The Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of KU Leuven in Belgium, invites scholars to apply for a full‐time research professorship in in the Center for Social and Cultural Psychology. This position is funded by the Special Research Fund (BOFZAP), established by the Flemish Government. We are looking for motivated and internationally oriented candidates with an excellent research record and with teaching competence in the field of Social and Cultural Psychology. The appointment is expected to start on September 1, 2027. Applications will be evaluated in parallel and independently by (1) the Faculty Advisory Committee in a competitive process between candidates within the domain of social and cultural psychology, and (2) the KU Leuven Research Council in a competitive process between candidates across multiple academic domains. During the first 10 years, the teaching obligations as a research professor will be reduced in accordance with the standard Faculty guidelines. Afterwards, the position will be transformed into a regular professorship with a regular teaching load (typically 3-4 courses of 3-6 ECTS each per academic year, distributed across the two semesters in accordance with the standard Faculty guidelines for teaching hours per professor).
Applicants will be expected to develop programmatic research in the domain of social and cultural psychology, studying socially or societally relevant issues, with an emphasis on the ways in which social hierarchies and structures and/or cultural meanings and practices influence the psychologies of individuals, dyads, and groups, and conversely, the ways in which these psychologies help maintain or change the social and cultural meanings and practices. We especially welcome candidates whose research (1) speaks to broad societal challenges, such as inequality, poverty, climate change, refugees, oppression, social resistance, collective action, migration, and understanding cultural variation (2) makes creative use of novel research data, tools and designs, advancing pluralistic and including inductive methodological approaches in social and cultural psychology, such as pioneering methods capable of capturing the dynamic, interdependent, contingent, and emergent nature of social and cultural processes, including, for example, computational social or cultural system data, dynamic systems modelling and complexity science, natural language and visual data, naturalistic interactions, and inclusive or participatory research practices such as living labs, citizen science and action research that recognize minoritized participants as knowers),(3) stimulates critical thinking and shows theoretical ambition, and (4) is inclusive of non-WEIRD samples and/or contexts.
The CSCP is a highly collaborative environment. We are, therefore, eager to find a colleague whose research complements the CSCP research lines and promises novel synergies. In 2029, after Prof. Mesquita and Prof. Phalet will have retired, the faculty of the Center will consist of Professors Colette Van Laar, Jozefien De Leersnyder, and Agnes Moors. Their current lines of research include social identity and stigma, intergroup contact, the cultural psychology of acculturation, equity in education, and mechanisms involved in emotions and affect, and (mal)adaptive behavior in psychopathology and society. Research in the CSCP is not only theory-driven, but also seeks to advance theories. In function of the theoretical and societal questions at hand, the CSCP selects from a broad range of state-of-the-art research methods, including experimental and observational studies, large-scale cross-nationally comparative, multi-level, and longitudinal measurement, focus groups, and interviews. We are looking for synergies with the current expertise.
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Duties
Research
The successful candidate is expected to develop an internationally respected research program in the domain of social and cultural psychology, advancing our understanding of the interdependence of social structure and/or cultural context and the psychologies of individuals, dyads, and groups, and addressing one or more societal and/or global challenges. The successful candidate is expected to be part of national and international research networks, and to engage in inclusive and equitable research collaborations within the Center for Social and Cultural Psychology, with other researchers and research units at KU Leuven and across disciplines.
The candidate will:
• be an excellent researcher of Social and/or Cultural Psychology who advances novel and theory-based research that has the potential to address societal and/or global challenges,
• bring in a variety of state-of-the-art research methods and paradigms which they flexibly adopt in function of the research questions at hand (see above),
• strengthen existing research at the Center for Social and Cultural Psychology by bringing in complementary skills and expertise into research collaborations (see above),
• publish in international peer-reviewed journals,
• develop an internally cohesive, theoretically sound research program, as evident from acquiring competitive research funding from national and/or international agencies to establish their own lab group (or at least submitting effective research proposals for this purpose),
• be an effective mentor for master students and PhD and postdoc researchers to foster their personal growth as well as to help them perform research according to international scientific standards,
• establish both within and outside KU Leuven, national and international equitable partnerships in the context of the research program,
• strive for excellence in research, including advancing theoretical perspectives and critical thinking, thereby contributing to the international research reputation of the Center for Social and Cultural Psychology, the Faculty of Psychology & Educational Sciences, and KU Leuven.
Teaching
Although the emphasis at the start of the appointment will be on research, the successful candidate is expected to have a small teaching load (from the start of employment, making gradually increasing contributions to the psychology curriculum). The candidate will also contribute to the pedagogic project of the faculty/university: They develop teaching in accordance with KU Leuven’s vision on activating and research-based education and make use of the possibilities for educational professionalization offered by the faculty and the university.
