FIRSTRAND FOUNDATION CHAIR IN FINANCIAL DATA SCIENCE

Prefered skills

Evidence, Financial Markets, Financial Data, Learning, Research Projects, Financial Services, Finance, Leadership, Fundraising, Higher Education, Data Science

Job description

The School of Economics and Finance (SEF) is one of six schools in the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management at the University of the Witwatersrand. The school offers an active research environment and unrivalled access to industry and international bodies, as a result of being located in the countrys industrial heartland. It delivers both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Economics, and Finance. For further information, please visit our website at https://www.wits.ac.za/sef/
 
The school invites applications for the position of the FirstRand Foundation Chair in Financial Data Science with anacademic rank of Associate Professor/Full Professor. The Chair position was established to pursue leading scholarship in financial data science, which covers a multitude of goals from both the academic and financial services industry. These goals speak to collaboration between industry and academia, with a focus on financial inclusion for the broader society, by producing cross-disciplinary graduates, especially from historically disadvantaged groups. Accordingly, the position will seek to increase the knowledge and skills base of academics, senior postgraduate students and operational practitioners and managers within the finance and banking sectors. While the Chair position is a 5 (five) year fixed period contract with a possibility of renewal subject to funding and performance, the academic post will be a permanent appointment. The Chair position comes with seed funding for Masters and PhD students pursuing research that is of academic and societal benefit. Such topics include, but are not limited to financial data science, financial markets and related fields.
 
Requirements:
 
The Chair will be expected to:
 
      actively participate in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Financial Data Science, Financial Markets, and related fields.
      develop and implement undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Financial Data Science and related fields.
      actively participate in the supervision of postgraduate students in specific topics in Financial Data Science, Financial Markets, and related fields.
      provide research leadership through external fund raising for research projects, and develop a team around the research niche within the school.
      actively participate in cutting edge research in Financial Data Science and related fields that leads to high quality research outputs.
      develop and coordinate specific short learning and training programmes for the financial services sector.
      participate in cross faculty initiatives in Financial Data Science within the university.
      participate in administration and academic citizenship activities of the School.
      enhance the visibility of the Chair through participation in workshops, conferences, webinars and related activities.
 
 
 
 
Minimum qualifications:
 
Applicants for the above position are expected to:
      hold a PhD degree in the field of Finance, or a related field
      have an established track record of high-quality publications consistent with appointment at the level of Associate or Full Professor
      show evidence of successful teaching and supervision of postgraduate students. Successful supervision of PhDs will be an added advantage
      provide evidence of leadership and recognition in the local/international academic community.
      show evidence of industry related/consulting experience
 
 
Applications closing date: 25 May 2023
 
To apply:
 
Applicants are invited to apply, by registering your profile on the Wits I-Recruitment platform located at https://irec.wits.ac.za and submitting your application.
 
Submit a covering letter together with a CV that includes the name, address and contact details (as well as e-mail addresses) of three referees.
 
Remuneration:
 
A competitive salary package will be offered depending on qualifications and experience.
 
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Candidates who have not been contacted within 2 weeks of the closing date can consider their applications unsuccessful. In accordance with our Employment Equity goals and plan, preference will be given to suitable applicants from designated groups, as defined in the Employment Equity Act, 55 of 1998 and subsequent amendments thereto. The University of the Witwatersrand reserves the right not to make an appointment and to verify all information provided by candidates.
 
Enquiries:
Prof Chimwemwe Chipeta, Head of Finance Division: School of Economics and Finance, Email: chimwemwe.chipeta@wits.ac.za