Category: Opportunities

Posted on

Postdoctoral position in Data Science for Food Systems

The eResearch Office at UWC is a division under the Deputy Vice-Chanellor Research and Innovation that promotes the use of information technology to enable fast and high impact research. Part of its mission is to drive and coordinate advanced uses of data-driven approaches to multi-, inter- and trans-disciplinary research in a dynamic environment for skills development and academic growth. A postdoctoral fellowship position is available for an outstanding candidate to undertake cutting-edge research in the development of data technology for sustainable food systems. The fellow will be awarded a tax-free fellowship for up to 2 years with opportunities for academic and personal development.

Prerequisites:

The prospective candidate should be a holder of a doctoral degree obtained within the past five years in the field related to Natural, Computer, Mathematical or Agricultural Sciences. The applicant should have interest and/or experience in modelling data of biological systems, be familiar with the concepts of sustainability within food systems and able to work without supervision, as well as in a team.

The successful candidate will be involved in the following roles:

– Conducting research in the area of data science applied to food systems
– Develop original research and publication
– Involvement in sourcing research grants
– Science engagement 
– May be requested to assist with various activities that support the eResearch agenda for the University.
– Mentor and support postgraduate students.


Interested candidates can send their CV and motivation letter to Dr Frederic Isingizwe at fisingizwe@uwc.ac.za or to Prof Clement Nyirenda at cnyirenda@uwc.ac.za.

The position remains open until filled.

Posted on

Coding Summer School 2025 – Registration Open

The in collaboration with the are organizing a Coding Summer School which

The registration has opened for the annual Coding Summer School (CSS) 2025. This is a joint effort between the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) and the National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NITheCS). 

The CSS will take place from the 27th January 2025 to the 8th February 2025. It will take the format of a hybrid event where participants will be required to attend specific university locations around the country in-person. 

Aim of the School:

“Train researchers across South Africa and Southern Africa in the fundamentals of scientific computing and data science.”

Topics Covered in Python:

– Data Science with Pandas
– ETL and EDA best practices
– Computational Thinking
– Probability Theory & Statistics
– Machine Learning & AI

Note: Students must have some experience in Python.

Format:

– School will run for 2 weeks 
– Lectures/tutorials occur Monday to Friday
– Lecture/tutorial times: 09:30 – 16:00 with breaks each day
– Notes and exercises provided
– Certificates awarded to qualifying students

Registration:

The CHPC and NITheCS calls for all talented students registered for Honours, Masters, PhD including postdoc in South Africa to submit their applications. The registration fee is free for all successful Applicants. As public-funded institutions, the CHPC and NITheCS support the transformation of South Africa and thus the School organizers highly encourage students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds to submit their applications. 

There will be no scholarship for successful applicants as the school will be hosted on at university locations. 

Should you wish to attend the CSS, kindly complete the application form and register online at: https://events.chpc.ac.za/event/145/  before 13 December 2024. 

Once registered, students must complete the entrance test found here: https://events.chpc.ac.za/event/145/surveys/8

Successful candidates will be notified within a month of registration and completing the entrance test.

We look forward to receiving your applications.

For more information see: https://events.chpc.ac.za/event/145/overview

For general inquiries please submit a ticket here: https://chpc.freshdesk.com/support/tickets/new and choose the “Coding Summer School” category.

Posted on

AWS Academy Generative AI Bootcamp!!!

Open to ALL – both Educators and Students!!, regardless of their status with AWS Academy!  This is a 2-part event.  Registrants may attend one or both events as desired:

Session 1 – Introduction to Prompt Engineering

Duration – 2.5 Hours
Language – English
Prerequisites – None
Dates/Times/Registration Links:
Friday, 18 October 2024 – 08:00-10:30 am Local Time UK

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/f8de7028d0a44bd19cc1213567999804

Session 2 – AWS Certified All Start – An AWS Builder’s Journey

Duration – 1.5 Hours
Language – English
Prerequisites – None
Dates/Times/Registration Links:
Friday, 8 November 2024 – 07:00-08:30 am Local Time UK

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/f8de7028d0a44bd19cc1213567999804

For Students Especially!!!

AWS Skills Centers: Becoming a Cloud Practitioner Lab Session – Instructor-led and FREE!!

