Professor in Urban Waste Valorization (Ghent, 9000) en Universiteit Gent

 

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

 

Ghent University is a world-class, open, pluralistic and socially engaged university. Our credo is 'Dare to Think': we are a haven for courageous thinkers. 

With one of the most progressive career models for academics in the world, Ghent University evaluates its scholars not only by the length of their publication list but also by the impact they pursue, what they achieve and how they collaborate.

Are you a good ‘fit’ with our university? Discover here our vision on education and research.

 

 

ASSIGNMENT

 

This position is part of a unique strategic investment by Ghent University: 21 new professorships are embedded in interdisciplinary consortia, designed to generate a significant societal impact with their research. For more information, see: www.ugent.be/21zap

 

Ghent University has a vacancy for a professorship, starting from 1 February 2026. It concerns a part-time (50%) position as Professor in the rank of Assistant Professor (docent, Tenure Track) or Associate Professor (hoofddocent), charged with academic teaching, scientific research and carrying out scientific duties in the field of Urban Waste Valorization, within the interdisciplinary consortium 'Urban Waste and Circular Economy'. This position has a specific interfaculty mission, in particular the collaboration between the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (The Centre for Sustainable Development (CDO)) and the Faculty of Sciences, the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering and the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (the Centre for Sustainable Chemistry). The assignment of this specific interfaculty position contains the cooperation in the transition towards a circular economy by developing new strategies and technologies for the valorization of urban waste, including socio-technical questions already in the design phase.

 

The strategic goals of this vacancy.

 

Academic education

You develop a broad thinking process on embedding sustainable development and an interdisciplinary approach on circular economy in the education at the four involved faculties in consultation with all involved parties.

You support learning trajectories and develop, optionally together with other faculty members, one or multiple courses in the domain of circular economy, starting from the disciplines Exergy Analysis, Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and Process Intensification. You will include innovative educational methods in this education assignment.

 

Academic research

You conduct research in the discipline of circular economy in an interdisciplinary manner (in particular on an urban scale) and will focus on the valorization of urban waste streams; process intensification; modelling complex chemical reaction kinetics and fluid mechanics; design and development of chemical reactors; application of alternative energy sources such as electromagnetic radiation. Socio-technical questions will already be included in the design phase. This is associated with obtaining (international) research funds, the development of (international) conference contributions and articles, the supervision of doctoral students and the strengthening of (international) networks.

 

Academic services

You take part in the internal and external service provision of both research centres in which this position is embedded (the Centre for Sustainable Development and the Centre for Sustainable Chemistry).

 

 

PROFILE

 

• You have a strong academic CV with international visibility in the requested field:
  • you have already conducted eminent academic research in the given discipline, which is clearly reflected in publications in high-quality academic journals and peer-reviewed books;
  • you have research experience, both policy-oriented and fundamental, in the domain of (1) modelling complex multiphysics problems such as chemical reaction kinetics and fluid mechanics; (2) design and development of chemical reactors; (3) application of alternative energy sources such as electromagnetic radiation, resistive heating, shockwaves, etc.
  • you are experienced with (international) research networks, the organization of seminars and innovative workshops and obtaining research funds;
  • you are capable to initiate and supervise educational and research projects and to acquire the necessary funding for this;
  • you are didactically skilled, in particular concerning complex sustainability questions and at a university level, to teach university students to develop academic competences;
  • you are experienced in the supervision of doctoral and master students;
  • mobility is recommended (e.g. education, research, economic, or societal).
• You work in a collaborative way and integrate smoothly into the department/faculty. You look for opportunities inside and outside the university and actively use your network to do so.
• You show leadership potential or you have leadership experience. More information about leadership at Ghent University.
• If you don't know Dutch, you are willing to learn it. This will be assessed during the selection interview. When taking up a teaching assignment, you must master the language of instruction of the course. More information about the language requirements and appropriate language guidance at Ghent University.

 

 

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

 

Taking into account the assessment of academic potential and the merits of the selected candidate, the degree of assistant professor or associate professor is awarded.

 

In case the degree of assistant professor is awarded we offer you a temporary appointment 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.

In case the degree of associate professor is awarded we offer you a permanent appointment, without prejudice to the possibility of a temporary appointment.

 

Pay attention: A part-time assignment of a certain degree of the professorial staff cannot be combined with a part-time assignment of a different degree of the professorial staff within the same institution.

 

The recruitment is from 1 February 2026.

 

 

OUR OFFER

 

Ghent University has developed a new inspiring career model for professors. Academic freedom and academics' responsibility, talents and ambitions act as a natural drive to advance their careers, as part of teamwork.

 

Ghent University is specifically committed to guiding international professors in the process of coming to Ghent. At Ghent University, our view is as broad as possible, because internationalisation creates synergies within and outside the institution.

 

We offer you a wide range of employee benefits. The basic teacher training and courses in 'Dutch' and 'English' for foreign-speaking lecturers are just a few of our wide range of courses and training.

 

Candidates who are newly appointed at Ghent University with an appointment of at least 50% receive a Starting Grant of € 240,000 to contribute towards the personnel, operating and/or equipment costs. Furthermore, professors who meet the conditions may be eligible for Basic Research Funding.

 

 

GENDER AND DIVERSITY

 

Ghent University pursues an equal opportunities policy and values everyone's talent, regardless of gender, age, philosophy of life, skin color, sexual orientation, migration background or disability. We encourage everyone to apply.

 

Interruptions in research careers and/or atypical career paths (e.g. relevant experience outside the academic sector) will be taken into account when assessing the application.

 

 

SELECTION PROCEDURE

 

The selection committee will carry out an initial, substantive screening of the admissible applications on the file. This assessment takes into consideration both the candidate's merits and potential.

 

Ghent University emphasizes the qualitative assessment of academic performance. Therefore, candidates are asked in the application form to mention their most important academic or non-academic achievements with the most impact. Candidates are also asked to prepare a research proposal. The research proposal can be taken into account by the selection committee in order to assess the candidate’s potential contribution to the consortium.

 

For shortlisted candidates, the following steps in the selection procedure shall consist of at least:

• a selection interview in which the vision and planning regarding education, research, and institutional and societal engagement as well as the embedding in the bigger picture are discussed;
• a trial lesson on a subject in the relevant field;
• a screening of leadership and interpersonal skills.

 

 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

 

• You hold a thesis-based doctorate or a diploma (preferably Doctor of Science, Doctor of Applied Biological Sciences, Doctor of Engineering) or a certificate that is recognized as equivalent.
• You have at least two years of postdoctoral experience on 1 February 2026. This term of two years is determined by the date written on the above-mentioned required diploma.
• Your application meets the formal requirements (submitted on time, complete: with a completed application form and a copy of the diploma, delivered via e-recruitment).

 

 

HOW TO APPLY

 

Apply online through the e-recruitment system before the application deadline (see above). We do not accept late applications or applications that are not sent through the online system.

 

Your application must include the following documents:

 

• In the field ‘Application form’: the completed application form + a mandatory appendix in which you explain your research proposal that will be realized during the next term of the mandate (minimum 3 – maximum 5 pages, references not included). All this combined as a one pdf file. Additional documents will later be requested from shortlisted candidates.
• 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 your 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 Kevin Van Geem, chair of the evaluation committee ([email protected] ; +32 9 2645597) at the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Department of Materials, Textiles and Chemical Engineering.

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