Professor Electrical engineering: Electromagnetic risk management for…

Updated: about 1 year ago
Deadline: 13 Mar 2023

Professor Electrical engineering: Electromagnetic risk management for dependable interconnected mechatronic systems (ref. ZAP-2022-5)

Last modification : Tuesday, November 15, 2022

There is a vacancy for a full-time academic position in the Department of Electrical Engineering of the KU Leuven in the field of “electromagnetic risk management”. The vacancy is targeted towards dependability of wired and wireless communication between mechatronic systems performing highly critical tasks and being submitted to electromagnetic disturbances. Applications include, but are not limited to, machinery, automotive, and healthcare. The vacant position is located at Bruges Campus, which is part of the Faculty of Engineering Technology of the Science, Engineering and Technology Group at KU Leuven. The research activities will be embedded in the co-located Mechatronics Group (M-Group). We are looking for internationally oriented candidates with an excellent research record and with good teaching competence in analog and digital electronics.

Research activities of the M-Group focus on the design, development and validation of dependable interconnected mechatronic systems, with dependability being defined as the ability of a system to provide its services in a way that can defensibly be trusted. The M-Group has professors from the Departments of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Computer Science, and operates in a truly interdisciplinary environment. Current research lines include electromagnetic compatibility, dependability assurance of mission- and safety-critical systems, fault-tolerant and fail-operational hardware and software, software testing, distributed embedded sensors and sensor networks, hydrogen energy systems, and artificial intelligence.

The M-Group can build upon a solid research infrastructure, an extensive both national and international network, and connections with companies and non-profit organisations in Belgium and abroad. At the Bruges Campus, the M-Group recently invested in two major innovation labs, respectively “The Industry 4.0 Machine as Cyber-Physical System” and “The Ultimate Factory”. The first includes a fully equipped EMC laboratory comprising a 3m semi-anechoic chamber and a double reverberation room. The M-Group is involved in many regional, national and international research projects and it is strongly connected to the technology transfer services of the university. This is realized in cooperation with Flemish as well as European and worldwide research institutes for technology transfer.

More information can be found on: https://iiw.kuleuven.be/brugge/m-group

Within the Department of Electrical Engineering, the research is linked to the activities of the WaveCore research division. WaveCore focuses on all aspects of electromagnetic waves, and its research and innovation activities include modeling, measurements, analyses, prototype building, demonstration of solutions, and technology services, in addition to fundamental theoretical aspects. WaveCoRE performs both fundamental and applied research, driven by questions from industrial partners, resulting in innovative components, circuits and (sub)systems to generate, manipulate and measure electromagnetic waves. The research domain reflects in a lot of day-to-day applications, including new telecom (5G, 6G, etc.) and localization systems, microwaves for nano- and light technology, connected autonomous systems, electromagnetic compatibility, and bio-electromagnetism. Website unit Duties Research You will develop a research programme at an international level in the area of electromagnetic risk management for dependable mechatronic systems. Possible research topics include, amongst others, electromagnetic resilience of wired and wireless communications and risk-based EMC focused on the Radio Equipment Directive. You are invited to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the innovation labs “The Industry 4.0 Machine as Cyber-Physical System” and "The Ultimate Factory”.

As an expert in your domain, you strengthen existing research lines and provide complementary expertise. You are prepared to align your research with ongoing research programmes at the M-Group, Bruges Campus.

You further expand the research facilities at KU Leuven Bruges Campus to comply with the planned research topics.

You engage in targeted scientific research, resulting in PhDs and publications that meet international standards and lead to broad international recognition.

You support or initiate a network of companies through the valorisation of research results and by delivering industrial services, aimed at strengthening industrial innovation.

As part of your research programme, you develop international partnerships, within the academic world as well as with industrial partners.

You acquire competitive funding, both project-based government funding as well as industrial funding.

You devote attention to the valorisation tracks and technology transfer and application of the results of your research in industry, government, and society. Education You ensure high-quality education within the programmes of the Faculty of Engineering Technology at the Bruges Campus. These academic programmes are aimed at educating engineers with a strong focus on industry-ready technological development.

Your teaching activities take place mainly within the programme of electronics and ICT. All professors are expected to teach a few basic undergraduate courses. They are determined in mutual consultation and based on your specific profile. During the first years of your appointment the amount of teaching activities will be limited. The Faculty of Engineering Technology values a good balance between research and teaching duties.

You contribute to the faculty’s and the university’s pedagogical project through the supervision of student projects (for example bachelor’s and master’s theses) and by acting as a promotor of PhD students.

You develop teaching in accordance with KU Leuven’s vision on activating and researched-based education and make use of the possibilities for the educational professionalization offered by the faculty and the university.

