Research professor in mechatronic systems and machine design (BOFZAP)

The applicant's research should encompass the field of mechatronic systems. This research can focus on various aspects, ranging (not exclusively) from machine design, structural dynamics, automation, mechatronics and robotics. On an academic level you will build a world-class leading research program, considering amongst others numerical analysis, optimization methods, and experimental techniques for these mechatronic systems. Particular challenges of interest are system level dynamics and integration of multiple of these systems.

Moreover, the research should fit within real-life engineering challenges in order to interact with the strong mechatronics industry eco-system in the Kortrijk region. An important aspect of this interaction will be collaboration with Flanders Make (www.flandersmake.be), the strategic research centre for the manufacturing industry in Flanders. Flanders Make has a world-class research infrastructure in research domains such as drive train optimization, advanced motion control, robotics, flexible manufacturing and automation, not only in Kortrijk but also in its other locations in Leuven and Lommel. 

You will be stationed in Kortrijk and will profit from the above-mentioned existing ties between the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Flanders Make, and from close cooperation with the other professors of the Department in the nearby KU Leuven campuses of Bruges and Ghent, for instance in the interdisciplinary “Infinity lab” of KU Leuven at Flanders Make Kortrijk. You are expected to strive for excellence, develop national and international collaborations and publish at the highest scientific level within your field of research. By acquiring competitive funding for fundamental and/or applied research, you should be capable to build a research group at Kulak in close collaboration with all actors from the wider region and supervise PhDs at an international level. You should also give the necessary attention to the valorisation on behalf of government and business in applied research.

• You are prepared to provide scientific, social and internal services. You are keen in finding regional, national or international opportunities for collaboration with companies and other partners outside the university. 
• You represent the Science, Engineering & Technology Group of KU Leuven Kulak at Kortrijk, your department, your faculty and your group in external activities and you operate as primary contact between the university and its regional partners. 
• You actively participate in outreach activities such as science communication, lifelong learning or societal debates.

• You have a PhD in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis on mechatronics and machine design or a related degree.
• You have a strong research profile. The quality of your research is proven by publications in international leading journals. International experience is an important advantage. You are able to present a research plan that exhibits an added value for the regional, national and international recognition of KU Leuven, with specification of relevant collaborations with other partners inside and outside the university.
• You have demonstrable qualities related to academic education. You have a personal vision and a clear perspective on academic teaching and education organisation. Teaching experience is an advantage.
• You possess organisational skills and have a cooperative attitude. You also possess leadership capacities within 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 speak no or limited Dutch at the start of employment, KU Leuven will provide language training to enable you to participate in meetings. Since KU Leuven Kulak is a Bachelor campus where the language of instruction is Dutch, you are expected to reach the required level for teaching in Dutch after 5 years. KU Leuven provides support for this as well.

• We are offering a full-time employment in a multidisciplinary and 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 multidisciplinarily 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.
• All tasks related to this position are primarily localized and carried out at KU Leuven Kulak at Kortrijk, and require an active presence at this campus. The Science, Engineering & Technology Group of KU Leuven Kulak at Kortrijk organizes the Bachelor programs in Sciences (Mathematics, Physics, Informatics, Biology and Chemistry), including options towards pharmaceutical, engineering and bio-engineering study programs. Hence, it is a very multidisciplinary environment, both from educational point of view as for research. There is close interaction between students and lecturers across all disciplines. Kulak emphasises the optimal guidance, support and supervision of students.
• 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 offers attractive start-up funding (110 k€) during the first 2 years of appointment to professors, subject to eligibility criteria set by KU Leuven

More information on the content of the job can be obtained from the academic contact person Prof. Dr. Ir. Herman Bruyninckx, departmental vice-chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Leuven ([email protected], tel +32 16 32 80 56) . You can also contact Prof. Dr Koen Van Den Abeele, campus chair of the group of Science Engineering and Technology, KU Leuven Kulak ([email protected], tel +32 486 611 160)

More information on the guidelines, regulations and application file is available from Ms. Kristin Vermeylen ([email protected] , tel. +32 16 32 09 07) or Ms. Martine van Nierop ([email protected] , tel. +32 16 32 76 98).

For a full description of the procedure and information on annexes and templates, follow the link 'Full application and selection procedure Research Professorships (BOFZAP)' under 'More information'. Please read this before you start your application.

Please submit your application in English. For problems with online applying, please contact [email protected].

KU Leuven places great importance on research integrity and ethical conduct and will therefore ask you to sign an integrity statement upon appointment.