Reference : 2027/A024
Application deadline: 04/01/2027 12:00 PM
Start date: 01/10/2027
Job description
Context of the vacant position
This position is integrated within the Department of Organismal Biology (DBO), which is responsible for the Bachelor's programme in Biological Sciences and the Master's programme in Organismal Biology and Ecology. In terms of research, the DBO includes eight research units located across three campuses (Solbosch, Plaine and Gosselies):
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology (EBE), Solbosch Campus, 8 professors
- Marine Biology (BIOMAR), Solbosch Campus, 1 professor
- Molecular Biology and Evolution (MBE), Solbosch Campus, 1 professor
- Plant Biotechnology (LBV), Gosselies Campus, 1 professor
- Plant Ecology and Biogeochemistry (EVB), Plaine Campus, 3 professors
- Social Ecology (USE), Plaine Campus, 2 professors
- Systems Ecology and Resource Management (SERM), Plaine Campus, 2 professors
- ULB Herbarium (BRLU), jointly managed by staff from EVB, EBE and SERM, Plaine Campus
The Department also includes approximately fifty researchers and nine laboratory technicians.
Animal behaviour research has been a historic strength of the DBO for more than 50 years.
Area of Research
Behavioural Ecology
In particular (non-exhaustive list):
- Chemical and sensory ecology (perception, communication, signalling)
- Behavioural evolution
- Sexual selection and reproductive strategies
- Social behaviour and cooperation
- Conflict, dominance and social hierarchies
- Behavioural genetics
- Interspecific interactions
- Behavioural plasticity and adaptive strategies
- Responses to stress and environmental change
- Conservation behavioural ecology
- Behavioural modelling and theoretical approaches
An interdisciplinary dimension will be considered an asset.
Duties
Research
- Develop an original and competitive research programme in behavioural ecology.
- Publish regularly in international peer-reviewed scientific journals.
- Obtain national and international research funding.
- Supervise PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.
- Participate in interdisciplinary collaborations both within and outside the university.
Teaching
- Contribute to teaching within the Organismal Biology and Ecology curriculum, including in courses devoted to animal behaviour.
- Contribute to teaching at both undergraduate (bachelor's) and graduate (master's) levels.
- Supervise master's theses.
- Contribute to educational innovation and to the supervision of practical and field-based courses.
Service to the Community
- Participate in the administrative and collective activities of the Department and Faculty.
- Contribute to the university's scientific outreach and visibility (seminars, conferences, science communication).
Long-term planning of these activities (over at least 10 years) is expected.
Courses Included in the Teaching Load at the Time of Recruitment
Bachelor Level
- BIOL-F-103: BIOL-F103: Bases de la biologie des organismes (10 ECTS; contribution to lectures: 15h).
Timeline: from academic year 2027-2028.
- BIOL-F-304: Evolution et diversité des arthropodes et des vertébrés (5 ECTS; contribution to lectures: 24h).
Timeline: from academic year 2028-2029.
Master Level
- BIOL-F-446: Animal Behaviour (15 ECTS; contribution to lectures: 30h).
Timeline: gradually during the first three years.
- BIOL-F-449: Biodiversity and Conservation - Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems (15 ECTS; contribution to field excursions: 40h).
Timeline: gradually during the first three years.
- New master's course in the candidate's area of expertise.
Timeline: from academic year 2029-2030.
This teaching load may evolve with the needs of the Department.
Qualifications required
PhD in Biological Sciences in the broadest sense (including biology, bioengineering, biosciences, agronomy, life sciences and earth sciences).
Skills required
- A minimum of four years of scientific seniority at the time of appointment.
- Postdoctoral experience, mobility outside the institution where the PhD was obtained, and an excellent scientific record will be essential selection criteria.
- International research experience will be considered an asset.
- Ability to teach in French.
- Strong organisational and leadership skills, adaptability and flexibility, ease of interaction in a multicultural environment, autonomy, ability to work collaboratively, and initiative.
Interested?
Further information may be obtained from:
Prof. Jean-Christophe de Biseau
E-mail: jean.biseau@ulb.be
or
Ms Catherine Buess
E-mail: secrdbo@ulb.be
Your application will consist of a Curriculum Vitae (if you wish, a standard CV can be downloaded from the website: https: //www.ulb.be/fr/documents-officiels/emplois-academiques-et-scientifiques-cv-type) and a document completed using the template available at this URL address
https://www.ulb.be/fr/documents-officiels/1e-applic-form-acad-tps-plein-docx.
This template structures the application around the following components:
- An application letter.
- A research document of approximately 7,000 characters (or 4 pages), including a report of previous research activities and a research project, and including the proposed integration within ULB research teams.
- A teaching document of approximately 7,000 characters (or 4 pages), including a report of previous teaching activities and a teaching project for the first five years of the mandate, coherently integrated into the vision of the host entity and the educational profiles of the programmes to which the candidate will contribute.
- A statement on international achievements and projects (maximum 4 pages).
- Names and e-mail addresses of five referees who may be contacted by the committees responsible for evaluating applications, with attention paid to gender balance. These referees must not be in a conflict of interest due to family or personal relationships.
Incomplete applications, or applications not using the provided template, will not be considered by the selection committee.
The appointment to the academic staff of ULB is made at ”Chargé de Cours” level. As of their appointment, members of academic staff are authorised to use the honorary title of ”Professeur”.
Where to go to apply?
Click here: https://jobs.ulb.be/job-invite/2090/?isInternalUser=true
For any connection problems or questions about our application, consult our FAQ : https://www.ulb.be/medias/fichier/e-recrut-mode-d-emploi-candidat-en-_1734942996246-pdf
N.B.: SAP complies with European and U.S. regulations and, as a result, does not allow access to its application from the following countries/regions: Crimea, Sevastopol, the Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) / Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR), areas not controlled by the Ukrainian government in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Russia, and Belarus.
Therefore, candidates applying from these countries – and only from these countries – can submit their CV and application to this address: rectrice@ulb.be
Equal opportunities policy
ULB's personnel management policy is geared towards diversity and equal opportunities.
We recruit candidates on the basis of their skills, irrespective of age, gender, sexual orientation, origin, nationality, beliefs, disability, etc.
Would you like to be provided with reasonable accommodation in the selection procedure because of a disability, disorder, or illness? Please contact Marie Botty, the person in charge of diversity aspects for the academic and scientific staff (marie.botty@ulb.be). Be assured of the confidentiality of this information.
More details on the ULB gender and diversity policy are available at https://www.ulb.be/en/ulb-gets-involved/diversity.
You will find all the regulations relating to academic careers on our site at http://www.ulb.ac.be/emploi/academique.html.
