Associate professor / professor / full professor Ecosystem functioning

Vacancy 190/31/083

The Faculty of Sciences, research institute Centre for Environmental Sciences, research group Environmental Biology of Hasselt University seeks an (m/f) Associate professor / professor / full professor Ecosystem functioning.

Background
The Centre for Environmental Sciences (CMK) at UHasselt is a research institution with >150 staff members spanning across different academic disciplines (biology, chemistry, engineering, economics, law). The new position will be embedded within the Biology Department. CMK is striving to be an international academic leader in holistic, multi-, and transdisciplinary analyses pertaining to the environment, a source of robust science-driven advice to public and private decision-makers from the local to the international level, and an active promoter of academic and educational expertise in developed and developing countries. CMK research addresses challenges of high societal urgency that require analyses that span across the boundaries of different scientific domains and disciplines, and necessitate fundamental as well as applied research. CMK is host to the U Hasselt Ecotron, a unique research infrastructure of 12 sophisticated semi-automated climate chambers that allow for controlled studies of ecosystem monolyths.

Education task
The position implies the opportunity of focusing almost exclusively on research activities for a period of 5 years, with a very limited teaching load. The limited teaching activities can be extended to a maximum of ten years. You are expected to contribute to teaching in Biology and/or related programs.

Research mission
You will work within CMK. An important accent of the research will be on ecosystem functioning and concentrate on a.o. the calculation of energy and element fluxes in ecosystems. Translation of results on ecosystem functioning into ecosystem services is another important aspect of the position. This translation will be performed in close collaboration with colleagues specialized in environmental economics for monetary valuation, and environmental law for legal aspects. You will make use of the experimental set-up in the Ecotron facility of Hasselt University in Maasmechelen. Jointly with another professor in soil ecology (microbial ecology), you will be in charge of leading and managing the research at the Ecotron facility. You are expected to spend the majority of working time at the Ecotron facility and adjacent Field Research Centre. Writing, submitting, acquiring and leading large interdisciplinary projects involving the Ecotron facility will be a core component of the profile.

Profile

• You have obtained a PhD in biology, ecology, ecosystem functioning or related.
• Academic staff must meet the statutory language requirements for knowledge of the language of instruction (Dutch). If necessary, Hasselt University offers concrete, tailored support measures to help achieve the required language level.
• You have a broad knowledge on ecosystem functioning.
• You have experience with translating ecosystem functioning into ecosystem services.
• You have an excellent publication record.
• You have a very good experience in managing large research projects.
• You have proven capability to attract research funding.
• You have broad research interests with a proven ability to cooperate with other disciplines.
• You have a broad professional network in ecosystem research and/or climate change research.
• Experience with big data is a plus.

Offer
We will offer a fulltime appointment as a lecturer or higher, which will lead to tenure. In case of a first appointment as a member of the academic staff, the Board of Directors of the University can decide on a temporary appointment for a period up to 3 years. This will lead to a permanent contract if the Board of Directors favorably assesses the party involved.

Selection procedure
You can only apply online up to and including 10 August 2020.
The selection procedure consists of a preselection based on application file, an introductory interview, a in-depth interview (with assignment) and an assessment center. If required, a selection exam can be held after preselection.

Further information
Prof. dr. Jaco VANGRONSVELD, +32-11-268331, jaco.vangronsveld@uhasselt.be
Prof. dr. Tom ARTOIS, +32-11-268309, tom.artois@uhasselt.be

More about working at Hasselt University? Check www.uhasselt.be/vacancies for our staff benefits.

The UHasselt contributes to the knowledge economy in the Euregion. Active tutoring, made to measure for the students, topquality research in specific domains and an international orientation are our university's characteristics.
Owing to its small size, the university and its employees are building up to an organisation together where it is a pleasure to work. Qualities are the only means by which people are measured. Gender, ethnicity, handicap, nationality and age are not taken into consideration.