Background
You will join the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences at Hasselt University. Research is carried out in the Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED).
The Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences contributes to sustainable solutions for health-related issues in the civic University of Hasselt. The faculty focuses on excellence in education and research and connects with society through strong cooperation with its partners. From a constant focus on quality and innovation, the faculty is a breeding ground and magnet for talent with an open view on society, from region to world.
UHasselt's Biomedical Research Institute (BIOMED) conducts excellent multidisciplinary research to drive advances in human life sciences. Using high-end technology, insights are gained in three areas of expertise: (neuro)immunology, neurosciences and cardiometabolic sciences. BIOMED aims to translate new scientific discoveries into applications that contribute to a healthy society, in line with UHasselt's civic ambition.
Education task
The teaching assignment is situated in the undergraduate and graduate programs of our faculty and supervising research internships at our faculty. Delivering academic teaching with high teaching quality is an important selection requirement given the embedding in the regular ZAP framework after 10 years of research professor (ZAP-BOF).
Research mission
In the context of recently acquired Flemish government impuls funding, we are looking for an Associate Professor/Professor in Molecular Epidemiology. You will be appointed as a research professor within the "ZAP-BOF" framework, where excellent researchers are given the opportunity to build their own research team with limited teaching responsibilities during the first 10 years.
You will establish your own team and research program in molecular epidemiology. You will focus on population research aimed at better identifying risk factors for chronic diseases to support preventive medicine and contribute to a higher-quality healthcare system. To achieve this, you will emphasize multidisciplinary research by closely collaborating with biomedical researchers, data scientists, and clinicians. The new research program will strengthen the existing cohort research at BIOMED, LCRC, CMK, and DSI. Currently, cohort studies are being conducted on early life (birth cohort), aging, dementia, and autoimmunity. The team will also seek collaboration with recent initiatives in population health management at our university. This research program will be an additional asset in the development of the Health Campus DC in Diepenbeek.
Profile
- You obtained a PhD in (bio)medical sciences, medicine, biology, data science, bioengineering or
pharmacy (or equivalent).
- You have at least 4 years of relevant postdoctoral research experience in molecular epidemiology
- You have an excellent academic track record with first and/or last author publications in international high quality scientific journals and presented on international conferences.
- You have a good view on the latest trends and developments in the specific research domain.
- You have proven experience in applying for external (international) research funding.
- You have experience in supervising doctoral students, technicians and/or master students. You have the necessary qualities to lead a research team.
- You have proven experience with participating in interdisciplinary research projects
- Complementarity with the existing research expertise in the faculty of medicine and life sciences is an added value.
- You have a extensive international research network in the respective field.
- Experience with academic teaching is an asset.
- Dutch is the official administrative language of Hasselt University. If you do not have a sufficient knowledge of Dutch (CEFR level B2) upon your appointment, we expect you to obtain the required level at the moment of tenure (usually after an internship of 3 years for senior academic staff). We provide tailor-made language training. Coordinating lecturers must have a command of the language of instruction of the program component at CEFR level C1. We provide tailor-made language training.
Offer
On appointment, you will work as a "ZAP-BOF" research professor for the first five years. After favourable evaluation, this ZAP-BOF period can be extended for another five years.
We offer a fulltime appointment as a lecturer or higher, which will lead to a permanent appointment after a favourable evaluation following a 3-year internship period.
Start-up funding is also provided for the development of the research program.
Selection procedure
You can only apply online up to and including 11 May 2025.
The selection procedure consists of a preselection based on application file, an interview and a test lesson / presentation.
Further information
Prof. dr. Niels HELLINGS, +32-11-269268, [email protected]
Prof. dr. Veerle SOMERS, +32-11-269202, [email protected]
For questions about the selection procedure, please email [email protected].