Duration – 3.5 Hours
Language – English
Prerequisites – None
Dates/Times/Registration Links:
Multiple Dates and Times:
https://www.aws.training/SessionSearch?pageNumber=1&courseId=117384&languageId=1

AWS Skills Centers: Catalog – All Courses are Instructor-led and FREE!

https://www.aws.training/LearningLibrary?query=&filters=Language%3A1%20TrainingFormat%3A113&from=0&size=15&sort=_score

Posted on

Software Carpentry: Shell, Git, Programing with R

Learn basic computing skills to conduct research
Software Carpentry aims to help researchers get their work done in less time and with less pain. This hands-on online workshop covers basic concepts and tools, including programme design, version control, data management and task automation. Participants will be encouraged to help one another and apply their learning to their own research problems.

Who should attend?
Graduate students and other researchers. You don’t need any previous
knowledge of the tools that will be presented at the workshop.

Venue
Training takes place online. The instructors will send you the information
you need to connect to this workshop.

Requirements
You will need access to a computer with a Mac, Linux, or Windows operating
system (not a tablet, Chromebook, etc.) on which you have administrative
rights. You will also need an up-to-date browser and a few specific software
packages installed – see here: https://bit.ly/3LLL0Dp.

Questions?
If you have a query, please email thuthukile.khumalo@nithecs.ac.za or
visit https://bit.ly/3LLL0Dp.

Posted on

CHPC-NITHeCS Coding Summer school — 29 January to 9 February 2024

Registration has opened for the Coding Summer School (CSS) 2024.

This is a joint effort between the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the National Institute for Theoretical Computational Science (NITheCS) aimed at training researchers across South Africa and Southern Africa in the fundamentals of programming, data science, HPC, and computational sciences. 
The CSS will take the format of a hybrid event where participants will be required to attend specific universities and research locations. The University of the Western Cape will be one of these locations for the CSS, taking place from Monday 29 January 2024 until Friday 9 February 2024.
Eligible Applicants:

The CSS is aimed at postgraduate students and researchers in STEM fields focusing on the fields of astronomy, biology, computer science, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, medical, and physics.
Format:

- Lectures/tutorials occur Monday to Friday
- Lecture/tutorial times: 10:00 - 16:00 with breaks each day
- Notes, quizzes, and assignments provided
- Certificates awarded to qualifying students
Week 1:

Participants will learn the fundamentals of Python and data science which will allow them to analyze and manipulate various datasets. They will also be introduced to Linux and Bash in order to learn HPC skills.

Week 2:

In week two, participants are exposed to Python applications, covering machine learning, probability & statistics, and various domain specific topics.
How To Apply:

For more information and if you wish to attend the CSS, kindly follow the link below to register:

https://events.chpc.ac.za/event/120/

Space is limited at the various locations so make sure to register soon to book your place.

There are representatives from each university and some research institutes, known as champions. For any further queries and logistics @UWC, contact fisingizwe@uwc.ac.za

For general inquiries please contact: training.chpc@csir.co.za
Posted on

Software Carpentry Workshop to be held 24-28 July 2023

Learn basic research computing skills so you can do your work in less time and with less pain

This hands-on workshop will cover basic concepts and tools, including programme design, version control, data management and task automation. Participants will be encouraged to help one another and apply what they have learned to their own research problems.

Who should attend and Requirements

he workshop is aimed at graduate students and other researchers. You don’t need any previous knowledge of the tools that will be presented at the workshop.

You will need access to a computer with a Mac, Linux, or Windows operating system (not a tablet, Chromebook, etc.) and administrative privileges. You will need to install a few specific software packages – view these here: http://bit.ly/3puTC9K. You also need access to Zoom and Internet connectivity.

How to apply

Click HERE to complete and submit your Application Form by 19 July. Successful applicants will be notified on 20 July 2023.

For more information, please email rene.kotze@nithecs.ac.za.

Posted on

CHPC-NITheCS Coding Summer School 2023

30 January 2023 – 10 February 2023

The Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) and the National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences (NITheCS) are organizing a coding summer school that offers introductions to Foundations of Theoretical and Computational Sciences on topics such as Data Visualization, Data Analysis, Modelling and Simulation, Stochastic Methods, Machine Learning and Software Management.

A basic programming course that introduces participants to Linux (Ubuntu) command line and bash scripting, and the Python programming language will be given as a foundational tool for the school.

Students registered for Honours, Masters and PhD studies as well as postdoc fellows, in South Africa are eligible to apply and the attendance is free of charge. The school will take on a physical form at various university locations around the country, therefore participants will be required to attend one of the university locations.

The University of the Western Cape will provide one of these locations on its campus, and all interested candidates are encouraged to apply.

