•You have a MSc. in Microbiology, Food Science, Bioscience Engineering or a related field (or an equivalent diploma) and a PhD in the area of food microbiology or microbial fermentation
•You have a strong background in the physiology and metabolism, ecology and/or genetics of food-related bacteria, and expertise with state-of-the-art techniques used in these fields and with genetically modifying microorganisms.
•You have a strong scientific track record in the field, as proven by publications in international leading journals.
•You possess the capacity to lead a research team and attract research funding.
•Demonstrated scientific mobility is considered a strong asset.
•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.
•Good command of English is required. KU Leuven provides courses in academic English.
The official administrative language used at KU Leuven is Dutch. If you do not master Dutch (or do not master 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.
Before teaching courses in Dutch or English, you will be given the opportunity to learn Dutch, respectively English, to the required standard.
In the Science, Engineering and Technology Group of KU Leuven, there is a full-time academic vacancy in the area of Food Microbiology in Leuven (campus Arenberg). We are looking for internationally oriented candidates with an excellent research record and with educational competence within the field of food microbiology. The new colleague will be hosted in the Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M²S), Centre of Food and Microbial Technology (CFMT), and in the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering (FBSE). CFMT is active on four campuses and has about 145 collaborators in seven research groups, led by 13 professors. Research at CFMT focuses on raw materials and their constituents, microorganisms and processes that are relevant to various bio-industries and to the food industry in particular. The different groups generate and disseminate scientific knowledge and apply it in food process innovations with a focus on chemical and microbiological safety, organoleptic properties, shelf life, and nutritional and health aspects. The research activities span the continuum from raw materials over production of foods and ingredients to consumption and digestion and adopt a multidisciplinary and integrated approach at molecular scale, mesoscale and macroscopic scale. CFMT research groups have a solid, up-to-date research infrastructure, an extensive national and international network, both in the academic and industrial world, a stable supply of highly talented MSc. students and represent a supportive work environment. FBSE organises Dutch and English language study programmes at bachelor, master, honours, postgraduate and PhD-level in Bioscience Engineering at large and in Food Science in particular. To date, about 2300 students are enrolled in the faculty’s programmes.
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 inter- and multi-disciplinarily focused and strives for international excellence. In this regard, we actively work together with research partners in Belgium and abroad, and provide our students with an academic education that is based on high-quality scientific research. 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. You will work in Leuven, a historical, dynamic and lively city located in the heart of Belgium, at 25 kilometers from Brussels, the capital of the European Union, and less than two hours by train from Paris, London and Amsterdam. KU Leuven is well set to welcome foreign professors and their family, and provides practical support with regard to immigration and administration, housing, childcare, learning Dutch, partner career coaching, … To facilitate scientific onboarding and accelerate research in the first phase a PhD fellowship for 4 years will be provided by the hosting department, and a starting grant of 110.000 euro is offered to new professors without substantial other funding, appointed for at least 50%.