Researcher in Biology
University of Antwerp
Belgium

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20,000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape. 

The Department of Veterinary Sciences in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences has the following full-time vacancy:

tenured senior academic staff in the field of neuro-immune interactions in health and disease

Position

As a member of the Senior Academic Staff, you will contribute to the University of Antwerp’s three core tasks: education (40%), research (40%) and services (20%). Your role also includes organisational and managerial aspects.

Education

• You will provide high-quality education in the areas of cell biology, histology and histopathology within the courses which fall under the responsibility of the Laboratory of Cell Biology & Histology (CBH).
• Your teaching role will evolve along with the study programmes. The courses you will participate in as (co-)coordinator, include cell biology, histology and histopathology courses (your total individual share will amount approximately 12 STP) in the bachelor training of (bio)medical sciences. Teaching language is Dutch and thus requires a C1 language certificate Dutch. The University of Antwerp supports international staff members through an integration trajectory and offers tailor-made language coaching in compliance with Flanders’ statutory language regulations.
• You will play a role in developing activating, student-centred and competence-driven programme components and study programmes.
• You will supervise students and their Bachelor and Master dissertations.

Research

• You will complement and expand the scientific research in the ongoing research lines within the Laboratory of Cell Biology & Histology (CBH; http://www.uantwerpen.be/en/rg/celw/), in the area of neuro-immune interactions in human physiology and disease, with a unique focus preferably in relation to the key research topics of the team: ageing, neurodegeneration and brain-gut-microbiota axis. CBH constitutes an interfaculty research group and a central core facility for advanced microscopy (ACAM-uantwerpen.be) and has a yearlong tradition in function-driven cell biological and histological research.
• You will acquire and manage national and international research funding.
• You will supervise PhD students and postdoctoral researchers
• You will develop and maintain an international scientific network.

Services

• You will play a role in the provision of both academic services and service to society, within the institution and externally. You will participate in student recruitment, scientific boards and committees, popular science communication, and so on.

Organisation and leadership

• You will accept coordinating responsibilities in the areas of education, research and/or service provision and you will contribute to policy.
• Your leadership style will be motivating and coaching. You will be attentive to your employees’ growth and development processes.

Profile

• You hold a PhD degree in (bio)medical sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, veterinary sciences or equivalent.
• You can demonstrate a minimum of three years of postdoctoral experience (or equivalent).
• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies. You have established an excellent research portfolio including publications in top 10% journals as first and/or corresponding author.
• Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision. You are motivated to develop your teaching skills further through the professionalisation opportunities available.
• You teach in Dutch. Proficiency in Dutch at ECFR level C1 (language certificate or Dutch-language diploma secundary, bachelor, master or PhD) is required.
• You demonstrate leadership potential and organisational skills.
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.

What we offer

• We offer a full-time appointment as a member of the Senior Academic Staff (Dutch: Zelfstandig Academisch Personeel, ZAP). The level of your appointment (assistant professor, associate professor, professor or full professor) is determined on the basis of your professional experience and academic qualifications. Junior ZAP members are usually offered temporary appointment as a tenure track assistant professor for five years, which is then followed by permanent appointment as an associate professor. Appointment as an associate professor or higher leads to permanent appointment (tenure) after a maximum of three years. A favourable performance appraisal is always required for permanent appointment.
• We offer, after a positive evaluation of a PhD project you conducted, an attractive starter package consisting of a four-year PhD project and €25 000 of consumables to boost your research from the start of your employment at the University of Antwerp.  
• Your gross monthly salary is calculated according to the pay scales for Senior Academic Staff.        
• You will receive ecocheques, Internet-connectivity allowance and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.                                                                                                                                                                    
• The planned start date is October 1^st, 2025 or as soon as possible after that date.
• You will do most of your work at the “Drie Eiken Campus (CDE) next to the University Hospital (UZA) in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here and discover all the other benefits.

Want to apply?

• You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including 28 April 2025(by midnight Brussels time). Click on 'apply', complete the online application form and don’t forget to include the following documents:
  • (1) your motivation letter
  • (2) the completed job application appendix for ZAP
  • (3) your academic CV
  • (4) a detailed research proposal (mandatory) for the next five years (approx. 5.000 words; including a concise description (1 page) of the intended PhD research (see starter package)) and a report of your previous scientific research activities (max. 5 000 words). In addition, you add two abstracts of the scientific content of the research plan – a scientific abstract and an abstract in layman's terms – maximum 500 words (or max. 4000 characters).

All documents must be submitted in English. Adding these attachments is mandatory. In the  absence of one or more documents, your application will be declared inadmissible.

• The selection committee will review all of the applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure. Please make a note of the following dates: <date x e.g. 20 May 2020 (interview/sample lesson, which may be accessible to public, etc.)>. If you are invited to the selection interview, you will also be asked to propose a topic for a four-year PhD project.
• If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerpen.be. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact Prof. Dr. Jean-Pierre Timmermans; email: jean-pierre.timmermans@uantwerpen.be (Tel. +32 3 265 33 00 (secr) or +32 3 265 3327 (direct)) or Prof. Dr. Winnok De Vos (winnok.devos@uantwerpen.be).

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.