The Machine Learning for Ecology Research Group at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) South Africa is seeking applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow in Computer Vision for Ecology.
The successful candidate will develop state-of-the-art computer vision methods for the automatic identification of African penguin behaviours from video recordings, combining object detection, pose estimation, and behaviour classification. The project builds on extensive video datasets collected from both captive and wild penguin colonies through collaborations with the Two Oceans Aquarium, the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, and Nelson Mandela University.
The fellowship also offers the opportunity to contribute to an emerging project on automated monitoring of Cape fur seals, supporting conservation efforts during the ongoing rabies outbreak in South Africa through collaboration with Sea Search.
Applicants should hold a PhD (awarded within the last five years) in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or a related discipline, with expertise in computer vision, image/video analysis, or deep learning. Experience in ecology or wildlife conservation is advantageous but not required.
Location: AIMS South Africa (Muizenberg, Cape Town) in collaboration with Stellenbosch University Duration: 1 year
Expected start date: January 2027
Application deadline: 15 August 2026
For full details about the project, eligibility requirements, and application procedure, please visit:
Alternatively, see the attached full position description.