The working place of the candidate will be the Laboratory of Enzyme, Fermentation and Brewing Technology (EFBT) at Technology Campus Gent. EFBT is embedded within the Cluster of Bioengineering Technology (CBeT), Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M2S), KU Leuven. EFBT is internationally recognized as an important research center in the field of malting and brewing. Its current activities are oriented towards the development of innovative technologies for the production of beer and related products (e.g. distilled spirits), towards improving the quality and stability of beer, hop components that are relevant for bitterness and hoppy aroma of beer, mixed fermentation, and enzyme technology. The laboratory has state-of-the-art analytical facilities and pilot installations for the
production of beer, and actively participates in the ‘Learning Factory’ education concept of the Faculty of Engineering Technology. At other research units of the university, there are ongoing, complementary
research programs (e.g. on yeast genomics, genetics, and on raw materials).
Duties
Research
The candidate is expected to maintain and expand the (inter)national academic and industrial contacts of the EFBT research group. The candidate will develop his/her own research line aimed at the development of an industrially applicable research program of international level within the field of malting, brewing, and related beverage technologies. The following themes are examples of possible research programs:
- Biochemical/technological evaluation of the transformation of barley to barley malt,
- The impact of raw materials on the quality aspects of beer,
- Prolonging the flavour stability of beer,
- The development of new analytical techniques that result in a higher sensitivity, a more efficient identification or higher throughput rates in the analysis of compounds relevant to the brewing and related
sectors, - Developing new technologies and products in the field of malting and brewing (e.g. regarding low alcohol and non-alcohol beers), and other beverages (e.g. distilled spirits).
It is important to establish collaborations with complementary research groups within the Technology Cluster CBeT. Complementarities and synergies with other CBeT members should be maximally exploited. Furthermore, sustainable collaboration with other KU Leuven research groups, both within and outside the Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, as well as with other local and international universities should be established. The ideal candidate is expected to acquire competitive research funds, to establish international collaboration and to mentor PhD students according to internationally accepted standards. He/she publishes at a high scientific level.
Education
You provide high-quality education for both bachelor and master students in the field of biochemistry, with a clear commitment to the quality of the programme as a whole. You contribute to the faculty’s and the university’s pedagogical project by guiding student projects (for example bachelor’s and master’s theses) and supervising PhD students. You develop your teaching in accordance with KU Leuven’s views on activating and researched-based education and make use of the possibilities for educational professionalisation offered by the faculty and the university.
Service
You are prepared to provide scientific, societal and internal services. You maintain close contact with the local industry. Cooperation with and services to companies are of prime importance. This includes not only malting and brewing companies and distilleries, but also suppliers of raw materials, functional ingredients, and novel technologies. You play an active part in profiling the Faculty of Engineering Technology towards new students and the wider professional field by participating in open days, networking events and fairs.
Requirements
- The ideal candidate is dynamic and internationally oriented. He/she has proven teaching skills and is an outstanding researcher with expertise in the broad field of biochemistry, particularly in analytical
biochemistry regarding the analysis of low-molecular-weight non-volatile secondary metabolites, such as for instance polyphenols, hop-derived bitter acids, and non-volatile precursors of beer staling ldehydes. - Profound expertise in chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques, such as in particular LC-MS, is therefore a considerable advantage.
- He/she has the required capacities to collaborate with industrial partners.
- You have a PhD in Sciences - Biochemistry or an equivalent degree, and a PhD where the subject of your doctoral thesis relates to the research and educational field.
- You have a strong research track record in the discipline, evidenced by your publications or by your research experience in industry. You have the ambition to contribute to the valorisation of research in industry and in society.
- International experience is an important advantage.
- You have verifiable qualities related to academic education.
- Teaching experience is an advantage.
- You possess organisational skills and have a cooperative attitude.
- You also possess leadership competencies in a university or industry context.
- Proficiency in English is required.
- 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 your 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 offer full-time employment in an intellectually challenging environment. KU Leuven is a research-intensive, internationally orientated university that carries out both fundamental and applied scientific research. It is highly focused on interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research and strives for international excellence. In this regard, the university actively works together with research partners in Belgium and abroad and provides its students with an academic education that isbased on high-quality scientific research.
You will work at the KU Leuven TechnologyCampus Ghent (Laboratory of Enzyme, Fermentation and Brewing Technology, EFBT), in a historic city with a 30-minute rail connection to Brussels, and less than three hours to 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. At the end of this period and a positive evaluation, they are permanently appointed (or tenured) as associate professor.
Interested?
You can submit your application until 31 March 2018 only through our online application system. If you have problems submitting your application online, please send an email to solliciteren@kuleuven.be. Please add to your application a biosketch which is an essential part of every application. The instructions for drafting the biosketch are mentioned on the on-line jobsite and on top of the template to be used. Please add to your application also a research statement (no more than 2 pages), demonstrating your added value for the ‘Analytical Biochemistry for Malting & Brewing and Related Technologies’ research programme. In addition, please outline your vision on academic education in a teaching statement (no more than 2 pages). 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 31, 2018 via the online application tool
support, please contact us at diversiteit.HR@kuleuven.be.