Professor in Metal Constructions

KU Leuven has a full-time academic vacancy in the Department of Civil Engineering focused on the design and analysis of steel and metal constructions. The vacant position is available at Campus De Nayer in Sint-Katelijne-Waver, part of the Faculty of Engineering Technology of the Science, Engineering and Technology Group KU Leuven.

We are looking for internationally oriented candidates with proven teaching skills and an excellent research record in the domain of structural engineering and building technology with emphasis on steel and metal constructions, including structural elements and connections (e.g. bolted and welded connections). The intended research entails experimental research on construction components and structures, as well as the development and use of numerical models.

The successful applicant will be appointed to the Department of Civil Engineering and the Faculty of Engineering Technology of the Science, Engineering and Technology Group of KU Leuven. The Faculty of Engineering Technology has an extensive national and international network, both in the academic and business world.

Research in the Materials and Constructions Section of the Department of Civil Engineering aims to generate advanced knowledge through fundamental and application-oriented research on durable and sustainable building materials, structural components and construction, contributing to new, existing and heritage structures with low environmental impact, hybrid structures, structural resilience and improved service life. The Materials and Constructions group has research activities and laboratories in Leuven, Bruges, Sint-Katelijne-Waver and Ghent. Results are implemented into structural codes of practice and practical tools tailored to companies operating in the construction sector. The laboratory is well equipped to perform full-scale tests on members and structures as well as material characterization. More information can be found at: Materials and Constructions (kuleuven.be).

The research section has an extensive national and international network, both in academics and construction industry, connections with companies, standardization committees and non-profit sector organisations, a stable offer of talented PhD students and a supportive work environment.

Unit website

Research

The current vacancy offers a position at Campus De Nayer in Sint-Katelijne-Waver, focusing on the optimisation of metal structures and material use, structural elements and systems leading to sustainable and reliable structures. You develop a research programme at an international level on the design and analysis of carbon, stainless steel, and metal constructions (other than the previously mentioned steel grades). You closely collaborate with the colleagues within the research group, strengthen existing research lines and provide additional expertise.

• You have access to testing equipment for large construction components and are expected to further strengthen and extend these laboratory facilities. Computational resources for numerical modelling work can also be made available upon request and with conditions.
• You engage in targeted scientific research, resulting in PhD’s and publications that meet international standards and lead to broad international recognition.
• As part of your research programme, you develop international partnerships, within the academic world as well as in close cooperation with industry to achieve industrial innovation and scientific output that adheres to the highest international standards.
• You support or initiate a network of companies through the valorisation of research results and by delivering industrial services to achieve technology transfer and application of the results of your research in industry/government/society.
• You are able to acquire competitive funding, both project-based government funding as well as industrial funding. Experience in applying for research funding will be appreciated.
• You strive for excellence and thus contribute to the further development of the research group and the faculty.

Teaching

Teaching duties connected to this vacancy will be in the Faculty of Engineering Technology primarily at campus De Nayer. Within the multi-campus model of the Faculty of Engineering Technology, you may be asked to take up a limited teaching duty at the campuses in Bruges or Ghent.

• You provide high-quality education within the programs of the Faculty of Engineering Technology for both bachelor and master students. These academic programs are aimed at educating engineers with a strong focus on industry-ready technological development. Your teaching activities take place mainly within the area of structural mechanics, metal constructions and research-related courses, with a clear commitment to the quality of the programme as a whole. All professors are expected to teach a few basic undergraduate courses or more advanced graduate courses.
• You contribute to the faculty’s and the university’s pedagogical project through the supervision of student projects (for example bachelor’s and master’s theses) and by acting as a promoter of PhD students.
• You develop your teaching in accordance with KU Leuven’s views on activating and research-based education and make use of the possibilities for educational professionalisation offered by the faculty and the university.

Service

• You are prepared to provide services to the scientific community, to society and to the university, with particular focus on services to industry in the context of applied research and development.
• You develop a strong network with industrial partners and in particular with the construction sector.
• You play an active role in promoting the Faculty of Engineering Technology towards new students and the industry by, for example, participating in information days and events.

Profile

• You have a master's degree in Civil Engineering or an equivalent degree, and a PhD whereby the subject of your doctoral thesis relates to the research field, namely metal constructions. Industrial experience or an extended network in the relevant industrial sector is an important advantage.
• You have a strong (applied) research track record in the discipline, evidenced by your publications or by your research experience in industry. You have the ambition to contribute to the valorisation of research in industry and in society. International experience is an important advantage.
• You have verifiable qualities related to academic education. Teaching experience is an advantage.
• You possess organisational skills and have a cooperative attitude. You also possess leadership competencies in a university or industry context.
• For this position, it is expected that you are able to teach courses in Dutch or in English from the start (native or C1 level CEFR). The official language 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 part in meetings and to acquire the level of Dutch that is required for tenure. Before teaching courses in Dutch or English, you will be given the opportunity to learn Dutch resp. English to the required standard.

Offer

• We offer 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. Our university is highly focused on interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research and strives for international excellence. In this regard, the university actively works together with research partners in Belgium and abroad and provides its students with an academic education that is based on high-quality scientific research.
• You will mainly work at the KU Leuven Campus De Nayer, an academic campus located near Mechelen and about 45 km from Leuven and centred on technology and industry focused research and education. 
• Depending on your record and qualifications, you will be appointed to or tenured in one of the grades of the 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. At the end of this period and a positive evaluation, they are permanently appointed (or tenured) as associate professor.
• To facilitate scientific integration and research in the first phase, a research position equivalent to a PhD fellowship for 4 years is made available. If you have no other substantial funding available, you can also apply for a start-up grant of EUR 100.000, on the condition that you are appointed for at least 50%.
• 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, …

Interested

For more information on the contents of the job, please contact:* Prof. dr. ir. Jaak Monbaliu, chair of the Department of Civil Engineering (jaak.monbaliu@kuleuven.be, +32 16 32 16 61) or* Prof. dr. ir. Raf Dewil, chair of Campus De Nayer (raf.dewil@kuleuven.be, +32 15 30 66 51)
You can submit your application until XXXX, only through our online application system. If you have problems submitting your application online, please send an email to solliciteren@kuleuven.be.

Add to your application following documents in English (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 4 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 places great importance on research integrity and ethical conduct and will therefore ask you to sign an integrity statement upon appointment.You can apply for this job no later than September 10, 2024 via the online application tool

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.

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