An academic in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
Reference: 37760 / FSM 006 / 2026
UCLouvain seeks to recruit
A full-time academic in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
Main campus: Bruxelles Woluwe
About us
UCLouvain is in the top 1% of universities worldwide. Founded in the heart of Europe in 1425, the university brings together 40,000 students and 6,000 staff members on 9 campuses in Brussels and Wallonia. Research and education activities are organised in 20 faculties, 23 research institutes, 5 learning centres and 18 libraries. UCLouvain also has two university hospitals.
UCLouvain is a major player in the transition to a sustainable society. The challenges of the ecological crisis are integrated into courses and the university develops numerous local projects (such as a university farm and sustainable campuses). As a digital university, UCLouvain is involved in open science and education, and trains academics in innovative teaching practices through its Louvain Learning Lab. Thanks to two science parks, the university’s research benefits from interaction with 250 companies and 3 incubators, which is fuelled further by being at the centre of a region driven by technological innovation.
UCLouvain has a long tradition of international collaborations for teaching and research through partnerships across the world. As a member of the Circle U. European University alliance, the university offers a unique opportunity to work in an environment of interconnected campuses across Europe (London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Pisa, Belgrade, Aarhus and Oslo).
The Bruxelles Woluwe campus offers a unique living environment, conveniently located and easily accessible, on the outskirts of Brussels. The site hosts the five research institutes and three out of the four faculties on the Health Sciences Sector, as well as an academic hospital, the Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc. The multiple interactions between those entities make the campus a very attractive hub for students and researchers in the field of health sciences.
Job description
Within the Faculty of Motor Sciences (FSM) and the Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), Health Sciences Sector, this position includes the following teaching, research and community service duties:
1. Teaching
You will teach mainly in the field of musculoskeletal physiotherapy. You will teach in the various study cycles managed by the faculty. You will also supervise master’s theses.
2. Research
You will develop your research activities, including the management of research programs, in the field of the assessment and the rehabilitation of patients with musculoskeletal and/or neurological disorders on the campus. Your main research areas will include the functional evaluation of movements as well as the design and clinical validation of new rehabilitation methods. You will actively contribute to stimulate a research team involving clinical academics (Neuro Musculo Skeletal Lab, IREC). You will work to promote interdisciplinarity by encouraging collaborations and integrated research projects. You will also supervise PhD theses.
3. In addition …
Once tenured, you will carry out various service activities and responsibilities within the institution, such as being a member of a programme committee or examination committee, or having management responsibilities within the faculty or research institute.
You will also contribute to community services, particularly in the economic, social, cultural or development cooperation fields. Finally, you will ensure, through research and teaching activities, the international visibility of the university.
Who we’re looking for
4. Education
You have a PhD in Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation or in a domain that can be considered as equivalent.
5. Experience
You have a proven track record in university teaching, with evidence where possible by formal evaluations. Your scientific experience is demonstrated by publications of international standing.
You have supplemented this with an extended stay or significant experience abroad, outside the institution that awarded your doctorate.
6. Skills
You are comfortable working as part of a team of academics and integrate research results into your teaching. You are capable of conducting high-level scientific research, from obtaining funding to team management. You are creative, open to pedagogical innovation and multidisciplinary.
You can communicate in French and English. If this is not the case, you undertake to acquire a command of these two languages within two years of taking up your position. Knowledge of other languages is an asset.
Specifically:
- You will develop a research program focused on the assessement and rehabilitation of patients with musculoskeletal and/or neurological disorders, leveraging cutting-edge technologies. You will contribute to the study of the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions encompassing all stages from initial design to clinical validation.
- You will contribute to the teaching as an expert in musculoskeletal physiotherapy. You will be responsible for delivering the theoretical components of these courses and will supervise the practical sessions, in which you will be able to intervene as a clinician. You will integrate diagnostic, therapeutic and practical dimensions. You will also participate in the supervision of the clinical reasoning course, essential to the structure of the new physiotherapy and rehabilitation curriculum.
What we offer
7. Tenure after positive assessment of the probationary period – typically four years. This type of career entitles you to a public sector pension.
8. Appointment as lecturer or professor according to your previous academic experience, as determined by the Rectoral Council.
9. Teaching load capped at 90 hours for a full-time tenure-track position, and 150 hours once tenured.
10. An attractive and progressive salary according to seniority and the promotion process.
11. A start date of 1 September 2026 at the earliest.
12. An integrated leadership and management training programme, including a range of pedagogical, linguistic and other training courses.
13. Benefits including transport, family, culture, commercial, etc.
14. Official policy that supports equal opportunities and promotes diversity within academic and all other categories of staff.
15. Specific emphasis on a work-life balance.
Practical Information
Application deadline: Wednesday 12, November 2025 at noon (UTC+1 Time Zone)
Starting date: 1st September2026
Need more information?
Questions about this position:
Interested?
Apply only via the online application (applications submitted via any other channel will not be considered).
To be considered, your application must contain within a single PDF:
16. motivation letter (to be included in the single PDF as well as in your candidate profile);
17. current curriculum vitae (to be included in the single PDF as well as in your candidate profile);
18. copy of your official PhD diploma;
19. full publication list and summary of 3 most significant recent publications;
20. research strategy, i.e. your future 5-year research programme;
21. teaching programme, i.e. your vision and teaching methods;
22. If you are shortlisted and invited to an audition, you will be asked to submit: a Ph. D. project, with a view to taking on a doctoral student in the first year of your appointment; 3 to 5 letters of recommendation must be uploaded by your referees in accordance with the instructions you will be given.