Join to apply for the Junior Professor (tenure-track, 70%) in het domein van Critical Reflective Practice: Designing Details role at KU Leuven.
This position is a part-time vacancy (70%) for a junior professor (ZAP) in the field of interior architecture/architecture. The candidate should have a strong research portfolio in architectural design, excellent teaching skills in (interior) architectural design (studio), and an outstanding (interior) architecture practice.
The KU Leuven structure combines research departments and faculties in a multi-campus model. The candidate will contribute to research within the Department of Architecture at the Architecture & Design division on the Sint-Lucas campuses in Brussels and Ghent, which unites researchers from both the Faculty of Architecture and the Faculty of Engineering. The department offers an internationally excellent research environment. www.architectuur.kuleuven.be
The candidate will contribute to teaching at the Faculty of Architecture, which offers programs in architecture (interior architecture, architecture, urban planning, and spatial planning) at the Sint-Lucas campuses in Brussels and Ghent. The faculty is driven by a diverse set of practices and is known for its forward-looking education fostering exploration. www.arch.kuleuven.be
Research
The cultural importance of architectural details, as essential elements of our built environment, is central to this profile. Architectural details should be viewed as inclusive interior architectural detailing. Advances in new materials, alternative and innovative construction methods, and new technologies are key challenges for developing architectural details that support high-quality architectural design.
An awareness of cultural background fosters interest in low-tech approaches and regenerative materials, enabling buildings to be easily assembled, disassembled, or composted. Innovative materials like 'thinking' materials and self-assembling substances, along with concepts like programmable matter and smart geometries, are important developments, approached from a cultural perspective. This supports a sustainable building approach that integrates cultural backgrounds with material, energy, and information economies. The research program should develop architecture details as the main focus within this context.
* Proven expertise in designing and constructing/materializing architectural details in practical situations, linked to theoretical frameworks.
* The research should align with ongoing research programs.
* Establish collaborations within and outside the department.
* Support national and international collaborations of the research group/department and help develop future research projects.
* Publish and generate scientific output, including Artistic and Design-related Research Output (ADRO), at the relevant scientific level in the field of (interior) architecture, acquire funding for fundamental and applied research, and expand international collaborations. Involvement in, facilitation, and stimulation of doctoral research with a design approach, as promoter or committee member, is expected. Your research should contribute to the development of a distinctive, artistic, and practice-based research identity linked to innovative learning environments.
Teaching
You will deliver high-quality education within the domain of design in (interior) architecture, with a clear commitment to the overall quality of the program. You will also contribute to the faculty/university pedagogical project by supervising master's theses and supervising doctoral students.
Your teaching will align with KU Leuven's vision of active and research-based education, utilizing opportunities for pedagogical professionalization offered by the faculty and university. The teaching focus is on design studios in (interior) architecture (bachelor/master), either through a dedicated course or integrated into specific design studios.
Service
* Scientific, social, and internal service responsibilities.
* Participate in academic management and the further consolidation of design as a core element of the programs within the Department/Faculty of Architecture.
* Actively promote the department/faculty's image and profile through participation in events, open days, and outreach activities.
* Maintain close contact with the (interior) architecture practice by further developing one's own practice.
Profile
* Master's degree in Interior Architecture or Architecture, and a PhD thesis related to the research and teaching domain (design-driven and/or practice-based).
* Strong research portfolio in (interior) architecture, demonstrated through ADROs, publications in leading international journals, and international research/practice experience. Your CV/portfolio should show active links to (interior) architecture, especially through realized ADROs.
* Proven teaching skills, especially with atelier/studio as a learning environment.
* Organizational skills, collegial attitude, and leadership qualities in a university context.
* Good command of English; knowledge of Dutch is required or will be supported through training.
Offer
This is a part-time (70%) position in an intellectually stimulating environment. Motivation can lead to a 50% part-time option, to be specified in the application. KU Leuven is a research-intensive, internationally oriented university conducting both fundamental and applied research, with strong interdisciplinary and international collaborations. The position involves work across campuses in Brussels, Ghent, and Leuven. The initial appointment is as a tenure-track junior professor for five years, with potential for permanent appointment after positive evaluation.
The university offers support for international faculty, including relocation and administrative assistance, housing, childcare, Dutch courses, and partner career coaching. A start-up fund of €110,000 is provided for new professors without substantial external funding, recruited at least 50%.
Interested?
For more information, contact:
* Prof. Yves Schoonjans, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture (yves.schoonjans@kuleuven.be)
* Prof. Rajesh Heynickx, Chair of the Department of Architecture (rajesh.heynickx@kuleuven.be)
* Prof. Thierry Lagrange, Head of Architecture & Design (thierry.lagrange@kuleuven.be)
Applications must be submitted online by 16/10/2025, including:
* A biosketch demonstrating your added value for research, teaching, and service, with future plans.
* A dossier of your five main publications or projects.
* A detailed CV, including a portfolio and full publication list.
* A research plan (max 4 pages).
* Your vision on academic teaching (max 2 pages).
* Your contribution to service activities (max 1 page).
* Your leadership vision (max 1 page).
All documents should be in English. KU Leuven values integrity, ethics, diversity, and equal opportunities. We encourage applications from underrepresented groups. For questions about accessibility or support, contact us at the provided email addresses.
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