Professor in Circular Construction and Reuse

Company description

KU Leuven has a full-time academic vacancy at Campus De Nayer, Sint-Katelijne-Waver in the area of circular construction and reuse of structural and building components. We are looking for internationally oriented candidates with an excellent interdisciplinary research record in the domain of structural engineering and building technology with emphasis on design of components and structures through reuse, and with affinity with industrial applications and educational competence. Practical experience is valued when combined with research publications and project management skills in competitive environments. In addition, the candidate should take an active role in teaching within the faculty’s Dutch bachelor and master programmes from the start of the appointment. Consequently, the position is open to candidates who are native Dutch speakers or candidates with a minimum certified CEFR level C1 in Dutch. The successful applicant will be appointed in the Department of Civil Engineering and the Faculty of Engineering Technology of the Science, Engineering and Technology Group of KU Leuven. The faculty of Engineering Technology has an extensive national and international network, both in the academic and business world.

Job description

Research

• You develop a research programme at an international level on design principles for the reuse of structural materials and components (e.g. timber, precast concrete, steel, masonry and others) from end-of-life buildings and structures in the framework of circular construction. The envisaged research develops and implements engineering approaches for structural application of reused components, digital techniques and databases, assembly and disassembly techniques and selective demolition for the development of reusable structural systems (modular construction, demountable systems) via experimental, numerical, reliability-based or theoretical approaches, or a combination thereof. Research should contribute to pre-normative guidelines and standardization enabling the reuse of structural materials and components in new constructions and structural renovations. You closely collaborate with the colleagues within the research group, strengthen existing research lines and provide additional expertise. You are expected to play a leading role in the field and represent our department and university at the national and international levels through sector organizations and standardization committees.
• You have access to testing equipment for large construction components and are expected to further strengthen and extend the existing laboratory facilities.
• You engage in targeted scientific research, resulting in PhD’s and publications that meet international standards and lead to broad international recognition.
• As part of your research programme, you develop international partnerships, within the academic world as well as in close cooperation with industry, to achieve industrial innovation and scientific output that adheres to the highest international standards.
• You support or initiate a network of companies through the valorisation of research results and by delivering industrial services to achieve technology transfer and application of the results of your research in industry/government/society.
• You are able to acquire competitive funding, both project-based government funding as well as industrial funding. Experience in applying for research funding will be appreciated.
• You strive for excellence and thus contribute to the further development of the research group and the faculty.

Teaching

• You provide high-quality education for both bachelor and master students in the field of building materials and technology, structural mechanics, and sustainable design of structures, with a clear commitment to the quality of the faculty’s programme as a whole. All professors are expected to teach a few basic undergraduate courses.
• You contribute to the faculty’s and the university’s pedagogical project through the supervision of student projects (for example bachelor’s and master’s theses) and by acting as a promotor of 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 professionalization offered by the faculty and the university.
• Teaching duties connected to this vacancy will be in the Faculty of Engineering Technology at Campus De Nayer (Sint-Katelijne-Waver). Within the multi-campus model of the Faculty of Engineering Technology, you may be asked to take up teaching activities at other campuses.
• The position is open to candidates who are native Dutch speakers, or to international candidates who can provide evidence of Dutch language proficiency at a minimum CEFR level C1 and who are willing and able to teach in D