Professor of Immunology

Department: Vaccine & infectious disease institute
Regime Part-time

Let’s shape the future - University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 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. 

As part of its dynamic research policy, and supported by the University Research Fund (Dutch: Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds, BOF), the University of Antwerp – department VAXINFECTIO of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences has the following part-time (50%) vacancy: senior research professor (ZAPBOF) in the domain of mathematical and experimental immunology.

Position

As a member of the Tenured Senior Academic Staff (Dutch: Zelfstandig Academisch Personeel, ZAP), you will contribute to the University of Antwerp’s three core tasks: research, services and education. Your role may also include organisational and managerial aspects. As a research professor, your role will consist primarily of academic research with some limited involvement in the educational programmes for a maximum of 10 years.

Research

• You will expand high-quality scientific research in mathematical and experimental immunology. You should develop new mathematical models (based on differential equations and/or agent-based models) that can simulate the dynamics of human T-cells. You must also obtain human data yourself that can parameterize these mathematical models.
• You will initiate new lines of research and coordinate the progress of scientific research projects. You will also participate in ongoing research programmes.
• You will acquire and manage national and international research funding.
• You will publish in Q1 & Q2 journals.
• You will develop an international scientific network.
• You will supervise PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.

Services

• You will play a role in the provision of both academic services and service to society, within the institution and externally.

Education

• You will provide high-quality education in mathematical/computational immunology.

Organisation and leadership

• Your leadership style will be motivating and coaching. You will be attentive to your employees’ growth and development processes.

Profile

• You hold a PhD in (Medical) Sciences.
• You also have proven experience with mathematical modelling.
• You can demonstrate a minimum of eight years of postdoctoral experience (when you start work, at the latest).
• You have developed an international academic portfolio and you conduct high-quality academic research. 
• You have acquired an ERC grant.
• You have experience in managing a research team.
• Experience in conducting clinical studies, including vaccine trials, is an added value. This also includes the experimentation and analysis.
• You can present a strong multidisciplinary trajectory.
• It is recommended that you are acquainted with clinical translation by being clinically active as a hospital physician. Holding a clinical position at a University Hospital is recommended.
• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
• Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision.
• If you do not speak Dutch, the administrative language of the university, you should be willing to obtain a CEFR B2 level of proficiency in Dutch within five years after your appointment. As soon as you take on teaching duties as a programme component coordinator, you should be able to demonstrate a CEFR C1 level of proficiency in the language of instruction. 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 demonstrate leadership potential and organisational skills.
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.

What we offer

• We offer a part-time ZAPBOF appointment. The level of your appointment (associate professor, professor or full professor) is determined on the basis of your professional experience and academic qualifications. The appointment leads to permanent appointment (tenure) after a maximum of three years and following a favourable performance appraisal.
• You hold the position of research professor with limited teaching responsibilities for a maximum of ten years, allowing you to further strengthen your research portfolio. This ZAPBOF period is then followed by a standard position as a member of the Tenured Senior Academic Staff with a mixture of teaching, research and service responsibilities.
• You will receive a budget of €25 000 for 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 1 october 2023.  
• You will do most of your work at Campus Drie Eiken 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 17 August 2023 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on 'apply', complete the online application form and don’t forget to include the following documents:
  • your motivation letter,
  • the completed job application appendix for ZAP,
  • your academic CV,
  • a detailed research proposal for the next five years (approx. 5000 words),
  • a report on your previous scientific research activities (max. 1000 words),
  • a scientific abstract of the research plan of max. 500 words or 4000 characters.

All documents must be submitted in English.

• 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.
• 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 met Philippe Beutels, Chair Vaxinfectio, philippe.beutels@uantwerpen.be. If you have any questions about the typical appointment framework for this research role, please contact the (TT)ZAPBOF officer in the Department of Research Affairs & Innovation, Marianne De Voecht (0032 3 265 30 29) or Birgit Houben (0032 3 265 31 39).

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.