Research professor in Experimental Biophysics

Research professor in Experimental Biophysics (BOFZAP)

KU Leuven is an autonomous university founded in 1425, born of and growing within the Catholic tradition.

The Science, Engineering and Technology Group, Faculty of Science, Department of Physics and Astronomy invites scholars to apply for a full‑time research professorship in Experimental Biophysics. This position is funded by the Special Research Fund (BOFZAP) established by the Flemish Government.

The Department hosts a vibrant community of roughly 400 researchers working across the full spectrum of physics – from the smallest constituents of matter to the largest structures in the universe. Organized into seven research units, the Department pursues a research strategy built around four major initiatives, including a strong focus on the Physics of Life, which studies the physical principles underlying living systems. The advertised position is intended to strengthen this Departmental “Physics of Life” research initiative by fostering a competitive and internationally visible research program in the interdisciplinary field of molecular and cellular biophysics.

We are looking for motivated and internationally oriented candidates with an excellent research record and educational competence in experimental molecular and cellular biophysics. The appointment is expected to start on September 1, 2027.

Responsibilities

Research

It is part of the assignment of the appointed candidate to develop, within the domain of experimental biophysics, an international, competitive research programme, to pursue excellent scientific results at an international level and to support and promote national and international research partnerships. The candidate must have a strong research profile or the potential to develop one. The candidate should be multidisciplinary and willing to cooperate intensively with other researchers and research units at KU Leuven.

• Internationally oriented, conducting a forefront research program that develops and applies innovative experimental techniques to study and characterize the structure and behaviour of living systems from a physic’s perspective.
• Establishes and leads an independent research group within the Department and the Laboratory of Soft Matter and Biophysics.
• Plays a central role in building interdisciplinary collaborations within KU Leuven, including the Departments of Chemistry and Biology, biomedical research groups in the Faculties of Medicine and Bioscience Engineering, as well as with partners abroad.
• Has a strong interest in fundamental research, while also valuing applied research programs addressing societal challenges.
• Supervises master students, Ph.D. candidates, and postdoctoral researchers at the highest international level.
• Actively seeks and secures competitive research funding from national and international agencies and prepares high‑quality research proposals to support these efforts.

Teaching

Although the position is a research professorship at start, the candidate is expected to gradually contribute to state‑of‑the‑art teaching.

The successful candidate will contribute actively to the Department’s teaching mission, with a focus on providing high‑quality physics education to a broad and diverse group of students, including those enrolled in Physics, Chemistry, and Life Sciences. The ability to communicate core physical principles clearly and engagingly to students with diverse backgrounds is crucial.

• Teach physics courses tailored to students in chemistry and life‑science programmes.
• Only if applicable for BOF-ZAP: develop new course materials and actively contribute to curriculum development.
• Demonstrate how physical reasoning underpins chemical, biological, and physiological processes.
• Integrate cross‑disciplinary examples that highlight the central role of physics in contemporary science.

Service

Scientific, societal, and internal services (administrative or institutional) are also part of the assignment. The successful candidate is expected to contribute to the academic community and the broader scientific landscape by:

• Taking on service roles within the Department, Faculty, and University, contributing to strategic planning, educational committee work, and the development of shared research infrastructure.
• Promoting the visibility of the Department’s biophysics activities through outreach, science communication, and engagement with scientific stakeholders.
• Strengthening KU Leuven’s international profile by participating in scientific networks, organizing workshops or conferences, and serving on editorial boards or scientific advisory panels.
• Actively contributing to a collegial and collaborative departmental culture, supporting dive