Professor Mechanical Engineering: Dimensional Metrology

KU Leuven has a vacancy for a full-time (junior or senior) professor in the domain of dimensional metrology. We are looking for internationally oriented candidates with an excellent research track record, a strong orientation towards collaboration with industry, and educational excellence in the field of dimensional metrology and manufacturing technology.

The successful candidate will be leading the Manufacturing Metrology group within the research Department of Mechanical Engineering. The department is involved in a large number of national and international research projects (https://mech.kuleuven.be/en/research/ ). It is moreover very successful in valorisation activities, including the creation of spin-off companies (e.g. Nikon Metrology, Materialise, 3DSystems-LayerWise, Siemens Industry Software). Manufacturing is one of the focus domains of the department.

The new professor will also become a member of the educational Faculty of Engineering Technology that offers academic yet implementation-oriented engineering programs at seven campuses across Flanders. Main teaching duties will be situated at Group T Leuven Campus (https://www.kuleuven.be/grouptcampus ), an international and entrepreneurial engineering campus in Leuven city centre. Each year more than 2200 students enrol at the campus in Bachelor and Master in Engineering Technology programs that are offered in both English and Dutch.

The faculty, department and campus can build upon solid research and educational infrastructure, extensive regional, national and international networks, and connections with companies and non-profit organisations in Belgium and abroad.

DUTIES

Research

Modern manufacturing involves the production of products with increased complexity at ever tighter tolerances and with targeted surface textures. This presents increasing challenges on the development and improvement of new metrology concepts that allow robust, traceable measurements and quality control. Examples of such measurement challenges comprise complex internal structures made by additive manufacturing, and micro-features with tolerances in the nanometer-range. Moreover, the need for increased productivity calls for high measuring speeds as well as portable and traceable in-process metrology. Data processing may involve the processing of big data amounts and may require the application of AI principles. 

You will therefore develop a research program at an international level in the field of dimensional metrology. Your research will focus on dimensional and surface metrology of complex parts using advanced and multi-sensor systems (e.g. tactile, optical, and/or X-ray CT), making use of the well-equipped manufacturing metrology lab of KU Leuven (https://www.mech.kuleuven.be/en/research/mm/services ). Your research will moreover address traceable in-process measurements that allow real-time monitoring of dimensional and/or surface quality during manufacturing operations in an industry 4.0 context.

You engage in targeted scientific research, resulting in PhD’s and publications that meet international standards and lead to broad international recognition, and support the development of a network of (international) academic as well as industrial organisations, a.o. through the valorisation of research results and by delivering industrial services, aimed at strengthening industrial innovation.

Education

You provide high-quality education in the Bachelor and Master programs of the KU Leuven Faculty of Engineering Technology, with a clear commitment to the quality of the program as a whole. You also contribute to the pedagogical project of the faculty/university through the supervision of master's theses and as supervisor of PhD candidates.

Your initial teaching duties will concern dimensional metrology courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels at different campuses. You have an outspoken interest in next-generation engineering education and are willing to evolve throughout your career towards substantial educational engagements in the field of metrology and manufacturing technology.

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

Service

You are prepared to provide scientific, social and internal services in function of the needs and personal interests.

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.

PROFILE

You have a PhD in a relevant discipline.

You have a combined teaching and research profile. The quality of your research is evidenced by publications in leading international journals, books and proceedings of international conferences. You have demonstrable qualities related to academic education. International experience is an important advantage.

Industrial experience, an extensive network in the relevant industrial sector and/or a strong track record of collaborations with industry are a plus.

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

Proficiency in English is required. 

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 offer a full-time employment in an intellectually challenging environment. 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 a research-intensive, internationally oriented university that carries out both fundamental and applied scientific research. Our university is highly focused on interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research and strives for international excellence. In this regard, the university actively works together with research partners in Belgium and abroad and provides its students with an academic education that is based on high-quality scientific research. Recently, KU Leuven has been selected as one of the 10 most innovative universities in the world.

You have at your disposal a fully equipped metrology lab for dimensional and surface measurements, comprising tactile, optical devices and X-ray CT devices.

You will work in Leuven, a historic, dynamic and lively city, located in the heart of Belgium, within 30 minutes of Brussels, the capital of the European Union and less than two hours from Paris, London and Amsterdam.

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. Wim Dewulf, chair of Group T Leuven campus ([email protected] , tel. +32 16 37 28 81) or
• Prof. Dr. Ir. David Moens, vice-chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering ([email protected] , tel. +32 16 37 28 79)

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 realisations;
• an extensive cv including a full publication list;
• 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 organisation (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 places great importance on research integrity and ethical conduct and will therefore ask you to sign an integrity statement upon appointment.

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.

You can apply for this job no later than August 16, 2022 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] .