Professor in Design, Construction and Sustainability of High Performance Machines
→ Apply until 15/01/2025 (DD/MM/YYYY) 23:59 (Brussels time)
→ Discipline: Design, Construction and Sustainability of High Performance Machines
→ 100% Assistant professor tenure track
→ Reference number: 202411/EA08/ZAP/007
ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY
Ghent University is one of the most important education and research institutions in the Low Countries. On a daily basis, 15,000 staff members and 50,000 students implement its motto "Dare to Think". Ghent University's mission statement is characterised by qualitative education, internationally renowned research and a pluralistic social responsibility.
ASSIGNMENT
The faculty of Engineering and Architecture has a vacancy for a professorship, starting from September 1, 2025. It concerns a full-time position as Professor in the rank of Assistant Professor (docent, Tenure Track) in the Department of Electromechanical, Systems and Metal Engineering, charged with academic teaching (mostly in Dutch), scientific research and carrying out scientific duties in the field of Design, Construction and Sustainability of High Performance Machines.
Academic education
You teach various course units in the field of design, construction, durability and performance of machinery, mainly in the Dutch Engineering Technology programme at both undergraduate and graduate level. Specifically, you will be responsible for the course units: ‘CAD and Manufacturing Techniques’, ‘CAD Applications’ and ‘Pneumatic and Hydraulic Drives’. Furthermore, you contribute to guidance and support in the bachelor's and master's thesis.
Academic research
You will build a coherent research programme in the field of numerical and/or experimental analysis and modelling of friction and wear of machine components with the aim of improving durability and reliability, and optimising performance, lifetime and energy efficiency of machines.
The research thereby focuses on development or selection of suitable tribomaterials and surface treatment techniques, in addition to innovation solutions in design and optimisation of machine components. The research can be numerical, experimental or a combination of both. This includes the development of algorithms and numerical models for estimating and predicting friction, wear and lifetime of machines; the use of physical modelling techniques as well as data-driven techniques (e.g. machine learning, etc.); the development of experimental tests in which in-situ and/or online monitoring of the occurring phenomena is central, using physical or virtual sensors.
Besides fundamental research, applied and valorisation-oriented research is also envisaged.
You will have the opportunity to develop a research portfolio independently, supported by the other members of the Soete Laboratory.
Academic services
You will contribute to the internal and external service provision of the Department of Electromechanical, Systems and Metal Engineering (EA08).
PROFILE
Experience
- You have already conducted eminent academic research in the given discipline, which is clearly reflected in publications in high-quality academic journals and peer-reviewed books.
- You have in-depth knowledge of mechanical design, machinery construction and CAD techniques.
- You have proven experience with CAE modeling techniques, such as FEM, CFD, and/or Multi-Body Dynamics, etc.
- You are proficient with common programming languages such as Python, Matlab, and/or C++.
- You have an affinity for tribology, especially with friction and/or wear phenomena in machinery.
- You have experience in the development and/or use of test set-ups for testing machine components in terms of efficiency or lifetime.
- You are capable of initiating, supervising and acquiring the necessary funding for academic research.
- You are didactically skilled to teach university students to develop academic competences.
- Recommended are:
- experience in supervising research and/or coaching PhD students;
- international mobility, among other things thanks to research stays at institutions external to the one where you acquired your highest academic degree;
- professionalisation of education;
- a good command of the Dutch language.
- You must master the language of instruction in which you will teach a course at CEFR-level C1. You can demonstrate this by means of a language certificate or a diploma obtained from an institution in which that language is the language of instruction. In addition, Article II.270, §1 of the Codex of Higher Education requires that (i) you must master the Dutch language at least at CEFR-level A2 within two years after the start of the appointment and (ii) you must be able to master the Dutch language at least at CEFR-level of B2 within five years after the start of the appointment. More info: Language requirements at Ghent University for professorial staff — Ghent University (ugent.be)
Admission requirements
- You hold a thesis-based doctorate or a diploma or certificate that is recognized as equivalent (article V.20 Codex Higher Education).
Upon evaluation of a foreign (non-EU) diploma, a certificate of equivalence may still have to be requested at NARIC. If this is the case, we advise you to initiate this recognition procedure as soon as possible. You are required to have the recognition no later than on the date of your appointment.