In addition to your teaching duties at the Bruges Campus, you may be asked, within the multi-campus model, to take up a limited teaching duty at another campus of the Faculty of Engineering Technology, in particular the Ghent Technology Campus. Service You are prepared to provide scientific, social and internal services.

You are willing to perform applied research projects in collaboration with industry and government and to establish a network of industrial partners.

You are actively involved in promoting the Faculty of Engineering Technology to future students and participate in information and public relations activities of the faculty.

Besides emphasizing on internationally renowned research, the M-Group’s EMC laboratory has built up a strong reputation within the field of industrial innovation. Collaboration with industrial partners focusses on pre-compliance testing (EMC Directive, Radio Equipment Directive) and innovation support through industry-focused applied research projects.

You are willing to help develop the M-Group EMC laboratory and improve its quality. This offers you the opportunity to strengthen your industrial network by maintaining close contacts with local industry, the scientific community and standardisation bodies. Profile You have a PhD in Electrical Engineering, or a similarly qualified degree, and have a strong interest in the research field of electromagnetic risk management. Industrial experience or an extended network in the relevant industrial sector is an important advantage. A strong record with collaborations with industry is a plus.

You have a strong (applied) research profile. The quality of your research is evidenced by publications in leading international journals, books and proceedings of international conferences. Successful project applications and valorisation in cooperation with industry is a benefit. International experience is an important advantage.

You have demonstrable qualities related to academic education. Teaching experience is an advantage.

You possess organisational skills and have a cooperative attitude. You also possess leadership capacities within a university context.

Proficiency in English is required. Though, KU Leuven provides courses in academic English if such appears necessary.

The official language used at KU Leuven is Dutch. If you do not speak Dutch (or do not speak it well) at the start of employment, KU Leuven will provide language training to enable you to take part in meetings.

Before teaching courses in Dutch or English, you will be given the opportunity to learn Dutch, respectively English, to the required standard. Offer We are offering full-time employment in an intellectually challenging environment. KU Leuven is a research-intensive, internationally oriented university that performs fundamental and applied scientific research. It is highly inter- and multi-disciplinarily focused and strives for international excellence. In this regard, it actively cooperates with research partners in Belgium and abroad. It provides its students with an academic education that is based on high-quality scientific research.

You will work at the KU Leuven Bruges Campus, in a historic city with a seaport and modern industrial activities. Bruges has a 70 minute railway connection to Brussels, capital of the European Union, and about three hours to Paris, London and Amsterdam.

Depending on your record and qualifications, you will be appointed to or tenured in one of the grades of the senior academic staff: assistant professor, associate professor, professor or full professor. In principle, junior researchers are appointed as assistant professor on the tenure track for a period of 5 years; after this period and a positive evaluation, they are permanently appointed (or tenured) as an associate professor.

KU Leuven is well set to welcome foreign professors and their family and provides practical support with regard to immigration & administration, housing, childcare, learning Dutch, partner career coaching, …

To facilitate scientific onboarding and accelerate research in the first phase a starting grant of 100.000 euro is offered to new professors without substantial other funding, appointed for at least 50%.

Interested? For more information on the contents of the job, please contact:

  • Prof. dr. ir. Georges Gielen, departmental chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT) ([email protected] , +32 16 32 40 76) or
  • Prof. Dr. Pieter Rauwoens, campus chair of KU Leuven Bruges Campus ([email protected] , tel.: +32 50 66 48 33)

You can submit your application, only through our online application system. If you have problems submitting your application online, please send an email to [email protected] .

Add to your application following documents in English (more information is available on the KU Leuven job site):

  • your biosketch in which you indicate your added value as an academic for research, education and service to society of your past career and of your future activities (maximum 2 pages);
  • a file on your five most important publications or realizations;
  • an extensive cv including a full publication list and if applicable a portfolio of your architectural projects;
  • your research plan with focus on the development of your research line and research team in relation with the colleague-researchers of the entity of employment (maximum 4 pages);
  • your vision on academic education and its organization (maximum 2 pages);
  • your contribution to society by outreach and public communication on science and technology, internal representation in boards and councils and service activities directly in relation to your developed expertise (maximum 1 page);
  • your vision on leadership (maximum 1 page).

KU Leuven is committed to creating a diverse environment and is therefore an equal opportunity employer. It explicitly encourages candidates from groups that are currently underrepresented at the university to submit their applications.

KU Leuven places great importance on research integrity and ethical conduct and will therefore ask you to sign an integrity statement upon appointment. You can apply for this job no later than February 07, 2023 via the online application tool KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us at [email protected] .



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