Professor in Geotechnical Engineering

KU Leuven has a full-time academic vacancy at the Bruges Campus in the area of geotechnical engineering. We are looking for internationally orientated candidates with an excellent research record in geotechnical engineering and with educational competencies within the broader field of civil Engineering. The position is open to candidates who are native Dutch speakers, or candidates who can provide evidence of Dutch language proficiency at a minimum CEFR level C1 and who are willing and able to teach in Dutch from the start of the appointment. The successful applicant will be appointed in the Department of Civil Engineering and the Faculty of Engineering Technology of the Science, Engineering and Technology Group of KU Leuven. The Faculty of Engineering Technology has an extensive national and international network, both in the academic and business world.
The Geotechnical research at the Bruges Campus focuses on offshore geotechnics and dynamic soil-structure interaction. The research aims to enhance the resilience of the built environment to geotechnical hazards by contributing to understanding fundamental mechanisms and improving design methodologies for infrastructure. The research activities benefit from interdisciplinary collaborations in national and international contexts and contribute both to theoretical and experimental advancements and practical applications in geotechnical engineering. Your application is expected to strengthen the Coastal and Geotechnical Engineering group, a prominent focus area of civil engineering on campus Bruges. The research is embedded in the Hydraulics and Geotechnics Section of the Department of Civil Engineering, where the hydraulics research relevant for geotechnical engineering focusses on wave loading, geomorphological processes and nature-based solutions against flooding and erosion, where soil mechanics plays a role in terms of sediments and soil characterization. The research group can build upon a solid research infrastructure, an extensive international network, connections with companies and non-profit organisations, a stable offer of highly talented PhD students and a supportive work environment.
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Duties

Research

• You develop a research programme at an international level in geotechnical engineering, with emphasis on theoretical and applied geotechnics and soil mechanics. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, sustainable and resilient geotechnical applications, data-driven geomechanics, offshore geotechnics, and complementary topics that foster collaboration with the Hydraulics group. Particular importance is placed on experimental soil mechanics, especially in connection with the Section’s new laboratory infrastructure in Bruges, including the cyclic triaxial testing system for offshore applications. Candidates with the ability to advance and make strategic use of this experimental capacity would be an asset.
• You closely collaborate with the colleagues within the research group, you strengthen existing research lines and provide additional expertise with the development of an independent research line based on your own strengths and expertise that complements and broadens the group’s portfolio.
• You engage in targeted scientific research, resulting in successful PhD supervision and publications that meet international standards and lead to broad international recognition in the field of geotechnical engineering.
• You support or initiate a network of companies through the valorisation of research results and the delivery of industrial services, aimed at strengthening industrial innovation and practical impact in the geotechnical domain.
• As part of your research programme, you develop and sustain international academic and industrial partnerships and actively participate in collaborative research networks.
• You are able to acquire competitive funding, both project-based government or internal funding as well as industrial funding. Experience in applying for research funding will be appreciated.
• You contribute to the further development and international reputation of the Hydraulics and Geotechnics Section and the faculty.
• You pay the required attention to the technology transfer and application of your research results in industry, government, and society, thereby enhancing societal and economic impact.
• You strive for excellence and thus contribute to the further development of the research group and the faculty.

Teaching

• You provide high-quality education for both bachelor and master students, within the Faculty of Engineering Technology, with a focus on geotechnical and structural engineering, and other courses within the Civil Engineering Technology curriculum, with a clear commitment to the quality of the faculty’s programme as a whole. All professors are expected to teach a few basic undergraduate courses.
• You contribute to the faculty’s and the university’s pedagogical project through the supervision of student projects (for example bachelor’s and master’s theses) and by acting as a promotor of PhD students.
• You develop your teaching in accordance with KU Leuven’s views on activating and researched-based education and make use of the possibilities for educational professionalization offered by the faculty and the university.
• Teaching duties connected to this vacancy will be in the Faculty of Engineering Technology at Campus Bruges. Within the multi-campus model of the Faculty of Engineering Technology, you may be asked to take up teaching activities at other campuses.
• The position is open to candidates who are native Dutch speakers, or to international candidates who can provide evidence of Dutch language proficiency at a minimum CEFR level C1 and who are willing and able to teach in Dutch.

Service

• You are prepared to provide services to the scientific community, to society and to the university, with particular focus on services to construction industry in the context of applied research and development.
• You develop a strong network with industrial partners and, in particular, with the construction sector, fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation.
• You play an active part in promoting the Faculty of Engineering Technology to prospective students and the wider professional community by participating in open days, networking events, industry fairs and other outreach initiatives.

Profile

With this position, the Hydraulics and Geotechnics Section seeks to reinforce and expand its expertise in geotechnical engineering. This involves the development of research lines which complement the ongoing geotechnical research and strengthens collaboration with Hydraulics and builds on the long-standing and active collaboration with the Structural Mechanics Section, particularly in the areas of offshore foundations and dynamic soil-structure interaction. 

• You have a PhD in Geotechnical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a closely related discipline, with research expertise clearly aligned with geotechnical engineering. Familiarity with the Eurocodes, national and international standards and guidelines is considered an advantage.
• You have a strong research track record in the discipline, evidenced by your publications or by your equivalent research achievements in industry. You have the ambition to contribute to the valorisation of research in industry and in society. International experience is an important advantage.
• You have verifiable qualities related to academic education, and prior teaching experience is considered an advantage.
• You possess organisational skills and a collaborative and collegial mindset. You also possess leadership competencies in a university or industry context.

• The administrative language used at KU Leuven is Dutch. This position is open to native Dutch speakers or international candidates with a demonstrated proficiency in Dutch at a minimum CEFR level C1. Upon recruitment, you must hold a C1 certificate to ensure you can start teaching in Dutch immediately.

  A good command of English is required. KU Leuven offers courses in Academic English. Before you begin teaching in English, we provide you with the opportunity to acquire the necessary language skills.

Offer

We offer full-time employment in an intellectually stimulating environment.

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 scientific research.

You will work at the KU Leuven Campus Bruges, in a historic city with a seaport and modern industrial activities. Bruges has an approximately 70 minutes rail connection to Brussels, capital of the European Union, and about three hours to Paris, London and Amsterdam.

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. At the end of this period and a positive evaluation, they are permanently appointed (or tenured) as associate professor.

To facilitate scientific onboarding and accelerate research in the first phase, a research position will be made available equivalent to a PhD scholarship for 4 years. In addition, you can apply for a start-up grant of EUR 110.000, on the condition that you are appointed for at least 50%.

KU Leuven is well set to welcome foreign professors and their family and provides practical support with regard to immigration & administration, housing, childcare, learning Dutch, …

Interested?

For more information on the contents of the job, please contact Prof. dr. ir. Staf Roels, mail: [email protected] or Prof. dr. ir. Maarten Vergauwen, mail: [email protected]. 

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.