Professor Electrochemical and Surface Engineering

1 - Working at the VUB

For more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and solidarity, and this is very much alive on our campuses among students and staff alike. 

At the VUB, you will find a diverse collection of personalities: innovators pur sang, but above all people who are 100% their authentic selves. With some 4,000 employees, we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer, in the private sector, in Brussels; an international city with which we are only too happy to connect and where (around) our 4 campuses are located. 

Add to this our principle of free research - in which self-reflection, a critical attitude and an open, creative mind around scientific and social issues are central - and you have a university that is fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research. In short: the VUB all over again. 

Moreover, the VUB is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of like-minded European universities, all ready to reinvent themselves.

2 - Position description

The Faculty of Engineering, Department Materials and Chemistry, is looking for a part-time professor. 

More concretely your work package contains: 

Education and Research domain:

• Materials and Chemistry: Sustainable Materials Engineering

Education tasks:

• You will be responsible for teaching at Bachelor's and Master's level.
• You are a proficient teacher, able to transfer knowledge in an inspiring way, adapt to the target audience, and be empathetic towards students.
• You will organise courses in several programmes, such as in the Chemistry and Materials-BRUFACE master, and in the Bachelor's programmes in Engineering, including Architecture and Engineering Technology.  

Research tasks:

• You are able to lead and conduct research related to local electrochemical measurement techniques, such as SVET, SIET, SECM, AFM, FP and possibly others in the future. These fields bring unique challenges in terms of analysis and measurement of innovative properties aimed at sustainable material solutions. In our research group, we are also going to apply more and more A.I. methods in materials engineering, so we ask for your interest in that domain of the future, with a clear focus on sustainable materials process engineering and manufacturing. 

Other tasks:

• You will participate in administrative and management tasks, such as being a member of committees that support the functioning of the department and the Faculty of Engineering, as well as participating in scientific and educational activities aimed at the wider public.  

For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base. 

3 - Profile

What do we expect from you?

• The primary formal requirement is that you hold a degree in academic engineering in chemistry, metallurgy and/or materials, or master in science, and a PhD in related fields. 
• You have expertise in the following areas: electrochemistry and electrochemical analysis methods, surface engineering of materials and functional properties.
• You are familiar with the research funding landscape in Flanders, Brussels, Belgium and the EU, and can present a track record of acquired project funding. 
• A practical attitude, excellent collaboration skills, and a problem-solving attitude are needed to integrate well in our group. The major strength of our team is that we identify and develop relevant research topics together, and dare to take on industrial applications.
• You will also collaborate with other research groups inside and outside the VUB, industrial partners and research partners in Belgium and abroad.
• International collaborations, such as in the EUTOPIA context, are important ambitions supported by VUB. You will facilitate and organise such interactions, initiate, lead joint research projects and report to the group. 
• You subscribe to the university’s vision of education. The full text in relation to this is available on the university website.
• Every first appointment is dependent upon the successful delivery of a teaching session.  

Language regulations:

A member of the academic staff who is entrusted with a teaching assignment must also be able to demonstrate that the language of instruction is known at ERK level C1 through a qualification certificate or through an adequate diploma. The VUB also provides courses in, for example, academic English.

The administrative language of the VUB is Dutch. In case of insufficient knowledge of Dutch, the VUB will provide an integration course. After a maximum of five years, a member of the academic staff must demonstrate adequate knowledge of the administrative language (ERK level B2).

For a complete overview, please consult the complete language regulations on https://jobs.vub.be/content/Regulations-concerning-language-proficiency/. 

Certificates demonstrating knowledge of the language can already be added to the application. 

The VUB wants to be a reflection of the society where everyone's talent is valued, regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability and neurodiversity.

4 - Offer

Are you going to be our new colleague?

You’ll be offered an appointment as professor, for an assignment of 0.1 FTE, for 3 years (renewable, on condition of the positive evaluation of the activities), with planned starting date 01/01/2025. 

You’ll receive a salary linked to one of the scales set by the government.

At the VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.

As well as this, you will also enjoy various other benefits:

• Extensive homeworking options, a telework allowance of 50 euros per month OR an internet fee of 20 euros per month;
• An open and informal working environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract), closure between Christmas and New Year and 3 extra leave days;
• Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
• Full reimbursement of your home-to-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, and/or compensation if you come by bike; 
• A wide selection of meals in our campus restaurants at attractive prices;
• Excellent and affordable facilities for sport and exercise, a range of discounts via Benefits@Work (in  all kinds of shops, on flights, in petrol stations, amusement parks...) and Ecocheques; 
• Nursery near campus, discount on holiday camps; 
• The space to form your job content and to continuously learn through our VUB learning platforms and training courses;
• And finally: great colleagues with a healthy drive.

5 - Interested?

Is this the job you’ve been dreaming of?

Then apply, at the latest on 24/11/2024, via jobs.vub.be, and upload the following documents:

• your motivation letter, including your vision on education and research, and an explanation about the development of your future research;
• your curriculum vitae, including you academic dossier; 
• your diploma (not applicable for VUB alumni) and language certificates.

Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Prof. Iris De Graeve at Iris.De.Graeve@vub.be or on +32 2 629 3482.

Would you like to know what it’s like to work at the VUB? Go to jobs.vub.be, and find all there is to know about our campuses, benefits, strategic goals and your future colleagues.

Would you like more information about EUTOPIA? Go to eutopia-university.eu, and read more about the role of the VUB in the development of the EUTOPIA alliance.