High temperature reactor systems for energy and materials

Employment percentage: Full-time
Location: Leuven
Apply before: Friday, March 29, 2019

(ref. ZAP-2018-67)

Last modification : Friday, September 28, 2018

At the Science, Engineering & Technology Group of the KU Leuven, there is a full-time academic vacancy in the Faculty Engineering Technology, Department of Materials Engineering, Campus Group T at KU Leuven in the field of high temperature reactor systems for energy and materials. The research group Sustainable Engineering based at the Campus Group T in Leuven is embedded within the Faculty of Engineering Technology. In the past, this faculty has systematically been given a high ranking for research and education quality by independent accreditation committees. The faculty has an extensive national and international network, both in the academic and business world. The research group can build upon a solid research infrastructure, an extensive international network, connections with companies and non-profit organisations, a stable offer of highly talented PhD students and a supportive work environment. How can we continue to fulfill the needs of the current generation without compromising the needs of future generations? At Campus Group T, over 20 researchers of the Sustainable Engineering Group - together covering all fields of engineering - work at answering this question. The aimed research is embedded in the Sustainable Materials research unit that focusses on developing more sustainable and eco-friendly materials and material production processes, and on the recovery of materials from waste. Website unit

Duties

Research

You develop a research programme at an international level in the field of high temperature reactor systems with specific focus on the behaviour of critical elements in complex media. Possible research topics are speciation and phase distribution of critical elements and related possibilities for material recovery, stabilisation and protection. You have a thorough knowledge of relevant experimental and numerical techniques and can apply them in your research. For the experimental work, you have access to a broad range of analytical equipment. You are expected to extend test facilities specific for the aimed research. Your research provides complementary expertise to the existing research line "High temperature Processes and industrial Ecology".

You set up collaborations within and outside the TC Materials Technology of the Department of Materials Engineering.

You support and further expand research collaborations with several national and international academic and industrial (particularly with SMEs) partners, in order to achieve industrial innovation and scientific output that adheres to the highest international standards.

You are capable of acquiring competitive funding.

You strive for excellence in your research and thus provide a contribution to the continued development of the research group.

You publish at the highest scientific level with emphasis on professional and technical journals, acquire resources for applied research, develop international collaborations and supervise master theses and PhD students.

You give the necessary attention to valorisation of your research results towards industry and government.

Education

You ensure high-quality education in the field of chemistry, chemical unit operations and reactor technology in the Bachelor and Master of Science in Engineering Technology - Chemistry of the Faculty of Engineering Technology, with a clear commitment to the quality of the programme as a whole.

You also contribute to the pedagogic project of the faculty/university through the supervision of master theses and as a supervisor of PhD students.

You develop teaching in accordance with KU Leuven's vision on activating and research-based education and make use of the possibilities for the educationalist professionalisation offered by the faculty and the university.

Your teaching duties are determined in consultation and based on your specific profile. The Faculty of Engineering Technology values a good balance between research and teaching duties.

You take up your main teaching duties at Campus Group T Leuven.

Service

• You are prepared to provide scientific, social and internal services.
• You are willing to perform applied research projects in collaboration with industry and government and to establish a network of industrial partners.
• You are actively involved in promoting the Faculty of Engineering Technology to future students and participate in information and public relation activities of the faculty.

Profile

• You have a PhD or doctoral degree in chemistry or in chemical or materials engineering on a subject related to high temperature reactor systems.
• You have industrial experience in the sector of materials technology or a closely related sector, preferably in an international context.
• Having an extended network in relevant industrial sectors such as the metallurgical industry is an important advantage.
• You have a strong (applied) research profile. The quality of your research is evidenced by publications in leading international journals, books and proceedings of international conferences, as well as successful project applications and valorisation in cooperation with industry. International experience is an advantage.
• You have demonstrable qualities related to academic education. Teaching experience is an advantage.
• You possess organisational skills and have a cooperative attitude. You also possess leadership capacities within a university context.
• The official administrative language used at KU Leuven is Dutch. 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 meetings.
• Before teaching courses in Dutch or English, you will be given the opportunity to learn Dutch resp. English to the required standard.

Offer

We are offering full-time employment in an intellectually challenging environment. KU Leuven is a research-intensive, internationally oriented university that carries out both fundamental and applied scientific research. The alma mater of acclaimed scholars such as Erasmus, Andreas Vesalius and Georges Lemaître, KU Leuven has a rich scientific tradition and history. Its internationally renowned research and educational programmes cause it to consistently rank among the best 50 universities worldwide. It is highly inter- and multidisciplinary focused and strives for international excellence. In this regard, it actively works together with research partners in Belgium and abroad. It provides its students with an academic education that is based on high-quality scientific research.

You will work at Campus Group T in Leuven, a historic, dynamic and lively city located in the heart of Belgium, within 20 minutes from Brussels, the capital of the European Union, and less than two hours from Paris, London and Amsterdam.

Depending on your record and qualifications, 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 the tenure track for a period of 5 years; after this period and a positive evaluation, they are permanently appointed (or tenured) as an associate professor.

Interested?
For more information on the contents of the job, please contact: · Prof. dr. ir. Martine Wevers, departmental chair Materials Engineering (martine.wevers@kuleuven.be, tel.: +32 16 32 13 03) · Prof. dr. ir. Koen Eneman, campus chair Campus Group T Leuven (koen.eneman@kuleuven.be, tel.: +32 16 30 10 65) Please explain your vision of research and education in your motivation letter. If you have problems submitting your application online, please contact solliciteren@kuleuven.be KU Leuven is committed to creating a diverse environment and is therefore an equal opportunity employer. It explicitly encourages candidates from groups that are currently underrepresented at the university to submit their applications.

You can apply for this job no later than March 29, 2019 via the online application tool

KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us at diversiteit.HR@kuleuven.be.

Tags: Materials Engineering, Engineering Technology