doctor-assistant in Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy: advanced integrative physiology during exercise in individuals with chronic internal diseases

The faculty consists of professionals with diverse backgrounds, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, health psychology, movement sciences, biomedical sciences, biology, engineering, medicine, and others. Quality, professionalism, co-creation, international collaboration, and a civic mindset are highly valued.
The faculty organizes a 3-year academic bachelor and 2-year academic master program in Rehabilitation Sciences & Physiotherapy. This program educates students through self-guided activated learning methods within a competence‑orientated model (CanMED). The faculty participates in the interuniversity master’s program for Occupational Sciences and the master’s program for Education in Health Sciences.
REVAL is an interdisciplinary research group performing research in the domain of pediatric, neurological, and musculoskeletal rehabilitation, biomechanics, health psychology, and rehabilitation of internal disorders.
PhD students are educated in rehabilitation sciences (and physiotherapy), and occupational sciences, within the doctoral school of Health & Life Sciences. REVAL strives to perform innovative, person-centered, interdisciplinary, and technology-based research for the detection, prevention and rehabilitation of limitations in the functioning of individuals of all ages.
In a "civic university" perspective, the RELAB platform facilitates the provision of evidence-based services to the community, persons with disabilities, health care professionals and centers as well as companies.
The faculty organizes interdisciplinary evidence-based courses for healthcare professionals in the REVAL ACADEMY program.

This vacancy focuses on advanced integrative physiology (during exercise) with specialization in (the rehabilitation of) internal disorders.
Integrative physiology is devoted to encompassing the broader aspects of physiology that include the integration of mechanisms and regulatory functions at all biological levels, ranging from molecular, cellular, tissue, and organ level to clinical studies.
This vacancy seeks a strong academic profile that focuses on the function of internal organs (heart, lungs, pulmonary/peripheral circulation, and skeletal muscle) and/or internal systems (endocrine system, immune system), clearly in light of exercise-based rehabilitation (in which a link to patients with chronic internal diseases is important).
You will perform teaching activities in the bachelor and master program of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, with the main emphasis on integrative physiology (during exercise) in internal systems/organs and pathologies, with relation to exercise-based rehabilitation. You will work with innovative pedagogical concepts (including blended education) that adhere to the vision of the educational program. You will collaborate in educational concepts which focus on competencies within the CanMED model, including clinical and scientific competencies and interdisciplinary collaboration. You will work in a team and will lead a group of teaching assistants.
Research mission

Research task
You will perform research in the field of advanced integrative physiology during exercise in persons with chronic internal diseases (e.g. cardiovascular and metabolic disease, COPD, cancer), in relation to exercise-based rehabilitation, according to the strategic vision of the research group REVAL. This can encompass (a combination of) ergospirometry, lung function testing, (exercise) echocardiography, muscle NIRS, vascular function assessments, etc.
You are able to connect with the PI’s (Dominique Hansen, Chris Burtin, Kenneth Verboven) that conduct research in the rehabilitation of persons with COPD, heart failure, lung  cancer, coronary artery disease, metabolic diseases, by offering in-depth analyses of organ/system functions during exercise and thus the contributing mechanisms of the clinical effects of exercise.
You will also be able to connect with PI’s in the other REVAL clusters or faculties of Hasselt University.
You will develop and supervise research projects focused on this topic and contribute to projects of different partners  and disciplines.
You will perform research and public services in a regional and international network.
You will apply for external research funds or grants for the financing of researchers and infrastructural needs.
You will lead a group of junior investigators. 

Community services
You will perform community services within the context of the faculty and conform to your academic degree. For example alumni activities, or a mandate in the educational, research, or internationalization policy. You are considering serving activities in the region, on the basis of your specific expertise or in the field of professional or governing organizations in rehabilitation.

• You have a PhD in rehabilitation sciences and physiotherapy, human movement sciences, medical sciences, (bio)medical sciences, biology (or equivalent), or you will obtain it within 6 months after this vacancy's application deadline.
• You take the initiative to participate in community service duties that contribute to the outreach of your own research and teaching.
• You have a strong academic output in the above academic domain. You made a noticeable contribution to a large number of A1 publications, which are mostly published in Q1 (upper quartile, based on Web of Science) journals within its specific scientific domain as explained above. This includes first and last author positions and an adequate H-index.
• You have a broad (inter)national network, which can be indicated by, for example, publications, involvement in consortia, and/or committees. You are attentive to international mobility and interactions.
• You have strong teaching skills which contribute to the quality of the educational program. You preferably have teaching experience in the specific domain and at a university level.
• You have demonstrable insight and experience in the relation between the physiology of internal organs or systems, physical functioning, and exercise-based rehabilitation. You have strong experience in education and research at a university level.
• You have excellent communication and organizational skills.
• You are a team player and you have a cooperative attitude to contribute to the tasks of the faculty and to work together in an interdisciplinary context and with external partners.
• Academic staff must meet the statutory language requirements for knowledge of the language of instruction (Dutch). If necessary, Hasselt University offers concrete, tailored support measures to help achieve the required language level.