An academic in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Reference: 37749 / EPL 001 / 2026
UCLouvain seeks to recruit
A full-time academic in Civil Engineering
Main campus: Louvain-la-Neuve
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).
Job description
Within the Louvain School of Engineering (EPL) and the Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering (IMMC), part of the Sciences and Technology Sector, this position will include the following teaching, research and community service duties:
1. Teaching
You will teach mainly in the field of civil engineering and your teaching assignments will include courses within the various BSc and MSc degree programmes organised by the Louvain School of Engineering (EPL) and by the Faculty of Architecture, Architectural Engineering and Urban Planning (LOCI). You will also be expected to supervise Master’s theses in your research fields.
2. Research
You will develop research activities and lead research programmes at the forefront of the civil and environmental engineering field, including green and sustainable structures. They may include but are not limited to:
o New challenges in civil engineering due to climate change, ocean level rise, floods, soil dewatering, soil pollution and alteration.
o Structures and infrastructures for energy transition, including offshore engineering, underground energy resources and waste disposals.
o Sustainable civil engineering structures, infrastructures, materials and geomaterials.
o Nature-based solutions for flood mitigation.
o Life-cycle assessment and life-cycle-cost analysis.
o Smart foundations, hydraulic structures, buildings and structures.
o Sustainable exploitation of natural resources.
o New construction processes and design for more sustainable structures, prefabrication and modular construction.
You will be responsible for the supervision of PhD theses and will demonstrate the potential for direct interactions with academic and industrial partners to pursue specific technological breakthroughs.
3. Others
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 committees, or having management responsibilities within the faculty or research institute.
You will also contribute to serving the economic, social, cultural or development cooperation fields. Finally, you will ensure, through research and teaching activities, the university’s international visibility.
Who we’re looking for
4. Education
You have a PhD in engineering, in the field of civil or environmental engineering.
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 demonstrate an advanced mastery of the fundamental aspects of your discipline, and your ability to deploy them towards application cases. 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.
Your capacity to display creativity and openness to teaching innovation and interdisciplinarity will be positively considered. Practical experience in the construction sector is an asset.
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 September 2026
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.