Job Details

Institution: University of Johannesburg (UJ)
Faculty: Faculty of Science – Academy of Computer Science & Software Engineering
Position: Associate Professor
Advert Reference: uj_002212
Campus: Auckland Park Kingsway Campus
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 15 February 2026

Company Overview

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is a research-intensive institution guided by UJ Strategy 2035, focusing on societal impact, sustainability, global partnerships, and technological advancement. Its mission is to transform and serve humanity through innovation and collaborative knowledge production.

The Academy of Computer Science & Software Engineering delivers qualifications from higher certificates to doctoral degrees in Computer Science, IT, and Informatics. The Academy houses:

The Centre for Cyber Security
The Salient Pattern Artificial Intelligence Research Centre (SPARC)

It maintains strong national and international research visibility and plays a strategic role in advancing cybersecurity and AI expertise in South Africa and the broader region.

Job Overview

This is a senior academic appointment requiring sustained excellence in:

Teaching and curriculum innovation
Research productivity (DHET-accredited outputs)
Postgraduate supervision
Academic leadership and governance
Industry and community engagement in Cyber Security

The successful candidate will contribute to strategic academic growth, BCS accreditation compliance, research expansion, and postgraduate throughput within a research-active department.

Key Responsibilities

1. Academic & Teaching Responsibilities

Teach undergraduate, Honours, and postgraduate modules in:
- Cyber Security
- Network Security
- Cryptography
- Secure Software Development
- Penetration Testing
- Advanced Data Structures
Lead curriculum development and laboratory design
Maintain strong student pass rates
Ensure assessment integrity and examination moderation
Participate in BCS accreditation processes

2. Research & Scholarship

Produce sustained international, peer-reviewed, DHET-accredited outputs
Maintain output exceeding 2 DHET units annually (past 3 years)
Supervise Honours, Master’s, and Doctoral candidates
Engage in grant applications and research collaborations
Strengthen the Academy’s research visibility

3. Postgraduate Supervision

Minimum 3 completed Master’s students (main supervisor)
Active Doctoral supervision (co-supervision or main supervision)
Supervision of at least 10 Honours projects to BCS standards

4. Academic Administration & Leadership

Module coordination
Programme leadership
Committee participation (departmental, faculty, university)
Examination moderation and auditing
Organisation of Projects Day and cybersecurity initiatives
Mentoring junior academics and tutors

5. Community & Industry Engagement

Cybersecurity awareness initiatives
Digital literacy outreach
Industry collaboration
Professional body engagement
Contribution to regional cybersecurity leadership

Qualifications

Mandatory:

Doctoral Degree (PhD) in:
- Computer Science
- Information Technology
- Cyber Security
- Digital Forensics
- Or closely related field

Preferred Specialisations:

Cyber Security
Digital Forensics
Network Security / Penetration Testing
Secure Software Development / Cryptography
AI applied to Security

Education

Completed PhD
Evidence of accredited research outputs
Documented postgraduate supervision record
Professional body membership proof (if applicable)

Experience and Skills

Academic Experience

8–10 years post-doctoral academic experience
Demonstrated excellence in Teaching & Learning
Demonstrated excellence in Research
Experience with BCS accreditation or equivalent QA processes
Experience with Turnitin or academic integrity tools
Experience moderating undergraduate and postgraduate assessments

Technical & Domain Skills

Advanced programming competence
Ability to teach using Academy-supported programming languages
Strong cybersecurity technical foundation
Experience in research ethics and compliance (including POPIA)
Ability to pass programming and/or security assessments

Supervisory Experience

Completed Master’s supervision (main supervisor)
Active Doctoral supervision
Supervision of Honours projects to BCS standards

CV Tips for the Role

For a competitive application:

Clearly quantify DHET-accredited outputs per year.
List Master’s and PhD students supervised (status included).
Include NRF rating (if applicable).
Specify cybersecurity specialisation areas.
Detail BCS-related involvement and accreditation participation.
Highlight undergraduate pass rates and module performance metrics.
Include industry collaboration and funded research projects.
Attach:
- PhD certificate
- Research output list
- Professional body membership proof
- Three credible referees

Structure your CV academically:
Education → Academic Appointments → Research Outputs → Supervision → Grants → Teaching Portfolio → Leadership & Service → Professional Memberships.

Company Policy

The University of Johannesburg:

Conducts screening against the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) as required by law.
May subject candidates to psychometric testing and additional assessments.
Is committed to employment equity and inclusion.
Reserves the right not to appoint.
Considers applications unsuccessful if no response is received within 8 weeks.

The position requires:

Regular on-campus presence
Possible evening/weekend academic commitments
Balanced performance across teaching, research, supervision, leadership, and community engagement
Adherence to research ethics, POPIA compliance, and academic integrity standards