The Science, Engineering and Technology Group of KU Leuven invites applications for a full-time academic position in its Department of Biosystems and its Faculty of Bioscience Engineering (FBSE). We are looking for internationally oriented candidates with an excellent interdisciplinary research record and with educational competence to build a research program in the domain of Micro-environmental Control Engineering for Human Health in the Department’s Division of Animal and Human Health Engineering (A2H) and to strengthen the Master’s program on Human Health Engineering in the FBSE.
A2H performs pioneering research for improving health, well-being and productivity of individual living organisms (animals and humans) by integrating engineering technology with new process knowledge on (epi)genetics, immunology, microbiology, nutrition, physiology, bio-environment and bio-responses.
FBSE organises Dutch and English language study programs at bachelor, master and PhD level in Bioscience Engineering at large and in Human Health Engineering in particular.
Website unit
Duties
Research
The research focuses on studying biophysical interactions between individuals and their physical micro-environment. The objective is to design innovative control systems that exploit measured biological responses for creating healthy and sustainable indoor climates. Advanced technologies for micro-environmental control will be developed for human health applications at different spatial scales and with attention to a one health context (in line with research at the Department of Biosystems and linking to the Leuven One Health Institute). Data-based and mechanistic modelling approaches will be combined with insights in energy exchanges between individuals and their physical environment.
- You develop a research program on Micro-environmental Control Engineering for Human Health that fits in the Division of Animal and Human Health Engineering.
- You strive for excellence in your research and contribute to the continued development of the bio-environmental control engineering field within the division and department and the international scientific community.
- You leverage this knowledge to develop new technologies and translate them into products that meet real-world challenges.
- You set up collaborations with other staff members of the department and other research units at KU Leuven.
- You are capable of acquiring competitive funding.
- You publish at the highest scientific level, acquire resources for fundamental/applied research, develop international collaborations and supervise PhDs at an international level.
Teaching
- You ensure high-quality education within the area of bioscience engineering, focusing on bio-environmental control and control system theory-related courses, and with a clear commitment to the quality of the program as a whole. You also contribute to the pedagogic project of the faculty/university through the supervision of master’s theses and as a promoter of PhD students.
- You develop your teaching in accordance with KU Leuven’s vision on activating and researched-based education and make use of the possibilities for the educational professionalisation offered by the faculty and the university.
- Your teaching task is determined in consultation and based on your specific profile. The scope of this is limited in the first years of your appointment. In your further career, the faculty pays a great deal of attention to the balance between research and teaching time.
Service
- You translate and exploit basic knowledge in the domain of Micro-environmental Control Engineering for Human Health and establish a network of national and international collaborations with research, industrial and governmental partners.
- You enthusiastically participate in the activities of various committees and working parties in the Science, Engineering and Technology Group, the Department of Biosystems and the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering.
Profile
- You hold a PhD in Bioscience Engineering, Control Engineering, Engineering, Science or any other field that prepares equally well for the research program and teaching activities. Experience in micro-environmental control engineering is a prerequisite.
- You have an excellent research record as reflected by international peer-reviewed journal publications.
- You possess very good teaching and training skills to efficiently contribute to the research output of the department and to the quality of its educational program.
- You have international research experience.
- You possess organisational skills and have a cooperative attitude. You also possess leadership capacities within a university context.
- Proficiency in English is required. KU Leuven provides courses in academic English.
- The official administrative language used at KU Leuven is Dutch. If you do not speak Dutch (or do not speak it well) at the start of employment, KU Leuven will provide language training to enable you to take active part in meetings within 5 years of the start of your employment.
Offer
We are offering a full-time employment in an intellectually challenging environment. KU Leuven is a research-intensive, internationally-oriented university that carries out both fundamental and applied scientific research. It is highly inter- and multidisciplinary and strives for international excellence. In this regard, it actively works together with research partners in Belgium and abroad. It provides its students with an academic education that is based on high-quality scientific research.
You will work in Leuven, a historic, dynamic and lively city located in the heart of Belgium, within 20 minutes from Brussels, the capital of the European Union, and less than two hours from Paris, London and Amsterdam.
Depending on your record and qualifications, you will be appointed to or tenured in one of the grades of the senior academic staff: assistant professor, associate professor, professor or full professor. In principle, junior researchers are appointed as assistant professors on the tenure track for a period of 5 years. After this period and a positive evaluation, they are permanently appointed (or tenured) as an associate professor.
You will be supported by a PhD student scholarship and have access to the unique research facilities for measuring human-environment interactions of the Division of Animal and Human Health Engineering of KU Leuven.
KU Leuven is well set to welcome foreign professors and their family and provides practical support with regard to immigration & administration, housing, childcare, learning Dutch, partner career coaching, …
To facilitate scientific onboarding and accelerate research in the first phase a starting grant of 110.000 euro is offered to new professors without substantial other funding, appointed for at least 50%.
More information
http://biw.kuleuven.be
Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. dr. ir. Jean-Marie Aerts, tel.: +32 16 32 14 34, mail: jean-marie.aerts@kuleuven.be. For problems with online applying, please contact solliciteren@kuleuven.be.
Add to your application following documents (more information is available on the KU Leuven job site):
- your biosketch in which you indicate your added value as an academic for research, education and service to society of your past career and of your future activities (maximum 2 pages);
- a file on your five most important publications or realizations;
- an extensive cv including a full publication list and if applicable a portfolio of your architectural projects;
- your research plan with focus on the development of your research line and research team in relation with the colleague-researchers of the entity of employment (maximum 5 pages);
- your vision on academic education and its organization (maximum 2 pages);
- your contribution to society by outreach and public communication on science and technology, internal representation in boards and councils and service activities directly in relation to your developed expertise (maximum 1 page);
- your vision on leadership (maximum 1 page).
KU Leuven is committed to creating a diverse environment and is therefore an equal opportunity employer. It explicitly encourages candidates from groups that are currently underrepresented at the university to submit their applications.
KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.
