Professor in Pharmacokinetics: Translational Modeling and Simulation
Ghent University is one of the top 100 universities in the Dutch language area, with more than 44,000 students and 15,000 staff members.
Ghent University is a world‑class, open, pluralistic and socially engaged university. Our credo is “Dare to Think”: we are a haven for courageous thinkers.
With one of the most progressive career models for academics in the world, Ghent University evaluates its scholars not only by the length of their publication list but also by the impact they pursue, what they achieve and how they collaborate.
Are you a good ‘fit’ with our university? Discover here our vision on education and research.
The position, funded by the Special Research Fund, is granted the privilege of focusing primarily on research for a period of 5 years. During that period the teaching load will be limited to no more than 8 ECTS credits per semester on average over a period of 3 years.
For the further development of the academic career, please see “Appointment information” below.
You will be part of the Bioanalysis department in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. The Laboratory for Medical Biochemistry and Clinical Analysis, to which the new ZAP member will belong, conducts scientific research (and provides education and contracting services) in the fields of pharmacokinetics (with a focus on modelling and simulation, PBPK, PopPK) and clinical and pharmaceutical bioanalysis (using LC‑MS/MS, as (in vitro) support for pharmacokinetic projects). The pharmacokinetics part is currently covered by a visiting lecturer (research and teaching). In this position, you will replace this visiting lecturer and further develop and consolidate the pharmacokinetic research and modelling and simulation expertise within the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. You are open to scientific research covering the entire life cycle of medicines, from fundamental preclinical research to proper use in practice (translational). Your research will focus on fundamental innovative research based on pharmacokinetic modelling and parameter generation using (in vitro) techniques and the translation to the clinical domain. You will link your expertise to high‑quality research‑based education for the pharmacists and medicine experts of the future.
Academic research
You will develop innovative and internationally recognised research in the field of model‑based pharmacokinetics, with a focus on fundamental innovative research based on pharmacokinetic modelling, parameter generation based on (in vitro) techniques where necessary, and translational aspects between the laboratory and practice. The mandate complements the research within the department, which focuses on both the medicine as a product (the quantification and characterization of medicines, drugs and toxic substances in the human body) and the medicine‑human interaction (pharmacokinetics, the proper use of medicines, both at population and patient level). Computational techniques (modelling and simulation, epidemiological‑statistical processing, etc.) are gaining ground in this context. As a researcher, you will innovate within the research group in terms of data generation, data analysis and (clinical) areas of application.
Academic education
You will lecture courses in the field of pharmaceutical sciences. More specifically, you will be responsible for teaching pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The specific teaching assignments may evolve over time depending on the needs of the faculty, particularly after the BOF funding has ended.
Institutional and societal engagement
Drawing on your expertise and experience, you will contribute to the functioning of the department, faculty and university. You will make your domain‑specific expertise available both internally (to other research groups with PK needs) and externally (to the EMA, the local pharmaceutical ecosystem, etc.). You will contribute enthusiastically and collegially to the dynamics of the department and faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. You will use your expertise to contribute to the increasingly important but also complex role of good medicines and medicine use in a sustainable society.
Profile
* You have a strong academic CV with international visibility in the requested field:
* Your achievements in the particular field of research contribute to the development of the scientific domain (supported by, among other things, international peer‑reviewed publications, presentations, or other academic output);
* You have already conducted high‑level scientific research in the specified field as evidenced by publications in high‑quality scientific journals and books with peer review and international distribution;
* You have hands‑on experience with pharmacokinetic modeling techniques, such as population pharmacokinetics (PopPK) and/or physiologically based pharmacokinetics (PBPK). You can demonstrate this through publications in international, peer‑reviewed journals;
* Due to your clinical knowledge and background, you can easily translate your state‑of‑the‑art knowledge and competencies in the aforementioned domains to a translational level;
* Demonstrable hands‑on experience with quantitative (clinical) chemical analysis, particularly LC‑MS/MS, in the context of preclinical and/or clinical pharmacokinetic studies, is recommended;
* Demonstrable experience with industrial and/or regulatory aspects of the use of pharmacokinetics in the drug development process is recommended;
* You are able to initiate and supervise research projects and acquire the necessary funds from competitive research funding channels: you have demonstrable experience in writing grant proposals; having an adequate understanding of the research funding ecosystem in Flanders and Europe is recommended;
* You possess the necessary communication and leadership skills to lead a research team, manage scientific collaborations, and present your research results internationally;
* You have didactic skills aimed at developing and realizing academic (research) competencies among university students;
* Mobility is recommended (e.g., education, research, economic);
* Knowledge and experience with education professionalization and positively evaluated experience in teaching at the academic level are recommended.
* You work in a collaborative way and integrate smoothly into the department/faculty. You look for opportunities inside and outside the university and actively use your network to do so.
* You show leadership potential/have leadership experience. More information about leadership at Ghent University.