Course content

  • Daily lectures and interactive tutorials
  • Moodle used as the learning management environment
  • PDF notes, exercises, and YouTube videos provided
  • Zoom used for live streaming
  • Slack used as official communication medium
  • Prizes awarded to select students

Requirements and Registration

Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptops but where it is not possible, the organizers might assist to access an on-site computer. No programming skills and basic Linux knowledge are required, although that would be an advantage. Applications can be done at this registration link and more information on the can be obtained here.

Important dates

  • Closing date for registration: Saturday, 31 December 2022
  • Notification of successful candidates: by 16 January 2023
  • School start and orientation: Monday, 30 January 2023
  • School end: Friday, 10 February 2023
Posted on

Digital Transformation Short Course

Technology Skills for Industry 4.0 with applications to the Pharmaceutical and Food Processing/Manufacturing industries

Applications are open for a short course on Digital Transformation applied to the pharmaceutical and food processing/manufacturing industries that will focus on enhancing knowledge, skills and competencies associated with the concepts of digital transformation and the evolution of life science manufacturing from a traditional reactive process to the emergence of Industry 4.0 and Pharma 4.0.

This course will be the first of its kind on the African continent, and InnoGlobal is behind the initiative, in partnership with Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy (DARA) Big Data, the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) and the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) South Africa. This is the first time that this course will be offered under the DARA Big Data partnership, with SARAO and AIMS South Africa leading the local implementation of the course in South Africa. Read more about the partners here.

Learners will research current and future trends in life science manufacturing; the application and impact of greater use of technology, data analysis and visualisation on current performance; the impact on organisations and their levels of maturity to complete such transformations as well as ethical and corporate social responsibilities associated with such changes. The programme aims to equip learners for employment within life science organisations that are transforming their processes to integrate data, new technologies, data analytics, improved ways of working and improved support processes.

Digital Transformation refers to the smart integration of technologies, processes and data to improve operational effectiveness and capability in any environment. Within manufacturing sectors, expertise is needed in process digitalisation, data management, data analytics and data visualisation to successfully transform to what is known as industry 4.0.

DETAILS

Applications are open to participants from South Africa and the SKA Partner countries (Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zambia). Applicants must have a 4-year BSc Honours or BEng degree or are currently undertaking or have completed a MSc or MEng degree. Graduates with an interest in the pharmaceutical and food processing/manufacturing industries are strongly encouraged to apply for the course.

Only complete applications adhering to all the required criteria will be considered.

Application Deadline: 9 September 2022

Course structure and dates
The course will be divided into 3 components
October 2022 Online learning
November 2022 Week-long intensive in-person workshop in Cape Town
December 2022 – February 2023 Career guidance and mentorship sessions

Apply here by 9 September: https://sites.google.com/aims.ac.za/digital-transformation/

Read more: https://sites.google.com/aims.ac.za/digital-transformation/

Advertisement for Digital Transformation CourseDownload
Posted on

IADF Summer School: Computer Vision for Earth Observation

Applications are Open

A great opportunity is available for anyone wanting to expand their skills in computer vision for remote sensing. Computer Vision for Earth Observation (CV4EO) is an online Summer School, organised by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) GRSS (Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society) and Image Analysis and Data Fusion Technical Committee, and will be the first of its kind.

The GRSS’s IADF serves as a global and multi-disciplinary network for geospatial image analysis. They aim to connect people and resources, educate and promote theoretical advances and best practices in image analysis and data fusion. This includes machine learning, deep learning, image and signal processing, and big data. The summer school will focus on applying computer vision (CV) methods to address challenges in remote sensing.

An exciting line-up of speakers will contain a series of lectures on the existing methods utilised for analysing satellite images, along with the challenges encountered, and cover topics including Image Fusion, Explainable AI for Earth Sciences, Big Geo-Data, Multi-source Image Analysis, Deep Learning for Spectral Unmixing, SAR Image Analysis, and Learning with Zero/Few Labels. The school will include lectures, theoretical sessions and hands-on practical sessions.

DETAILS

The summer school is open to everybody who has a strong motivation and interest in the topics. Participants will not be charged a registration fee. The number of participants is limited to 75, but the course will be broadcast to everyone who applies. Those who attend the course will receive a certificate.

Application deadline: 23 September
Summer School dates: 3-7 October
Apply here: https://iadf-school.org/

Speakers include:
Avik Bhattacharya
Melba Crawford
Saurabh Prasad
Behnood Rasti
Sylvain Lobry
Lichao Mou
Caleb Robinson
Alejandro Frery