1. You have PhD in Immunology, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or a related field. If you have recently obtained your PhD, it is important that you support your research and growth potential with academic references e.g. demonstrate potential through top publications reflecting your previous research, certificates/prizes, reference letters, promising research projects and articles in preparation.
2. You have an strong research profile in the field and an indisputable research integrity.
3. The quality of your research is proven by publications in peer-reviewed journals and successful grant applications.
4. International research experience is considered as an important advantage.
5. Expertise in both experimental immunology (e.g., immunogenomics, immune cell profiling, or immune system modeling) and applied bioinformatics (e.g., computational tools, big data analysis, or machine learning applied to immunology).
6. Experience with next-generation sequencing (NGS) data analysis, (single cell) multi-omics approaches, and AI/ML applications in biomedical research particularly in immunology.
7. Strong interdisciplinary research interests that align with systems immunology, immunogenomics, immune-related diseases, (therapeutic) immunemodulation or other emerging fields and will result in intradepartmental collaborations across immunological areas.
8. You have demonstrable qualities related to academic education. Teaching experience is a plus.
9. You possess organizational skills and have a cooperative attitude. You also have leadership skills within a university context.
10. Your spoken and written English is excellent. The official administrative language used at KU Leuven is Dutch. If you do not speak Dutch (or do not speak it well) at the start of employment, KU Leuven will provide language training to enable you to take part in administrative meetings. Before teaching courses in Dutch or English, you will be given the opportunity to learn Dutch resp. English to the required standard.
The Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation of KU Leuven, invites scholars to apply for a full‐time research professorship. This position is funded by the Special Research Fund (BOFZAP), established by the Flemish Government.We are looking for motivated and internationally oriented candidates with an excellent research record and with educational competence in the field of Computational Immunology. The appointment is expected to start on September 1, 2026. Applications will be evaluated in parallel and independently by 1) the KU Leuven Research Council in a competitive process across academic domains and 2) the faculty advisory committee. During the first 10 years, the teaching obligations as a research professor will be limited. Afterwards, the position will be transformed into a regular professorship. The successful candidate will have demonstrated expertise in the integration of immunological research and bioinformatics, contributing to cutting-edge research, teaching, and mentorship within her/his current research organization. We seek an outstanding candidate who will expand our research programs in immunology, enhance and engage in collaborative efforts, and contribute to training future scientists and professionals in these fields. The Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation is recognized worldwide for its innovative research that contributes to the understanding of the immune system and host microbe interactions for the prevention and treatment of infectious, immune- and transplantation-related diseases. We are committed to perform ambitious and cutting-edge fundamental, translational and clinical research, with the aim to understand underlying disease mechanisms and develop innovative diagnostics, therapeutics and other intervention strategies that benefit patients everywhere. The various research groups within the department can rely on solid research infrastructure, an extensive international network, applications by talented doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers, and a supportive and collaborative work environment.
11. We offer full-time employment in an intellectually challenging environment. KU Leuven is an research-intensive, internationally oriented university that carries out both fundamental and applied scientific research. Our university is highly inter- and multidisciplinary focused and strives for international excellence. In this regard, we actively collaborate with research partners in Belgium and abroad. We provide our students with an academic education that is based on high-quality scientific research.
12. Depending on your qualifications and academic experience, you will be appointed to or tenured in one of the grades of the senior academic staff: assistant professor, associate professor, professor or full professor. In principle, junior researches are appointed as assistant professor on the tenure track for a period of 5 years; after this period and a positive evaluation, they are permanently appointed as an associate professor.
13. You will work in Leuven, a historic and dynamic and vibrant city located in the heart of Belgium, within twenty minutes from Brussels, the capital of the European Union, and less than two hours from Paris, London and Amsterdam.
14. KU Leuven is well set to welcome foreign professors and their family and provides practical support with regard to immigration and administration, housing, childcare, learning Dutch, partner career coaching, …
15. In order to facilitate scientific onboarding and accelerate research in the first phase a starting grant of 110.000 euro is offered to new professors subject to eligibility criteria set by KU Leuven.