Professor in Biologics manufacturing

Job ID:  27820

Apply until 10/12/2024 - 23:59 (Brussels time)    

100% Assistant professor tenure track / Associate professor    

Faculty of Bioscience Engineering     

Reference number: 202409/BW25/ZAP/003

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is one of the most important education and research institutions in the Low Countries. On a daily basis, over 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

A full-time position of lecturer (tenure track) is available in the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering (department of biotechnology) in the field of biologics manufacturing. Background information regarding the career policy of independent academic staff and the function levels can be found via this link.

The core activities are academic education, scientific research, and scientific services within the domain of bioproduction. It is expected that the candidate will focus on this domain with a multidisciplinary and practice-oriented approach, with attention to collaboration with industry. The field of biomanufacturing is a rapidly developing field where technology and biology come together to produce a wide range of molecules using bio-based processes for a diversity of applications. This vacancy focuses in particular on the production of biologics for the health industry. The Ghent region and by extension Flanders excels in the development of biologicals (based on antibodies, mRNA, peptides, enzymes, and other biomolecules) and consequently has a strong need for the development of state-of-the-art bioprocess techniques and highly educated students in this domain.

Academic education

You lecture various courses in the field of biochemistry, biotechnology and bioprocess technology. Classes are taught within the programs for a BSc in Biosciences and MSc in Industrial Sciences: biochemistry. Depending on the course, the language of instruction is Dutch or English.

Academic research

You develop innovative, applied and multidisciplinary research in the domain of biopharmaceutical process technology. Your research is specifically focused on large-scale production of biopharmaceuticals/biotherapeutics to meet the growing need to successfully and profitably produce such molecules and process them into a final product. We expect you to develop the research area according to the latest innovations and acquire funding for the establishment of a new research group. The research is carried out in collaboration with researchers within the department and UGent, but also in a national and international context. We expect that the research expertise and vision of the successful candidate is complementary to the expertise present in the department.

Academic services

You take part the internal and external service provision of the department of Biotechnology. You are expected to take on faculty and university-wide responsibilities that go beyond your own research group and aspire to active collaborations with the relevant industry.

PROFILE  

Experience

• You have already conducted high-quality scientific research in the specified field of study as evidenced by publications in quality scientific journals and books with peer review; or by patents or other forms of successful innovation in industry;

• You are capable of initiating, supervising and acquiring the necessary funding for academic research; or have been active in fundraising for R&D within an industrial context;

• You have experience with inter- or multidisciplinary research and with guiding/coaching staff within and outside a research group or in an industrial context;

• You are didactically skilled to teach university students to develop academic competences; and have concrete ideas to implement a practice-oriented focus in the training to industrial engineer biochemistry;

• 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. (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)

• Recommended are:

  • Professional experience in bioprocess technology

  • International mobility, among other things thanks to research stays at institutions external to the  one where you acquired your highest academic degree;

  • Positively evaluated experience with providing and/or organizing education at academic level (as evidenced by student evaluations, for example);

  • Activities undertaken within educational professionalization or training/knowledge transfer provided within an industrial context;

  • An (international) network of research contacts and collaborations.

Skills / Attitude

• You are quality-oriented;

• You take initiative;

• You inspire staff;

• You are a motivating leader with a future-oriented vision;

• You write and speak fluent English. If you are not Dutch-speaking, you are willing to learn this language in the short term.

Admission requirements

• You hold a thesis-based doctorate or a diploma or certificate that is recognised 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 1 september 2025 in academic or industrial context. This term of two years is determined by the date written on the above-mentioned required diploma.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Depending on the specific profile of the selected candidate, the degree of assistant professor (tenure track) or associate professor is awarded. This will be decided by the University Board as proposed by the Faculty Board.

Assistant professor (Tenure Track)

We offer you a temporary appointment as associate 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.

Associate professor

We offer you a permanent appointment in the starting grade of associate 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 1 september 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/industrial 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) and a vision text (max. 2-4 pages), 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

For further information regarding this vacancy, please contact Professor Tom Desmet (tom.desmet@UGent.be, +32 (0)9 2649920) at the faculty Bioscience Engineering, department of biotechnology.

Do you have a question regarding the online application process? Please read the FAQ or contact us via selecties@ugent.be or +32 9 264 34 36