Professorship in the epistemology of design driven research

You have a PhD and have relevant research and educational experience evidenced through internationally significant output. Our department values accomplished researchers with interests in advancing the field of Design Driven Research and who embrace creative research questions on how artistically and technologically mediated design action can inform a future-oriented architectural discipline. Candidates must have a well-developed research agenda that will inform and advance current trends in the field, demonstrated via a 5-year plan that showcases their vision on research and education.

Candidates have demonstrable skills in management and leadership and should have a strong interest in collaborative work as well as experience in, or acommittment to, working with diverse student populations in a culturally diverse environment. In the context of the envisioned interdisciplinary Knowledge Exchange the candidate must express an eagerness to collaborate with the faculty and department, as well as across the different disciplines of the university, in particular the Arts, Science & Technology.
It is considered a plus if the candidate, besides having supervised and reflected upon Design Driven Research of others, has also her/himself actively participated in an innovative research practice that was driven by design-related processes.

A successful candidate has an open mind and works towards a diverse, dynamic department, one that is responsive to developments in architecture, the arts and technology as well as the design disciplines more broadly. S/he is also an excellent, future-oriented pedagogue, a bridge-builder between practice, education and research and between departments, organisations and communities.

A good command of English is required. The official administrative language used at KU Leuven is Dutch. If you do not speak Dutch (or do not understand 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, you will be given the opportunity to learn Dutch to the required standard.

We are offering a full-time employment. It is possible to negotiate a deviation to a 70% mandate, if an external creative practice is aspired to.

KU Leuven is a research-intensive, internationally oriented university that carries out both fundamental and applied scientific research. It is highly inter- and multidisciplinarily 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. Its internationally renowned research and educational programmes cause it to consistently rank among the best 50 universities worldwide.

The Faculty of Architecture is committed to practice-oriented academic teaching in a university setting. Its inspiration is artistic, leading to critical, innovative and path-breaking thinking. There is room for dialogue and debate, and the international dimension is ever present. The candidate will work on the Sint-Lucas campuses in Brussels and Ghent. The Department of Architecture is active on the campuses in Brussels, Ghent and Leuven.

Depending on your background 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. Candidates with a senior profile who qualify for a full professorship (hoogleraar or gewoon hoogleraar) will be given priority.

KU Leuven is well set to welcome foreign professors and their family and provides practical support with regard to immigration & administration, housing, childcare, learning Dutch, partner career coaching, …
To facilitate scientific onboarding and accelerate research in the first phase a starting grant of 100.000 euro is offered to new professors without substantial other funding, appointed for at least 50%.”