The full intended course-package to be developed in a gradual stepwise way over the first ten years likely consists of teaching in an Advanced Research Methods course and research-based courses such as Topics in Social and Cultural Psychology and Lectures in Psychology, Culture and Society (advanced BA or MA-level) in English, as well as – over time – develop an introductory course and accompanying practicum on Social Psychology in Dutch for first year BA psychology students, and a new social psychology module for interfaculty teaching. Candidates do not have to be proficient in Dutch at the time of hiring, but it is a condition (level B2) for tenure after 5 years, and level C1 is required for teaching courses in Dutch.
The candidate:
• should have a broad background that allows them to teach in domains such as social psychology, cultural psychology, and/or intergroup relations.
• should be able to teach advanced research methods, and state-of-the-art substantive theory and research in social and cultural psychology.
• should demonstrate a sincere interest in teaching.
• having prior teaching experience and/or teaching qualifications is considered as having an advantage.
Service
Candidates are expected to provide service to science, society, and the university (administrative and/or institutional), with expectations increasing by faculty rank. We welcome candidates who engage with stakeholders, policymakers, interest groups, the broader public, and/or the media, and who are able to translate scientific insights into accessible formats and contribute to informed public debate and evidence-based or evidence-informed policy.
Requirements
• You have obtained your PhD (recommended at least three years ago) in Social or Cultural Psychology, a related subdiscipline of Psychology, or in another field with demonstrable affinity with Social and/or Cultural Psychology. If you have recently obtained your PhD, it is important that you provide evidence for your research and growth potential (e.g., demonstrate potential through multiple publications, academic references, promising research projects, and articles in preparation).
• You have a strong research profile in the field and an indisputable research integrity.
• The quality of your research is proven by publications in prominent international peer-reviewed journals, its adequate use of state-of-the-art methods, a high level of critical thinking, and its potential for theoretical innovation.
• International research experience or strong international collaborations accompanied by research visits are considered an important advantage.
• You have demonstrable qualities related to academic teaching. Teaching experience is a plus.
• You possess organizational skills and have a cooperative attitude.
• You have demonstrated good leadership and mentoring skills within a university context.
• Your spoken and written English is excellent. The official administrative language used at KU Leuven is Dutch, while in the Center for Social and Cultural Psychology both Dutch and English tend to be used. If you do not speak Dutch (or do not speak it well) at the start of employment, KU Leuven will provide language training to enable you to take part in administrative meetings. Before teaching courses in Dutch (likely only after a few years into your appointment) you will be given the opportunity to learn Dutch to the required standard (C1).
• You can provide evidence as to your potential to meet the expectations outlined above with regard to research, service and teaching.
• You provide academic references from at least two established academic colleagues with whom you have closely collaborated and who can vouch for your theoretical and research potential, academic citizenship, and active contributions to an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative academic environment.
Offer
• We offer full-time employment – with the option to temporally reduce your contract with several schemes in case of parenting or other care-roles.
• We offer an 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 focused on inter- and multidisciplinarity and strives for international excellence. In this regard, we actively collaborate with research partners in Belgium and abroad. We provide our students with an academic education that is based on high-quality scientific research.
• Depending on your qualifications and academic experience, 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 a tenure track for a period of 5 years. After this period and a positive evaluation, they are permanently appointed as an associate professor.
• You will work in Leuven, a historic and dynamic and vibrant city located in the heart of Belgium, within twenty minutes from Brussels, the capital of the European Union, and less than two hours from Paris, London, and Amsterdam. At the CSCP we strive for everyone to be on campus about 60% of their appointed time.
• KU Leuven is well set to welcome foreign professors and their family and provides practical support with regard to issues such as immigration and administration, housing, childcare, learning Dutch, and partner career coaching.
• To facilitate scientific onboarding and accelerate research in the first phase, a starting grant of 110.000 euro is offered to new professors (subject to eligibilty criteria).
More information
Call Research professorships (BOFZAP)
Procedure application and selection
Interested?
Before you start your application, please read the full description of the procedure and important information about attachments and templates under 'Call for Research Professorships (BOFZAP)' and 'Procedure application and selection’ under 'More information'.
More information on the content of the job can be obtained from the academic contact person prof. dr. Karen Phalet, mail: [email protected] or prof. dr. Jozefien De Leersnyder, mail: [email protected].
More information on the guidelines, regulations and application file is available from Ms. Kristin Vermeylen ([email protected]) or Ms. Martine van Nierop ([email protected] , tel. +32 16 32 76 98).
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.
