-compulsive disorder and hair-pulling disorder (trichotillomania)

This is an important clinical, genetics and brain-imaging study conducted by the MRC Unit on Anxiety & Stress Disorders at Stellenbosch University in conjunction with Cambridge University in the UK. The study covers clinical aspects of these disorders – symptoms, illness severity, impact on the quality of your life, treatment history and childhood trauma history, while also looking at genetics and the structure of certain brain regions implicated in these conditions.

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?

In DSM-IV (which is one of the major diagnostic tools used in practice), OCD was categorised as one of the anxiety disorders. In DSM-5 however, OCD now falls under a grouping of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. OCD is a psychiatric disorder characterised by obsessions and/or compulsions. Obsessions are persistent, "self-generated" (i.e. not delusional or psychotic) thoughts or mental images that are time-consuming, cause significant distress or functional impairment. Compulsions, on the other hand, are repetitive mental (e.g. counting, repeating words) or behavioural (e.g. hand-washing, checking) acts that the person feels obliged to perform in an attempt to reduce the anxiety or distress or preventing some dreaded event. However, compulsions are not inherently enjoyable, are often extremely time-consuming and do not result in the completion of a useful task.

What is hair-pulling disorder (HPD)?

HPD is also now categorized as an obsessive-compulsive related disorder. It is characterized by recurrent pulling out of one's hair resulting in hair loss, with repeated attempts to decrease or stop hair pulling.The hair pulling causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

How prevalent are these disorders in SA?

OCD, together with other mental disorders like HPD, account for the 2nd largest portion on our national burden of disease after HIV/AIDS. The causality or "working" of these conditions is not yet fully established. It can therefore be argued that it is necessary to do research on dsiroders such as OCD and HPD, so that the symptomatology and the neurobiological underpinnings can be better understood and that improved treatments can be found.

Who will be conducting the research?

This research project draws on the expertise of 2 teams, one from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom and one from the MRC Unit on Anxiety & Stress Disorders at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. The work is cross-disciplinary in nature (psychologists, psychiatrists, geneticists and brain imaging experts are involved) and puts them on par with, and even ahead of other OCD and HPD researchers worldwide.

What will the study entail?

Specifically, the study covers clinical aspects of the disorders (e.g. the symptoms, illness severity, impact on their quality of life, treatment history, and childhood trauma history). Other foci are the structure of certain brain regions implicated in these conditions, and participants thinking patterns and emotional responses, as determined by structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), respectively. The study also aims to find out more about the role of specific polymorphisms in certain candidate genes (the hereditary material) that contribute to the development of OCD, HPD and SAD via analysis of candidate genes of patients from South Africa.

Who can volunteer?

Researchers are looking for …

• Volunteers who are right-handed and aged between 18 and 65 years)
• Persons with OCD or HPD
• First-degree relatives of persons diagnosed with OCD
• Healthy controls

How will it work?

Participation involves attendance of 2 sessions, with the first session comprising of a screening interview, filling out of self-report questionnaires and taking a blood sample for genetic analysis. If suitable for brain imaging, participants are scanned during a subsequent session. Participants also complete a number of neuropsychological tasks in the form of computerised games. Participation is cost-free and participant information will be kept confidential.

Who to contact to take part

If you want more information or want to participate, please contact: Prof Christine Lochner 021 – 938 9179, e-mail: cl2@sun.ac.za for more information

​​​The Molecular Breeding and Biodiversity (MBB) group is an established research group within the Department of Genetics at Stellenbosch University. The Group has a primary disciplinary focus in molecular- and population genetics, and conducts both fundamental- and applied research.

At present, the MBB group presents an opportunity for a doctoral (PhD) study in the new and growing field of population genomics. Population genomics is a "hybrid" discipline that lies at the critical intersection between population genetics and functional genomics. The current project, entitled: "Population genomics of Dusky kob, Argyrosomus japonicus", will entail the application of next generation sequencing technologies to establish genomic resources for this economically important finfish species and to use such resources to investigate the effects of micro-evolutionary processes on genome-wide genetic variation in wild and cultured populations. The research is envisioned to hold implications for the understanding of fundamental species biology, conservation- and fisheries management, and aquaculture.

Interested, potential candidates are invited to submit an abbreviated CV (3 pages max) and academic transcripts to Dr Clint Rhode via email: clintr@sun.ac.za.

Prerequisites: M.Sc. in Genetics, Genomics, Molecular Ecology, Molecular Biology, Zoology or other related discipline. (Strong computing skills, with regard to genetic data analysis, will be an advantage).

An NRF grant-holder-linked bursary will be available to the successful candidate.

