Background
You will be appointed within the Department of Biology and will conduct research at the Centre for Environmental Sciences (CMK). CMK is a multidisciplinary research institute that addresses environmental and ecological challenges of high societal urgency.
A position at the CMK of UHasselt provides various opportunities for research funding. For example, there is BOF-funding specifically aimed at supporting (junior) professors. In addition, the Capacity Group Biology is committed to assigning a PhD researcher to a new faculty member in the short term, and within the institute there are also opportunities for participation in cross-disciplinary research projects.
Education task
You contribute to the educational assignments provided by the Department of Biology, particularly in courses related to molecular biology and bioinformatics. Additionally, you will guide bachelor's and master's students in their thesis and research projects.
Research mission
The department of Biology seeks a researcher who will explore the role of microorganisms in soil and plant health, ecosystem functions and ecosystem responses to environmental stressors such as climate change, pollution, and land use changes. Possible research lines extend to ecosystem remediation, restoration, or mitigation.
As a researcher, you will:
- conduct cutting-edge research on fundamental and/or applied aspects of plant-soil-microbe interactions;
- develop and apply the most recent sequencing techniques for microbial communities;
- support the Department of Biology with expertise in research about microbial communities’ composition, structure, and functioning, with a particular focus on soil- and plant-associated bacterial communities;
- proactively collaborate with colleagues employed at the Centre for Environmental Sciences (CMK/Biology) in research about the effects of environmental stresses (e.g., climate change, pollution, land use changes) on ecosystems;
- actively utilize the research infrastructures of the Department of Biology and the CMK (such as Ecotron, Mycotron, Field Research Centre, greenhouses, growth chambers, laboratories etc.) for scientific research and educational activities;
- secure (inter)national research funding to support research activities;
- conduct research within (inter)national research consortia, including collaborations with external experts;
- publish research findings in leading peer-reviewed scientific journals;
- mentor and support PhD students in their research;
- contribute to the CMK portfolio of scientific services provided to (agri-)industrial partners.
Moreover, you also engage in academic and administrative tasks, such as participating in committees and assuming academic leadership.
Profile
- You have obtained a PhD in Biology, Microbiology, Ecology, Environmental Sciences, or a related discipline.
- Your research focus contributes in a complementary way to the ongoing research and expertise within the Department of Biology and CMK.
You have experience in recent soil, and plant-associated microbial community sequencing techniques and analyses of data of microbial community composition, including bioinformatics.
You have experience in studying the role of plant and/or soil microbiome in plant-soil interactions or microbiome responses in the context of soil remediation, ecosystem restoration, or stress mitigation, for example in relation to climate change.
- Experience in obtaining funding through national or international grants, appropriate to the maturity level, along with participation in international networks or projects, is considered as an asset.
- You have demonstrated academic achievements, including publications in high-quality peer-reviewed journals.
- You have experience in higher education and can enthuse and engage students.
- Valorization experience or industry connections constitute an added value.
- You are capable of working effectively within multidisciplinary research, such as in the Department of Biology and the CMK.
- Dutch is the official administrative language of Hasselt University. If you do not have a sufficient knowledge of Dutch (CEFR level B2) upon your appointment, we expect you to obtain the required level no later than 5 years after being appointed or at the moment of tenure (usually after an internship of 3 years for senior academic staff). We provide tailor-made language training. If you are a coordinating lecturer you must have a command of the language of instruction of the program component at CEFR level C1. We provide tailor-made language training.
Offer
We offer:
- either an appointment as a lecturer in the tenure track system during 5 years. This will lead to an immediate permanent contract as a senior lecturer, if the Board of Directors favorably assesses the party involved, based on previously set public grading criteria.
- Otherwise, we will offer a fulltime appointment as a lecturer or higher, which will lead to tenure. In case of a first appointment as a member of the academic staff, the Board of Directors of the University can decide on a temporary appointment for a period up to 3 years. This will lead to a permanent contract if the Board of Directors favorably assesses the party involved.
Selection procedure
You can only apply online up to and including 26 May 2025.
The selection procedure consists of a preselection based on application file, an interview and a test lesson / presentation.
An assessment for the selected candidates is part of the selection procedure.
Further information
Prof. dr. Michelle PLUSQUIN, +32-11-268289, [email protected]
Prof. dr. Ann CUYPERS, +32-11-268326, [email protected]
Prof. dr. Nadia SOUDZILOVSKAIA, +32-11-268262, [email protected]
For questions about the selection procedure, please email [email protected].