* If you do not know Dutch, you are willing to learn it. This will be assessed during the selection interview. You must master the language of instruction (Dutch) at ERK level C1. Furthermore, Article II.270, §1 of the Higher Education Codex requires that: (i) within 2 years of appointment, you must master Dutch at least at ERK level A2. (ii) at the time of appointment or at the latest 5 years after appointment, you must demonstrate proficiency at ERK level B2. More information about the language requirements and appropriate language guidance at Ghent University.
Skills/Attitudes
* Taking initiative
* Commitment to academic performance
* Scientific integrity
* Didactically skilled
* Quality‑oriented
* Leadership and social skills. Part of the selection procedure will evaluate these skills through a scientifically based assessment
* Team‑oriented work
* An attitude focused on investing in the collective progress of the team, the department, and the faculty
Appointment information
The selected candidate will be awarded the rank of lecturer (BOF‑tenure track).
We offer you a temporary appointment in a Tenure Track system for a period of five years with a primary research assignment. Upon favourable evaluation by the university board, the mandate will be converted into a permanent appointment at the rank of associate professor. The allocation of time for research, teaching, and institutional and societal engagement may be revised at that time.
The appointment starts from 1 September 2026.
Our offer
Ghent University has developed a new inspiring career model for professors. Academic freedom and academics' responsibility, talents and ambitions act as a natural drive to advance their careers, as part of teamwork.
Ghent University is specifically committed to guiding international professors in the process of coming to Ghent. At Ghent University, our view is as broad as possible, because internationalisation creates synergies within and outside the institution.
We offer you a wide range of employee benefits. The basic teacher training and courses in “Dutch” and “English” for foreign‑speaking lecturers are just a few of our wide range of courses and training.
Candidates who are newly appointed at Ghent University with an appointment of at least 50% receive a Starting Grant of €240,000 to contribute towards the personnel, operating and/or equipment costs. Furthermore, professors who meet the conditions may be eligible for Basic Research Funding.
Diversity
Ghent University pursues an equal opportunities policy and values everyone's talent, regardless of gender, age, philosophy of life, skin colour, sexual orientation, migration background or disability. We encourage everyone to apply.
Ghent University strives for a gender balance, whereby a maximum of three‑fifths of the doctoral members of the academic staff are of the same sex. As long as this target has not been met at the level of the scientific group, priority will be given to candidates of the under‑represented sex for senior academic staff mandates with mainly research assignments in the event of equal qualifications. This precedence is not automatic and unconditional; the personal situation of each candidate is always taken into account when assessing the applications.
Interruptions in research careers and/or atypical career paths (e.g. relevant experience outside the academic sector) will be taken into account when assessing the application.
Selection procedure
The selection committee will carry out an initial, substantive screening of the admissible applications on the file. This assessment takes into consideration both the candidate's merits and potential.
Ghent University emphasises the qualitative assessment of academic performance. Therefore, candidates are asked in the application form to mention their most important academic or non‑academic achievements with the most impact.
For shortlisted candidates, the following steps in the selection procedure shall consist of at least:
* a selection interview in which the vision and planning regarding education, research, and institutional and societal engagement as well as the embedding in the bigger picture are discussed
* a trial lesson on a subject in the relevant field
* a screening of leadership
Admission requirements
* You hold a thesis‑based doctoral degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medical Sciences, or a diploma or certificate recognised as equivalent.
* You have at least two years of postdoctoral experience on 1 September 2026. This term of two years is determined by the date mentioned on the required diploma.
* Your application meets the formal requirements (submitted on time, complete: with completed application form, copy of diploma, supporting documents such as research plan, teaching vision, …; submitted via e‑recruitment).
How to apply
Apply online through the e‑recruitment system before the application deadline (see above). We do not accept late or incomplete applications, or applications that are not sent through the online system.
Your application must include the following documents:
* In the field 'Application form': the application form + a motivation letter (max. 1 page) + a mandatory appendix in which you outline your vision on the research, in the above‑mentioned discipline(s), to be realised during the forthcoming term (5 years) of the mandate of ZAP member with mainly a research assignment. Minimum 3 – maximum 4 pages, references not included + a vision text (max. 1.5 pages) on academic education. All combined as one PDF file.
* In the field 'Diploma': a transcript of your doctoral degree. If you have a foreign diploma in a language other than our national languages (Dutch, French or German) or English, please add a translation in one of the mentioned languages.
* In the field 'Certificate of equivalence': only for diplomas awarded outside the European Union: certificate of equivalence (NARIC) (if already in possession).
Note that the maximum file size for each field is 10 MB.
More information
For further information regarding this vacancy, please contact Professor Jan Van Bocxlaer (Jan.VanBocxlaer@ugent.be, +32 (0)9/264 81 30) at the faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, department Bioanalysis, FW03.
Vragen over online solliciteren? Lees de FAQ of contacteer ons via selecties@ugent.be.
Job details
Title: Professor in Pharmacokinetics: Translational Modeling and Simulation
Published: 2025-12-02
Closing on: 2026-01-09 (Europe/Brussels)
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