Research Grant Writing

Research Grant Writing & Supporting Officer

Category: Academic Staff & Researchers

1 - Working at the VUB

For more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and solidarity, and this is very much alive on our campuses among students and staff alike.

At the VUB, you will find a diverse collection of personalities: innovators pur sang, but above all people who are 100% their authentic selves. With some 4,000 employees, we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer, in the private sector, in Brussels; an international city with which we are only too happy to connect and where (around) our 4 campuses are located.

Add to this our principle of free research - in which self-reflection, a critical attitude and an open, creative mind around scientific and social issues are central - and you have a university that is fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research. In short: the VUB all over again.

Moreover, the VUB is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of like-minded European universities, all ready to reinvent themselves.

The Faculteit Lichamelijke Opvoeding & Kinesitherapie, Department Bewegings- en Sportwetenschappen, research group Movement and Nutrition for Health and Performance (Movement and Nutrition for Health and Performance; https://move.research.vub.be/ , is looking for a Research Grant Writing & Supporting Officer.

More concretely your work package contains:

• You monitor and identify relevant national and international research funding opportunities aligned with the MOVE research group’s expertise, strategic objectives, and research identity;
• You build and strengthen the grant-writing capacity and confidence of the MOVE researchers to secure competitive research funding at different stages in their academic careers;
• You guide, coordinate and support the development of clear, compelling and high-quality research grant and fellowship proposals of the MOVE researchers tailored to specific funding calls, applicable regulations and evaluation criteria;
• You foster collaboration within the MOVE research group and facilitate the development of national and international research consortia (e.g., by identifying potential collaborators across academia, industry, and policy), bringing together expertise across various subdomains (including biomechanics & neuromuscular function, structural & functional aspects of the human body, motor development & didactics, energy-expenditure related behaviors & nutrition) in fundable research projects. You do not need to have expertise in these domains;
• You support the administrative and operational management of MOVE’s funded research projects in accordance with funder-specific and institutional requirements (e.g., deadlines, ethics, project milestones, budget monitoring, data management, progress and final reports);
• You actively participate in the MOVE research group’s general and strategic research meetings;
• You serve as liaison between the MOVE research group and the Research Department as well as the TechTransfer Department of VUB;

For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene)will serve as your home base.

3 - Profile

What do we expect from you?

You hold a PhD degree and/or you can demonstrate relevant grant writing experience;

• You have a profound knowledge of (academic) English;
• You have an outstanding track record and proven ability to acquire funding of any kind;
• You can take a catalytic and leading role in funding development activities and proactively contribute to the acquisition of external research at research group level;
• You are eager to develop a strong understanding of the competitive research funding landscape and its key mechanisms at both national and international levels (e.g. FWO, MSCA, ERC), and is motivated to explore emerging funding programs, calls, and fellowship opportunities;
• You can quickly assess the quality of a research project idea and related research questions without being an expert in the topic, and – together with the PI and co-applicants – translate this into high-quality and competitive grant applications within various funding schemes;
• You demonstrate excellent strategic insight as well as strong project and resource management skills in an academic research context;
• You have a strong motivational drive to serve as a strategic and operational partner to the MOVE research group, combining funding intelligence, proposal development capabilities, grant-writing expertise, and outstanding administrative and organizational skills;
• You are an empowering team player with good interpersonal skills contributing to sustai