Professor in Product-System Design for Industry 5.0

Career Opportunities: Professor in Product-System Design for Industry 5.0 (30256)

Requisition ID30256-Posted31/08/2026-Professorial staff-100%-Faculty of Engineering and Architecture

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world-class, open, pluralistic and socially engaged university. Our credo is 'Dare to Think' : we are a haven for courageous thinkers.

With one of the most progressive career models for academics in the world, Ghent University evaluates its scholars not only by the length of their publication list but also by the impact they pursue, what they achieve and how they collaborate.

Are you a good ‘fit’ with our university? Discover here our vision on education and research .

ASSIGNMENT

The faculty of Engineering and Architecture has a vacancy for a professorship, starting from February 1, 2027. It concerns a full-time position as Professor in the rank of Assistant Professor (docent, Tenure Track) in the Department of Industrial Systems Engineering and Product Design, charged with academic teaching (mostly in Dutch), scientific research and institutional and societal engagement in the field of Product-System Design for Industry 5.0.

Academic education

You lecture various course units in the field of Product-System Design for Industry 5.0, drawing on your expertise in several of the following subfields: computational design strategies and digital manufacturing, the application of human- (user-)centered strategies for product realization, technical and structural design, and the Internet of Things (IoT) through theory, practical, and project-based courses in both the bachelor’s and master’s programs in Industrial Design Engineering Technology.

Academic research

You will develop innovative and internationally recognized research in the field of Product-System Design for Industry 5.0. This field is rooted in product design engineering but explicitly addresses the specific challenges and values of Industry 5.0. Industry 5.0 builds on the capabilities of Industry 4.0 and is complemented by a strong focus on human-centered design, sustainability, and resilience. The selected candidate is therefore expected to conduct research in this area. The candidate is also expected to supervise, coordinate and mentor various doctoral dissertations and master’s theses.

Institutional and societal engagement

Based on your expertise and experience, you will contribute to the university's operations and/or take on external assignments.
In addition, in consultation with colleagues, you will take up several organizational and logistical tasks within the department or faculty. The department’s service activities consist primarily of building relationships with companies or their professional associations, particularly through projects and specialized courses. This offers opportunities for research assignments and thesis topics for master’s students. The candidate is expected to participate in these activities, albeit to a limited extent in the early years of the assignment.

PROFILE AND SELECTION CRITERIA

• You have a strong academic CV with international visibility in the requested field:
  • your achievements in the field of research and education contribute to the development of the scientific domain (e.g. publications, presentations, or other academic output);
  • you are capable to initiate and supervise educational and research projects and to acquire the necessary funding for this;
  • you are didactically skilled to teach university students to develop academic competences;
  • international mobility is recommended.
• You work in a collaborative way and integrate smoothly into the department/faculty. You look for opportunities inside and outside the university and actively use your network to do so.
• You show leadership potential or you have leadership experience. More information about leadership at Ghent University.
• If you do not know Dutch, you are willing to learn it within a period of 5 years and reach CEFR level B2. When taking up a teaching assignment, you must have a command of the language of instruction of the course unit at CEFR level C1. More information about the language requirements and appropriate language guidance at Ghent University.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

We offer you a temporary appointment in the degree of assistant professor in a tenure track system for a term of five years. If positively evaluated by the University Board, the term of office will be transferred into a permanent appointment as an associate professor.
Should you already be a member of the professorial staff or hold an equal post at a university or research institution, you can immediately be appointed as an assistant professor, without prejudice to the possibility of a tempo