PhD Protocol Presentation: The Co-Development and Feasibility Testing of…


PhD candidate
(Clinical Psychologist and SSI PhD Fellow)

Supervisors
Prof Katherine Sorsdahl, A/Prof Claire van der Westhuizen & Prof Jason Bantjes

Reviewers
A/Prof Xanthe Hunt
Associate Professor of Global Health
Stellenbosch University

Dr Devika Gupta
Research Co-ordinator Addictions and related-Research Group
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, U.K

View presentation below

Sue Struengmann Initiative (SSI) Post-Doctoral Fellowship (Public Mental Health)

The purpose of the Sue Struengmann Initiative is to address the mental health implications of childhood and adolescent adversity and trauma by providing a base for research, capacity building and policy development. This initiative seeks to ensure the provision of high-quality interventions for the prevention and treatment of mental health problems among this vulnerable group. The Initiative is housed in the Alan J. Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health (CPMH), Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town.

Purpose

The scholarship fund established by the Sue Struengmann family includes funding for a Postdoctoral Fellowship. This fellowship will focus on adolescent prevention interventions in schools, with a particular emphasis on implementation science.

Key Requirements

  • A PhD not older than 5 years in a foundational discipline relevant to public mental health, with experience conducting both quantitative and qualitative research.
  • Registration as a healthcare practitioner (e.g., psychologist, occupational therapist, social worker, or medical doctor) with the ability to practice in South Africa.
  • Demonstrated experience in implementing school-based mental health interventions for adolescents.
  • Strong skills in facilitating group-based interventions with adolescents.
  • Experience in supervising facilitators delivering mental health interventions and assessing facilitator competencies.
  • Experience training key stakeholders, including NGO representatives and government partners.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for effective collaboration within a multidisciplinary team.
  • Strong proficiency in oral and written English.
  • Applicants must not have held full-time permanent professional or comprehensive academic positions previously.
  • A PhD not older than 5 years in a foundational discipline relevant to public mental health, with experience conducting both quantitative and qualitative research.
  • Registration as a healthcare practitioner (e.g., psychologist, occupational therapist, social worker, or medical doctor) with the ability to practice in South Africa.
  • Strong skills in facilitating group-based interventions with adolescents.
  • Experience in supervising facilitators delivering mental health interventions and assessing facilitator competencies.
  • Experience training key stakeholders, including NGO representatives and government partners.
  • Strong proficiency in oral and written English.
  • Applicants must not have held full-time permanent professional or comprehensive academic positions previously.

Duties (time allocation):

  1. Research (50%): Activities may include data collection in alignment with fellow’s research interests, academic publishing, conference presentations, academic talks.
  2. Training and implementation research (30%): Activities may involve intervention training for partner organizations, analyzing implementation outcomes, and providing initial supervision to facilitators as needed.
  3. Clinical work (20%): Activities may involve providing evidence-based individual and group-based clinical services to adolescent and adult clients.

Funding

The value of the scholarship is R450,000 per annum, with no additional fringe benefits. As Postdoctoral Research Fellowships are non-taxable, they must be awarded without any employment-related benefits. In the event that additional clinical or research responsibilities are undertaken, a stipend increase may be considered. Additional funding is available to support approved research activities, implementation and training needs and professional development.

How to apply

Interested applicants should contact Ms Gillian Hanslo at gillian.hanslo@uct.ac.za for an application package.

Start date

1 August 2025

Closing date for applications: 24 July 2025

The University of Cape Town reserves the right to disqualify ineligible, incomplete and/or inappropriate application. The University of Cape Town reserves the right to change the conditions of award or to make no awards at all. The successful incumbent must be prepared to comply with the University’s approved policies, procedures and practices for the postdoctoral sector.