Permanent full-time scientific position
Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech
Field: Adaptation of forests and trees to climate change
Start date: 01/10/2025
The University of Liège is the biggest French-speaking public university in Belgium. It employs more than 5,700 staff members across four campuses, including 3,600 active teachers and researchers in all fields of the human and social sciences, science and technology, and health sciences. It hosts nearly 27,000 students of 123 different nationalities in one of the most multicultural and dynamic cities in Europe, less than an hour from Brussels and Cologne, two hours from Paris, and three hours from London and Amsterdam.
Actively involved in the social and environmental transition, ULiège supports students to fulfil their roles as responsible citizens (training in sustainable development, Green Office, etc.) and promotes ethical, multidisciplinary and open research. ULiège is committed to the region in which it operates and contributes towards local socio-economic development. It has developed numerous partnerships, notably with the university hospital. International and united, it participates in the European University of Post-Industrial Cities, UNIC initiative and has one of the most extensive collaborative networks in the world.
ULiège offers attractive career prospects in a high-quality working environment, promoting well-being, diversity and equality of opportunity. Since 2011, ULiège has been proud to display the European Human resources strategy for researchers (HRS4R) label, which reflects its commitment to open, transparent and merit-based procedures. In addition, it recognises the quality and diversity of research in line with the recommendations of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA). ULiège encourages its academic staff to travel internationally and welcomes international researchers through its EURAXESS centre.
Within the University of Liège, the Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech Faculty (GxABT) offers the opportunity to develop one's activities as part of a diverse team of talented researchers, teachers and support staff, in an exceptional working environment that is inclusive and safe. The GxABT campus is located in the heart of the town of Gembloux, which combines the serenity of a peaceful lifestyle with convenient access to the town's amenities. Gembloux is a short distance from Brussels, the capital of Europe (thirty minutes by train).
JOB DESCRIPTION
The job of first assistant, in the field of the Adaptation of forests and trees to climate change, within the only department in Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech.
Climate change is having a profound impact on tropical and temperate forest ecosystems. The disruptions that climate change leads to are increasingly affecting how they function. These changes compromise the sustainability of forests as well as their ability to provide essential ecosystem services. A better understanding of how forests and trees respond to these disruptions is key to developing resilient forests, providing sustainable forest programmes, and providing effective strategies to develop biodiversity and increase carbon storage.
TEACHING ACTIVITIES
The teaching activities will reinforce classes given within the Master’s programme on Bioengineering: managing forest resources and natural environments.
The successful applicant will play an active role in courses such as the Sustainable management of tropical forests (3 ECTS), the Specialised module in tropical forestry (6 ECTS), and Dendrometry (4 ECTS). The post-holder will also participate in supervising students’ work, including final dissertations.
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Research activities will focus on the development and management of in situ monitoring and experimentation schemes, with a view to better describing and understanding how different species of trees respond to climate stress (growth, regeneration, phenology, mechanisms of resistance to drought and heatwaves), and the consequences of these reactions on how forest ecosystems operate (microclimate, changes in interspecific interactions). At the same time, the post-holder will propose, test, and experiment with innovative forestry methods aiming to increase forest adaptation and resilience.
SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY
In collaboration with the Faculty authorities, the post-holder will be involved in services to the community provided by Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech and the University of Liège, for example within the governing bodies of the Master’s in Bioengineering: the management of forests and natural spaces (study council, final dissertation jury) and the Forest is Life CARE (management committee). The post-holder will represent the University in international associations and fora addressing the elements mentioned in the job description. The post-holder will also take part in activities to promote courses organised by the Faculty Information and Communication Service.
Qualifications required / profile
Hold a degree in Agronomical Engineering (or Bioengineering) or an equivalent Master’s degree, as well as a research doctorate with experience in the relevant area;
Demonstrate field experience in an area related to the job description;
Demonstrate experience in tropical and temperate forest management;
Be able to work independently and in a team, with excellent organisation and coordination skills;
Be available for missions to tropical forests;
Show the ability to work in various multicultural contexts, including in tropical regions;
Be available for various roles relating to services to the community and popular science;
Be fluent in French and English (including the ability to write)
Subscribe to the general quality objectives developed by the University and the Faculty;
Upon recruitment, sign an agreement relating to the ownership of research results.
SELECTION PROCEDURE
Applications will be examined by a Faculty committee responsible for shortlisting applicants for this job vacancy and assessing applicants’ qualifications and strengths. The Faculty committee will conduct interviews which will cover the applicants’ CVs, teaching and research plans, integration within the University, and fluency in English and French. The interview may include a mock teaching exercise, the format of which will be decided upon by the Faculty committee and communicated to the applicants several days in advance. On the basis of the information communicated by the committee, the Faculty council will make a recommendation to appoint an applicant or to close the vacancy. This recommendation will be communicated to the University of Liège decision-making bodies.
Our institutional policy is based on diversity and equal opportunity. We select candidates based on their qualities and regardless of their age, sexual orientation, origin, beliefs, disability or nationality.
APPLICATIONS
Applications should be made using the online form available on the following website: https://my.uliege.be/portail/go_xt.do?a=o%7C11004%7Ce%7C609903. To be eligible, applications must be submitted no later than 21/04/2025 (before midnight Belgian time).
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
Cover letter.
Curriculum Vitae.
Copies of diplomas.
A copy of the most representative publications (5 max).
A report on previous or ongoing research and teaching activities (maximum 5 pages).
A research plan, including how it is intended to integrate into the University of Liège (maximum 5 pages).
Teaching plan (maximum 5 pages).
Plan on developing services to the community (maximum 2 pages).
These documents must be uploaded in PDF format to the online application platform (see link in the "APPLICATIONS" section).
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
The appointment will be made for a two-year renewable term and may lead to a permanent appointment after an evaluation, or, in certain exceptional circumstances, immediately on a permanent basis.
INFORMATION
Further information may be obtained from: Prof. Frédéric FRANCIS, Dean of the Faculty of Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, only at the following e-mail address [email protected]
REMUNERATION
The salary grids and their rules of application are available from the Human Resources Department of the University: Ms Valérie MELOTTE – [email protected]
