KU Leuven has a full-time vacancy for independent academic staff (ZAP) in the field of epistemology of design-driven research. We are looking for internationally oriented candidates with an excellent research file in the described area and with strong teaching competence.
The structure of KU Leuven combines faculties and research departments in a multi-campus model.
The candidate will contribute to the research of the Department of Architecture within the research unit Architecture & Design on the Sint-Lucas Brussels and Ghent Campus. This unit unites researchers from both the Faculty of Architecture and the Faculty of Engineering Science. The Department offers an international research environment of excellence. www.architectuur.kuleuven.be
The candidate will contribute to the education of the Faculty of Architecture. The Faculty of Architecture consists of the academic architecture programmes (interior architecture, architecture, urban design and spatial planning and the educational master) on the Sint-Lucas Brussels and Ghent campus. The faculty is driven by a consciously assembled diversity of practices and is renowned for its future-oriented education that cultivates a freedom of exploration. www.arch.kuleuven.be
Website unit
Duties
Research
The study of knowledge-construction in the field of interior architecture and architecture faces major challenges. What is knowledge for designers, interior-architects, architects and artists? How does this knowledge appear and translate in different productions? Is this knowledge recognised by formal evaluative metrics? How do interior architects, architects and artists know that they know? And how do we get this knowledge communicated to others (in the domain and beyond)? These are just some of the challenges facing researchers with a background in (interior) architecture and art. An epistemological view on this should lead to critical, forward-looking reflection needed to address future design challenges.
You must have an affinity with different forms of research, particularly design-driven research, but also practice-based and artistic-based research, grounded in their own interests and research background.
You should demonstrate expertise in epistemology and are acquainted with phenomenology and the psychology of perception, as these play a crucial role in understanding the development of these forms of research.
You should be able to collaborate with researchers in a research community of the Department of Architecture & beyond where mainly design-driven research, practice-based research and artistic-based research are practised. You will be doing the following:
- establish links between the researchers/research groups/research units in an international network of researchers/research communities and between other fields (inter- and transdisciplinary);
- connect the research with ongoing research programmes and participate in the development of future research projects of the research unit and the department;
- appropriate this knowledge and transform it into new theoretical and/or philosophical insights.
You publish and generate scientific output at the relevant scientific level within the field of epistemology and interior architecture and/or architecture, acquire resources for fundamental and/or applied research. You are involved in, facilitate and initiate PhD-research (theoretical and with a design focus), as a supervisor or as a member of the supervisory committee. Your research contributes to the development of individuality and the further strengthening and anchoring of design-based, artistic and practice-based research at the Department of Architecture.
Teaching
You provide high-quality teaching within the field of design epistemology with a clear commitment to the quality of the educational programme as a whole. You will also contribute to the teaching project of the faculty/university by supervising master's theses and as supervisor of doctoral students.
You will develop your teaching in line with KU Leuven's vision of activating and research-based education and make use of the opportunities for educational professionalisation offered by the faculty and the university.
Your teaching assignment is determined in consultation on the basis of your specific profile. In doing so, the faculty pays great attention to the balance between research, teaching and (internal) service time.
The focus of the teaching is on theoretical courses (bachelor and master) of design methodologies, epistemology and knowledge creation of design driven research. This can be via separate courses. Particularly in the master's programme, the aim is to develop research-based courses in relation to design studios where theory and practice are strongly linked in the design process.
Service
- Scientific, social and internal service are also part of your assignment.
- You are committed to playing a role in academic management and the further consolidation of design as the core (Key Performance Indicator) of the programmes within the Department/Faculty of Architecture.
- You play an active role in the image and profiling of the department/faculty with regard to current and new students and the broad professional field. This can be done through participation in public performances, information days, introductory moments, etc.
Profile
- You hold a Master's degree in philosophy or equivalent, or a Master's degree in Interior Architecture or Architecture with a demonstrable interest in epistemology, and you hold a PhD whereby the subject of your doctorate’s thesis was related to the research and educational field.
- You have a strong research record in the field of design epistemology. Your CV shows an active link with the knowledge on artistic and design knowledge creation. Research quality is demonstrated by publications in leading/international journals and ADROs (Artistic and Design-related Research Output), as well as international research experience. Your CV/portfolio shows an active link with Interior Architecture/Architecture and demonstrates this in particular through collaborations with people and groups in the field.
- You have demonstrable qualities for academic teaching.
- You have organisational skills and a collegial attitude. You also possess leadership skills in a university context.
- A 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 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. Before teaching courses in Dutch, you will be given the opportunity to learn Dutch to the required level.
Offer
We offer full-time employment (100%) in a vibrant and intellectually stimulating design environment. You will be part of a university that has been systematically ranked highly for the quality of its teaching and research by independent accreditation commissions. 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 practice and scientific research.
As member of the Faculty of Architecture, you will work on the Sint-Lucas campus both in Brussels and in Ghent. Your main workplace is determined by mutual agreement. The Department of Architecture is active at locations in Brussels, Ghent and Leuven.
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 equipped to welcome foreign professors and their families and offers practical support in the areas of immigration and administration, housing, childcare, learning Dutch, partner career coaching, ... To facilitate scientific integration and research in the first phase, start-up funding of 110 000 euro is offered to new professors, who have no substantial other funding and are appointed for at least 50%.
Interested?
For more information on the content of the position, please contact:
- Prof. dr. Rajesh Heynickx, Chair of the Department of Architecture (
[email protected])
- Prof. dr. Thierry Lagrange, Head of the Research Unit Architecture & Design (
[email protected])
You can apply, exclusively via our online application. If you encounter any problems when applying online, please contact
[email protected]Add the following elements to your application (more information can be found on the KU Leuven jobsite):
- a biosketch demonstrating your added value as an academic for the core tasks of research, teaching and service in your past career and for your future activities (maximum 2 pages); It should include the following elements: 1) the crucial elements and their importance/impact from your past career; 2) the main lines of your future vision and the future activities you plan (with an emphasis on the first 5 years); 3) the added value of your activities for KU Leuven and the collaboration within faculty/department/campus;
- a file on your five most important publications or achievements;
- a comprehensive CV (including a full publication list, including ADRO);
- a research plan focusing on the development of a research line and associated research team with an eye for collaboration with fellow researchers within the entity of employment (maximum 4 pages);
- your vision on academic education and its organisation (maximum 2 pages);
- your contribution to service activities (internal representation through membership in councils and governing bodies, contributions to society from teaching and research, outreach and science communication) (maximum 1 page);
- your vision of leadership (maximum 1 page).
We ask that all documents be drawn up in English.
KU Leuven attaches great importance to scientific integrity, acting ethically and with integrity and will ask you to sign an integrity statement upon appointment..
KU Leuven is committed to creating a diverse environment and is therefore an equal opportunity employer. It explicitly encourages candidates from groups that are currently underrepresented at the university to submit their applications.
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.
