Professor in 'Energy performance of sustainable buildings'

Professor in 'Energy performance of sustainable buildings'

Category: Academic Staff & Researchers

1 - Working at the VUB

For already 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and connectedness. These values are strongly present on our campuses, in our students as well as our staff. At the VUB, you'll find a diverse collection of personalities: pure innovators and especially people who are 100% their authentic selves. With about 3.500 employees , we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer in Brussels , an international city with which we are all too happy to be connected, and around which our four campuses are located.

Our education and research are grounded in the principles of free research with an eye on human progress. We disapprove of every purely authoritative argument and guarantee the free formation of judgement that is necessary for this basic principle to be incorporated in the community.

The VUB is autonomous and managed democratically. As such, we guarantee fundamental freedoms within our university, as well as the right of the university community to be involved in making and checking university policy.

The mission of the university includes:

the development, the transfer and the application of high-standing academic education and scientific research, free from any prejudice;

community integration of this in a spirit of social compassion;

critical development of everyone in light of the responsibilities borne in the community.

2 - Position description

The Faculty of Engineering , Department of Architectural Engineering , is looking for a part-time professor.

More concretely your work package contains:

Education and Research domain:

Energy performance modelling and dimensioning for design of sustainable buildings with a healthy and comfortable indoor climate.

Education tasks:

You will develop the courses focused on energy performance of sustainable buildings for the Master of Science in Architectural Engineering (in English) and coordinate this track in the Curriculum Council.

Your courses cover the balancing of energy and mass flows at building, zone and component level to achieve sustainable buildings with high energy performance and a healthy and comfortable indoor climate.

Passive design measures as well as modelling and dimensioning of (active) heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems are taught. In the current curriculum, these topics are integrated in the two courses 'Energy Performance of Buildings (6 credits)' and 'Low Energy Design for Sustainable Buildings (4 credits)'.

You will propose and supervise master's thesis projects in this field. As part of integrated teaching, you may support architectural design studios.

Research tasks:

You will conduct research in the field of energy performance of sustainable buildings.

You will approach energy performance from a comprehensive framework that includes comfort, health and sustainability requirements. Technical systems (heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting) are addressed and you follow a design approach to achieve high energy performance.

You collaborate with VUB Architectural Engineering researchers to support topics such as "life-cycle design and circularity", "assessment of built heritage", "construction history", "informed design" or "parametric modelling" (more see https: // www. vub.be/arch/projects).

You will strengthen the international and scientific position of the research group by supervising PhD students and research programmes and acquiring research funds at regional, national and international level.

Other tasks:

You promote the further development and proper functioning of the department and the programme.

We expect you to actively contribute to the 'public relations' of the department, faculty and university (e.g. student recruitment, study information days, science popularisation, etc.).

For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base.

3 - Profile

What do we expect from you?

You have a master's degree and a PhD in a field relevant to the position, such as (but not limited to) engineering sciences: architecture.

You can demonstrate research experience in the field of energy performance of sustainable buildings through scientific publications.

Experience in designing, modelling, evaluating/assessing and optimising energy performance of sustainable buildings is required.

You are active in national and international networks.

You have experience in acquiring external research funding is recommended.

You can manage projects, work in teams and take leadership.

You have pedagogical skills to deliver high-quality academic teaching in English.

Teaching experience is recommended.

You are fluent in Dutch and English.

You subscribe to the university's vision of education. The full text in relation to this is available on the university website.

Every first appointment is dependent upon the successful delivery of a teaching session.

Language regulations:

A member of the academic staff who is entrusted with a teaching assignment must also be able to demonstrate that the language of instruction is known at ERK level C1 through a qualification certificate or through an adequate diploma. The VUB also provides courses in, for example, academic English.

The administrative language of the VUB is Dutch. In case of insufficient knowledge of Dutch, the VUB will provide an integration course. After a maximum of five years, a member of the academic staff must demonstrate adequate knowledge of the administrative language (ERK level B2).

For a complete overview, please consult the complete language regulations on https: // jobs.vub.be/content/Regulations-concerning-language-proficiency/.

Certificates demonstrating knowledge of the language can already be added to the application.

4 - Offer

Are you going to be our new colleague?

You'll be offered an appointment as professor , for an assignment of 0.3 FTE , for 3 years (renewable, on condition of the positive evaluation of the activities), with planned starting date 01/10/2023.

You'll receive a salary linked to one of the scales set by the government.

At the VUB, you're guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.

As well as this, you'll enjoy various benefits:

Full reimbursement for your home-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, or compensation if you come by bike;

Cost-free hospitalisation insurance ;

The space to form your job content and continuously learn via VUB LRN;

Excellent facilities for sport and exercise ;

Ecocheques ;

Delicious meals at attractive prices in our campus restaurants ;

An open, family-friendly work environment where attention is paid to work- life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract).

5 - Interested?

Is this the job you've been dreaming of?

Send us ONLINE and at the latest on 13/04/2023 :

your motivation letter, including your vision on education and research, and an explanation about the development of your future research;

your curriculum vitae, including you academic dossier;

your degrees and diplomas (not applicable for VUB alumni) and language certificates.

Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Ine Wouters at [email protected] or on 026293796.

Would you like to know what it's like to work at the VUB? Go to www. vub.ac.be/vacatures and find all there is to know about our campuses, benefits, strategic goals and your future colleagues.