Professor in Computational Biopharmaceutical Design

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is one of the most important education and research institutions in the Low Countries. On a daily basis, over 9,000 staff members and 41,000 students implement its motto "Dare to Think". Ghent University's mission statement is characterized by qualitative education, internationally renowned research and a pluralistic social responsibility. As part of its further scientific development, Ghent University plans to recruit in the Faculty of Sciences or in the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture:

1 full-time Assistant Professor (docent, Tenure Track), Associate Professor (hoofddocent) or Full Professor (hoogleraar) in the field of Computational Biopharmaceutical Design.

This position is part of a unique strategic investment by Ghent University: 21 new professorships are embedded in interdisciplinary consortia, designed to generate a significant societal impact with their research. For more information, see: http://www.ugent.be/21zap

The position is part of Ghent University’s strategic plan to group and strengthen its biopharmaceutical research into an R&D hub as a European integrated center of excellence for biopharmaceutical R&D and training. To this end Ghent University invests in the recruitment of 3 full-time research professors in the fields of Biopharmaceuticals in the lung/gut; Biopharmaceutical Production Technology; Computational Biopharmaceutical Design. It is the intention that the new research professors will intensely interact with Ghent University’s strong molecular life sciences and pharmaceuticals research community on the design and production of protein-based drugs.

ASSIGNMENT

Academic education:

This cross-faculty professorship will involve teaching responsibilities to support Ghent University’s programmes in life sciences, pharmaceutical sciences and/or engineering and leadership will be expected in designing new advanced educational programs in biopharmaceutical science.

Academic Research:

Candidates should set up research focused on bringing advances in macromolecular computational modelling to bear on improved design of biopharmaceutical proteins. Candidates should have an in-depth knowledge on advanced (bio)molecular modelling techniques for proteins and have a clear vision and strategy on how to use and extend these methods for the design of biopharmaceuticals under investigation within the Ghent University R&D biopharmaceutical hub.

The computation-based research skills of the new research professor should fit several of the following topics:

• design of protein drugs;
• molecular modelling of the interaction between macromolecules;
• modelling of the dynamics and interaction phenomena of proteins with their environment;
• modelling the phenomena of protein complex formation, protein aggregation, docking and misfolding;
• understanding the biophysics of the interface between (nano)materials, cells and tissues;
• free energy methods for complex (bio)molecular systems.

Academic services:

You take part in the internal and external service provision of the academic centers to which you will be affiliated. In particular, scientific-technological service and consulting to the local and international biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industry is intended.

PROFILE

Experience

• You have already conducted eminent academic research in the given discipline, which is clearly reflected in publications in high-quality academic journals and peer-reviewed books;
• You are capable of initiating, supervising and acquiring the necessary funding for academic research;
• You are didactically skilled to teach university students to develop academic competences;
• Recommended are:
• International mobility, among other things thanks to research stays at institutions external to the one where you acquired your highest academic degree;
• Positively evaluated experience in provided or organised academic lecturing;
• A good professional network in both academia and biotechnological/biopharmaceutical industry.

Admission requirements

• You hold a thesis-based doctorate in a discipline directly related to the field of Computational Biopharmaceutical Design or a certificate that is recognised as equivalent (article V.20 Codex Higher Education).
• Upon evaluation of a foreign (non-EU) diploma, a certificate of equivalence may still have to be requested at NARIC. If this is the case, we advise you to initiate this recognition procedure as soon as possible. You are required to have the recognition no later than on the date of your appointment.
• You have at least two years of postdoctoral experience on February 1st, 2021 (this term of two years is determined by the date written on the above-mentioned required diploma), and you preferably are in a (junior) professorship or industrial/academic group leader position at the time of applying.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Depending on the specific profile of the selected candidate, the degree of assistant professor (tenure track), associate professor or full professor is awarded. This will be decided by the University Board as proposed by the Faculty Board.

The degree of assistant professor is awarded by a temporary appointment 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 another university or research institution, you can immediately be appointed as an assistant professor, without prejudice to the possibility of a temporary appointment offered in article V.28 of the Codex of Higher Education.

In case the degree of associate professor or full professor is awarded we offer you a permanent appointment, without prejudice to the possibility of a temporary appointment offered in article V.28 of the Codex of Higher Education.

The recruitment is possible no sooner than February 1st, 2021.

OUR OFFER

Apart from the embedding in and use of the existing excellent research facilities of the UGent Centers that are involved in this recruitment, Ghent University reserves a Starting Grant of € 210.000 in its Special Research Fund for each of the newly appointed professors under the strategic “21ZAP” scheme, equaling the value of 1 PhD student for 4 years.

The career and evaluation policy for Professorial Staff is based on talent development and growth, prioritizing vision development and strategy - at the personal as well as the group level. At UGent we focus on career support and coaching of the Professorial Staff in the different phases of the career. More information can be found on http://www.ugent.be/en/work/mobility-career/career-aspects/professorial-staff.

Ghent University is committed to properly welcoming new professorial staff members and offering them appropriate guidance. The basic teacher training and courses of 'Dutch' and 'English' for foreign-speaking lecturers are only a few examples of our wide range of training and education opportunities. Furthermore, each Ghent University staff member can count on a number of benefits such as hospitalization insurance, reimbursement of public transport commuting costs, daycare, a bike allowance, a wide range of sports facilities and EcoCheques. A complete overview of all our employee benefits can be found here: https://www.ugent.be/nl/vacatures/personeelsvoordelen.htm (in Dutch).

Ghent University also invests in welcoming international professorial staff. It offers various housing options, a relocation bonus, the International School for school-aged children (with a discount on the tuition fee), support when registering at the City of Ghent, support with the procedure of family reunification and other administrative matters in connection with moving to Ghent. More information can be found on http://www.ugent.be/en/living.

The successful candidate will be embedded within the Center for Molecular Modeling (http://molmod.ugent.be; Faculty of Engineering and Architecture and Faculty of Sciences) and will be supported by the Center for Medical Biotechnology (http://mbc.vib-ugent.be/; Faculty of Sciences) and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences (https://www.ugent.be/fw/pharmaceutics/en).

GENDER AND DIVERSITY

Ghent University conducts an equal opportunities policy and encourages everyone to apply. Ghent University also strives for a gender balance. Female applications are thus especially welcomed.

SELECTION PROCEDURE & HOW TO APPLY

All details on the selection and application procedure can be found through the application website (deadline 01/09/2020):

https://career012.successfactors.eu/career?career%5fns=job%5flisting&company=C0000956575P&navBarLevel=JOB%5fSEARCH&rcm%5fsite%5flocale=en%5fGB&site=VjItR2U0ZmpQVjVzUDcwUnBWUG54ZmgyZz09&career_job_req_id=11924&selected_lang=en_GB&jobAlertController_jobAlertId=&jobAlertController_jobAlertName=&_s.crb=okkp4ktKA4y0K69k2FjSs7wBM%2fce8fRoy7cNnYITwRE%3d

MORE INFORMATION

More information on the strategic embedding of this vacancy can be found at

https://www.ugent.be/en/research/research-strategy/21zap.htm;

https://www.ugent.be/en/research/research-strategy/21zap-summaries/zap-biopharma.pdf/at_download/file

More information on this vacancy can be obtained from

Professor Veronique Van Speybroeck; [email protected] at the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Center for Molecular Modelling (http://molmod.ugent.be)

Professor Nico Callewaert; [email protected] at the Faculty of Sciences, Center for Medical Biotechnology (http://mbc.vib-ugent.be/)

Professor Stefaan De Smedt; [email protected] at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lab. General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy (https://www.ugent.be/fw/pharmaceutics/en)