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Joint Academic position in Gravitational Wave Physics

 

Reference: 35445 / SC 042 / 2024 

 

UCLouvain and the Royal Observatory of Belgium are looking for 

A full-time academic/researcher in Gravitational Wave Physics 

 

Main campus: Louvain-la-Neuve and Brussels (Uccle)

About us

UCLouvain is one of the world's top 1% universities. A comprehensive university located in the heart of Europe since 1425, it brings together 33,000 students and 6,000 members of staff on 8 campuses in Brussels and Wallonia. At UCLouvain, research and teaching are organised into 14 faculties, 22 research institutes, 5 learning centres and 18 libraries. It also has two university clinics.


The Royal Observatory of Belgium is a federal research institute (200 staff) located in the leafy suburbs of Brussels, working under the aegis of Belgian federal science policy. Its main areas of research are solar physics, astronomy and astrophysics, geophysics and reference systems. The Royal Observatory of Belgium is involved in several research areas that are directly linked or in strong synergy with the experimental physics of gravitational waves.


The position is open at both UCLouvain and the Royal Observatory of Belgium: it is a 50% academic position at UCLouvain and a 50% scientific position at the Royal Observatory of Belgium.  The person recruited must hold both positions; the expected activities will be carried out on the sites of both partners, at the level of 50% for each of them. This joint position, which involves strong interaction between the two institutions, is planned for a period of 10 years. At the end of this period, UCLouvain will take on the successful candidate on a full-time basis within its academic framework.

 

Post description

At UCLouvain, within the Faculty of Science and the Institute of Research in Mathematics and Physics, Science and Technology Sector, position duties include teaching, research, and community service activities. 

 

  • Teaching 

You will teach mainly in the field of Physics. You will teach in the various courses of study run by the Faculty of Science and possibly other faculties. You will also direct Master’s dissertations.

 

  • Research

You will develop your research activities, including research programme management, in the field of gravitational wave physics, in which UCLouvain is already involved, and linked research areas of interest for the Royal Observatory of Belgium. In this context you are expected to contribute to the exploitation of the existing gravitational wave detectors LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA and/or to the preparation of future facilities such as Einstein Telescope, LISA and LGWA. You will supervise PhD theses.

 

  • In addition …

Once you are tenured, you will carry out various service activities, such as member of jurys or study programme committees, and take management responsibilities within the Faculty of Science, the IRMP institute or UCLouvain at large.

You will also contribute to serving society, particularly in 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

  • Education

 

You have a PhD in Physics or in a domain that can be considered as equivalent. You have completed it with an extended study period abroad or significant experience outside your home institution.

 

  • 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.

 

  • 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 multidisciplinarity. 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.

What we offer

At UCLouvain:

  • Tenure after positive assessment of the probationary period – typically four years. This type of career entitles you to a public sector pension.
  • Appointment as lecturer or professor according to your previous academic experience, as determined by the Rectoral Council.
  • Teaching load capped at 90 hours for a full-time tenure-track position, and 150 hours once tenured. 
  • An attractive and progressive salary according to seniority and the promotion process.
  • A start date of 1 September 2024 at the earliest.
  • An integrated leadership and management training programme, including a range of pedagogical, linguistic and other training courses. 
  • Benefits including transport, family, culture, commercial, etc. 
  • Official policy that supports equal opportunities and promotes diversity within academic and all other categories of staff.
  • Specific emphasis on a work-life balance.

 

At the Royal Observatory of Belgium:

  • A half-time research contract, with remuneration in the SW2 scale, depending on your scientific seniority; 
  • A start date of 1 September 2024 at the earliest;
  • Various benefits: transport, family, culture, etc.;
  • A green working environment, with the possibility of teleworking and flexible working hours.

Practical Information

Application deadline: Monday, November 13th at noon (UTC+1 Time Zone)

Starting date: September 1st 2024 

 

Location:

Science and Technology Sector
Faculty of Science (SC) (https://uclouvain.be/fr/facultes/SC)
Institute of Mathematics and Physics (IRMP) (https://uclouvain.be/fr/instituts-recherche/IRMP) 
Royal Observatory of Belgium, Brussels (Uccle) (https://www.astro.oma.be/en/)

Need more information?

Questions about this position?

Prof. Pascal Lambrechts, Dean SC – doyen-sc@uclouvain.be
Prof. Marino Gran, President IRMP – president-irmp@uclouvain.be

 

Questions about working at the Royal Observatory of Belgium?
Dr. Pascale Defraigne - p.defraigne@oma.be

 

Questions about the procedure?
Cécile Lion, Rector’s Office, cecile.lion@uclouvain.be

 

Questions about online application?
Andreea Chiriac, Rector’s Office, secretariat-vrpp@uclouvain.be

 

Interested?

To be valid, your application must reach both partner institutions before 13 November 2023:


For UCLouvain, please apply only via the online application (applications submitted via any other channel will not be considered). 


For the Royal Observatory of Belgium, please send your application by email to p.defraigne@oma.be with a copy to hrrob@oma.be.

 

To be considered, your application must contain within a single PDF:  

 

 

For full details of the application : https://uclouvain.be/fr/emploi/candidature-aca.html
 

 

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