- You have at least two years of postdoctoral experience on September 1, 2025. This term of two years is determined by the date written on the above-mentioned required diploma.
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
We offer you a temporary appointment as assistant professor in a tenure track system for a term of five years. If positively evaluated by the University Board, the term of office will be transferred into a permanent appointment as an associate professor.
Should you already be a member of the professorial staff or hold an equal post at a university or research institution, you can immediately be appointed as an assistant professor, without prejudice to the possibility of a temporary appointment offered in article V.28 of the Codex of Higher Education.
The recruitment is from September 1, 2025.
OUR OFFER
The career and evaluation policy for Professorial Staff is based on talent development and growth, prioritizing vision development and strategy, at the personal as well as the group level. At UGent we focus on career support and coaching of the Professorial Staff in the different phases of the career. More information can be found on www.ugent.be/en/work/mobility-career/career-aspects/professorial-staff.
Ghent University is committed to properly welcoming new professorial staff members and offering them appropriate guidance. The basic teacher training and courses of 'Dutch' and 'English' for foreign-speaking lecturers are only a few examples of our wide range of training and education opportunities. Furthermore, each Ghent University staff member can count on a number of benefits such as a bike allowance, reimbursement of public transport commuting costs, daycare, a wide range of sports facilities and EcoCheques. A complete overview of all our employee benefits (in Dutch).
Ghent University also invests in welcoming international professorial staff. It offers various housing options, a relocation bonus, the International School for school-aged children (with a discount on the tuition fee), support when registering at the City of Ghent, support with the procedure of family reunification and other administrative matters in connection with moving to Ghent. Read more.
Candidates who are newly appointed at Ghent University with an appointment as autonomous academic staff of at least 50% or candidates whose appointment as autonomous academic staff at Ghent University is increased to a minimum of 50% receive a Starting Grant of € 230.000 to contribute towards the personnel, operating and/or equipment costs of establishing a research team.
GENDER AND DIVERSITY
Ghent University conducts an equal opportunities policy and encourages everyone to apply. Ghent University also strives for a gender balance. Female applications are thus especially welcomed.
SELECTION PROCEDURE
After the final application date, all received applications will be sent to the faculty selection committee assembled for this vacancy. After a pre-selection on the basis of the submitted and assessed as admissible application files, the selection committee may hear the candidates about their vision and planning regarding education, research and services. It is also possible to organize a trial lesson or a presentation on a subject in the relevant field. Afterwards, the committee will rank the suitable candidates and present this ranking to the Faculty Board. The advice of the Faculty Board will then be presented to the University Board for approval.
Candidates are asked to further discuss their top 5 most important publications or other academic achievements with the highest impact. Next to academic publications, the candidate is thus also able to show merit of knowledge transfer by academic dissemination, social valorisation, public awareness, seminars or conference presentations. These competences are also taken into account when evaluating the candidates.
The evaluation of the required international mobility is broad and partly takes the gender perspective into account, thus not only considering longer stays abroad by also other forms of internationalisation.
Pregnancy leave, prolonged sick leave, parental leave, filial leave or other forms of absence are taken into account when evaluating the available time for the realisation of academic output.
HOW TO APPLY
Apply online through the e-recruitment system before the application deadline (see above). We do not accept late or incomplete applications, or applications that are not sent through the online system.
Your application must include the following documents:
- In the field ‘Application form’: the professorial staff application form (+ all annexes mentioned in the form), merged into one pdf file.
- In the field ‘Cover letter’: your application letter in pdf format.
- In the field ‘Diploma’: a transcript of your doctoral degree. If you have a foreign diploma in a language other than our national languages (Dutch, French or German) or English, please add a translation in one of the mentioned languages.
- In the field ‘Certificate of equivalence’: only for diplomas awarded outside the European Union: certificate of equivalence (NARIC) (if already in you possession). For diplomas awarded in the UK before January 31st of 2020, a certificate of equivalence is not required.
Note that the maximum file size for each field is 10 MB.
MORE INFORMATION
Match of this vacancy within the strategic goals of the department.
For further information regarding this vacancy, please contact Professor Peter Troch, chair of the faculty selection committee (peter.troch@ugent.be; +32 9 2645494).
Vragen over online solliciteren? Lees de FAQ of contacteer ons via selecties@ugent.be of 09 264 34 36