Date of commencement of study: 1 April 2015

Closing date for applications: Monday, 2 March 2015

Nathan Test​

​Department Sociology and Social Anthropology

Speaker: Marja Spierenburg, University of Amsterdam

Topic: Restricting the room for manoeuvre: the impacts of tourism and commercialisation processes on the relations between SANParks and local residents.

Date: Thursday 19 February 2015

Time: 13:00-14:30

Venue: 4th Floor, Arts and Social Sciences Building, Room 401

Contact person: Genay Dhelminie, genay@sun.ac.za or 021 808 2420.

In less than two weeks around 8 000 to 10 000 Grade 11/12 learners, their parents and teachers will flock to Stellenbosch and Tygerberg campus for the annual Open Day taking place on 28 February from 9h00 until 16h00.

To get you all excited we will be giving away a TV to a staff member! To enter just take a selfie at Open Day, upload it to Facebook with the hashtag #LikeAMatie / #SoosnMatie! More information on the competition will be provided in the next Boschtelegram.

Here are a few guidelines on how to survive the Open Day:

Arrive Early
Make sure you get to the campus early to avoid heavy traffic and to get parking. Also check your schedule so you know where you are going and when you need to be there.

Wear something comfortable
Wear something that you're comfortable in, but also something you feel you look good in. If you feel confident, it's likely to come across in your body language and your gestures.

Pack snacks
Pack a few snacks to get you through the day. We suggest a box of cookies or snack bars.

If you are planning on eating something with onions in for lunch… do not forget to bring mints ;)

Stay Hydrated
Know where to find the water coolers. Sodas, iced tea, coffee, and other drinks that contain caffeine will also help you to stay hydrated.

Hint: Lip ice and some hand lotion will also be useful on the day.

Take a break
Make sure you take regular 5min breaks throughout the day to stay sharp and energetic. Maybe grab a quick snack or go get some refreshing water.

Do not miss out on the Open Day excitement! See you there!

For more information on the Open Day programme visit www.maties.com/maties-events/open-day-2015.html
Centre for Student Recruitment: 021 808 4704 / maties@sun.ac.za.

​LET’S GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER’S language and culture through the SU Language Centre’s MASAZANE! course. This is a 6-week course (two sixty-minute periods a week) and is for University staff only.​

PREREQUISITE

No prior knowledge is required.

TEACHING METHOD

A communicative, interactive, and task and needs-orientated suggestopaedia. The method includes oral and speaking tasks at a lower beginner level and group-work interaction with the teacher. It comprises a communicative approach so that isiXhosa is learned in a fun and an exciting way.

EVALUATION METHOD

Students obtain continuous assessment through their presence and participation. Study material is provided on the first day of class attendance.

AIMS

·                     To introduce non-isiXhosa speakers to the isiXhosa language and culture.

·                     To empower staff members by developing their multilingual skills.

·                     To enable non-isiXhosa speakers to engage in meaningful conversation at beginner level.

CONTENT

Classes focus on the following themes for communication purposes:

·                     Greeting someone and introducing yourself

·                     Asking about someone's health and feelings

·                     Inviting someone for drinks and food

·                     Ordering drinks and food at a restaurant

·                     Identifying kitchen contents

·                     Making and answering telephone calls

·                     Describing weather conditions

·                     Naming the days of the week and the months of the year

·                     Setting up both informal and formal appointments

·                     Giving directions both on and off campus

·                     Asking for help at a filling station

OUTCOMES

At the end of this nine-week course, students will be able to use a basic isiXhosa vocabulary for social communication in a variety of contexts. The students will be able to demonstrate the following skills at a lower beginner level: 

(a)    Listening skills: Listen to and understand simple descriptions, actions and scenes. Show understanding of the identification and description of people and objects. Show understanding of oral suggestions given.

(b)   Speaking and oral interaction: Take part in short dialogues. Ask for goods, services and objects. Answer questions and give details of simple explanations emerging from listening content. Write short familiar sentences dictated.

(c)    Reading: Read sentences mastered orally about a variety of subjects. Read both short and longer, more familiar texts and understand the central content of paragraphs.

DAYS AND TIMES OF PRESENTATIONS: [Please note: Mondays & Wednesday]

REGISTRATION: Please follow the link below to apply.

We keep classes small to ensure individual attention. To avoid disappointment, please register as soon as possible.

For more information about the course, please phone or email Grant Ngidi at glngidi@sun.ac.za

Call: 021 808 9097.

​The Stellenbosch University Centre for Human Performance Sciences is looking for people to participate in a research study. 

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of three known treatments in facilitating healing after an elbow tendon injury.

In order to take part you should meet the following criteria: