GROUP LEADER RMD TISSUE ENGINEERING

(ref. ZAP-2019-137)

The Department of Development and Regeneration of the Group Biomedical Sciences includes basic, translational and clinical researchers in the field of embryology and stem cell biology, human reproduction, pre-and postnatal developmental processes and the wider scope of regenerative medicine including orthopedics, physical therapy, rheumatology, urologic, gynecologic and abdominal surgeons. The Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center (SBE) within the Department focuses its research on the understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of skeletal tissue formation, remodeling, disease and repair. By integrating insights into development, growth, homeostasis and skeletal disease, the Center aims to identify and develop potential treatments for rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders (RMDs), including regenerative strategies for cartilage, bone and joint repair, in a multidisciplinary environment comprising engineers, clinicians, and biologists. There is a full time academic research position in the area of tissue engineering with a specific focus on RMDs. We are looking for internationally oriented candidates with an excellent publication record, a strong interest in interdisciplinary research and with educational competence within the field of RMDs and regenerative medicine. Website Biomedical Sciences Group: https://gbiomed.kuleuven.be/english Website Departement of Development and Regeneration: https://gbiomed.kuleuven.be/english/research/50000640

Duties Research

SBE currently has a strong skeletal tissue engineering program. The center envisions that you will develop and lead a research line on cartilage, bone or joint tissue engineering under your leadership. You have an international profile and your focus is interdisciplinary, building on your training background and experience. To meet the goals of SBE and provide leadership in this group, a broad view on biology and tissue engineering will be important. Preference will go to a translational profile, capable of moving projects from bench to bedside, requiring strong organizational and communicative skills. You are expected to acquire competitive funding and can develop valorization strategies.

Education

You ensure high-quality education within the area of RMD tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, with a clear commitment for the quality of the programme as a whole. You also contribute to the pedagogic project of the university through the supervision of master theses and as a promoter of PhD students.

You develop your teachings in accordance with KU Leuven's vision on activating and researched-based education and make use of the possibilities for the educationalist professionalisation offered by the faculty and the university.Your teaching task is determined in consultation and based on your specific profile.

Service

Scientific, social and internal services are also part of your job.

Profile

You have a PhD in Biomedical, Biological or (Bio-) Engineering Sciences or a related discipline. 

You have a strong research profile in the field of study. The quality of your research is proven by publications in prominent/international peer reviewed journals.

You have demonstrable qualities related to academic education. Teaching experience is an advantage.

You possess organisational skills and have a cooperative attitude. You also possess leadership capacities within a university context.

Proficiency in English is required.
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 meet the decretal obligations and to take part in administrative meetings.
Before teaching courses in Dutch or English, you will be given the opportunity to learn Dutch, respectively English, to the required standard.

Offer

We are offering 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 multidisciplinarily focused 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 professor 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.

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 100.000 euro is offered to new professors without substantial other funding, appointed for at least 50%.

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Jan Deprest, tel.: +3216344211, mail: jan.deprest@uzleuven.be. For problems with online applying, please contact solliciteren@kuleuven.be. 

For this specific profile the following documents are required: a CV, a motivation letter including a research statement demonstrating your added value to the research programme (no more than 3 pages) and a teaching statement outlining your vision of academic education (no more than 1 page).

You can apply for this job no later than March 12, 2020 via the online application tool

KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us at diversiteit.HR@kuleuven.be.