JOB REFERENCE:
PA241002
Full-time academic position
Faculty of Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech
Field: Plant genetics
Start date: 01/09/2025
The University of Liège is the biggest French-speaking public university in Belgium. In employs more than 5,700 staff members across four campuses, including 3,600 active teachers and researchers in all fields of the human and social sciences, science and technology, and health sciences. In hosts nearly 27,000 students of 123 different nationalities in one of the most multicultural and dynamic cities in Europe, less than an hour from Brussels and Cologne, two hours from Paris, and three hours from London and Amsterdam.
Actively involved in the social and environmental transition, ULiège supports students to fulfil their roles as responsible citizens (training in sustainable development, Green Office, etc.) and promotes ethical, multidisciplinary and open research. ULiège is committed to the region in which it operates and contributes towards local socio-economic development. It has developed numerous partnerships, notably with the university hospital. International and united, it participates in the European University of Post-Industrial Cities, UNIC initiative and has one of the most extensive collaborative networks in the world.
ULiège offers attractive career prospects in a high-quality working environment, promoting well-being, diversity and equality of opportunity. Since 2011, ULiège has been proud to display the European Human resources strategy for researchers (HRS4R) label, which reflects its commitment to open, transparent and merit-based procedures. In addition, it recognises the quality and diversity of research in line with the recommendations of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA). ULiège encourages its academic staff to travel internationally and welcomes international researchers through its EURAXESS centre.
The Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (GxABT) Faculty of the University of Liège is pleased to recruit a member of the academic staff in plant genetics who will bring an inspiring vision to the future of research and teaching in the field of the use of omics technologies to study plant genetic resources for supporting the agroecological transition and the sustainability of our agricultural and food systems (agroecofoodsystems). You will develop your career in a creative atmosphere that encourages interdisciplinary approaches to cutting-edge research and high-quality education for the next generation of biological engineers. GxABT will provide a supportive infrastructure, including professional development programs, a welcome group for new academics, funding opportunities, and collaborative platforms to enhance your research success and academic excellence. You will enjoy an equilibrated work balance between research and teaching duties. Located in the countryside of Brussels, GxABT campus is just a short drive from the cosmopolitan capital of Europe (30 minutes by train). The city combines the serenity of a peaceful lifestyle with convenient access to city amenities.
Job description
A full-time, indivisible academic position in the field of Plant Genetics (application of omics technologies on plant genetic resources to support the agroecological transition), within the unique department at the Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech Faculty. This post includes teaching and research activities as well as services to the Community.
Teaching activities
The teaching activities will include courses such as:
- Physiology, plant breeding and multiplication of cultivated plants;
- Application of molecular biology and genetics;
- Plant defence systems;
- Integrated and agroecological protection of crops;
- Chemical, biological and environmental risks related to plant production.
For some of these courses, the candidate will be in charge of the part dedicated to plant genetics. Ultimately, the teaching duty would reach approx. 15 teaching credits.
The teaching duty also includes supervising internships (Bachelor's and Master's students), projects and Master's final projects, and may eventually include involvement in the cross-disciplinary organisation of the Master's programme (e.g. chairing the jury for dissertations, academic coordination of internships, etc.)
Research activities
Applicants are expected to propose a detailed research project for 4 years related to the application of omics technologies to:
- mobilise and characterise the use of plant genetic resources and their interactions (also with other trophic levels) in the frame of agroecological transition;
- characterise, improve and develop the plant phenotypes involved in these interactions;
- promote robust and sustainable production of cultivated plants through the creation and exploitation of diversity and taking account of the ecosystem services of agroecosystems.
In addition, applicants will provide a concrete long-term research vision, including integration in GxABT, and collaboration with other stakeholders both at the national and EU level, including private companies.
These research activities can be carried out in crop(s) from temperate and/or tropical agroecosystems, encouraging synergies with research activities already developed at GxABT, and can be deployed from the laboratory to the field.
To support their work, applicants will have access to the existing research and technological infrastructure within the TERRA research unit of GxABT and ULiège (GIGA, CECI, etc.) and will be able to count on the collaboration of colleagues working in these facilities. This includes the shared technical and scientific human resources (assistants) of the Plant Sciences Axis.
Services to the community
The community service activities will be identified progressively, considering the needs of the university and the skills of the individual, in consultation with the Deanery and departmental authorities.
Depending on the centre of interest, the successful candidate will thus be able to make a valuable contribution to scientific dissemination (and the management of shared research infrastructure).
Qualifications required / profile
- A research doctorate and significant and recognised post-doctoral experience with high-level international publications in the field of plant genetics, systems biology, bioinformatics, genomics or transcriptomics;
- Demonstrate international collaborations that are relevant to the themes of the post and a willingness to develop these collaborations;
- Demonstrate the ability to conduct an independent, yet collaborative, scientific research, successful funding records and manage a team of researchers;
- Demonstrate the ability to teach in both English and French, or commit to do so within four years of appointment. If relevant, previous teaching activities should be mentioned;
- Show willingness to work in a team of teachers and researchers from different disciplines and using shared human and material resources within GxABT and ULiège as well as to develop research and development activities in contact with other stakeholders;
- Progressively participate community service for the institution and the stakeholders;
- Have good communication skills;
- Adhere to the quality management and continuous improvement system set up by the University;
- Have post-doctoral experience demonstrated by an extended study period abroad or significant experience acquired outside their home institution.
Selection procedure
Each candidate’s application will be examined by a faculty committee in charge of selecting the candidates to be interviewed, giving reasons for its decisions with regard to this vacancy announcement and the qualifications and merits of the candidates. The Faculty Committee shall interview the candidates, in particular concerning their curriculum vitae, their teaching, research and integration plans for the Institution, and the command of French and English. The interview will include a “public lecture”, the form of which will be set by the Faculty Committee. This interview will be held between May and June.
Our institutional policy is based on diversity and equality of opportunity. We select candidates on the basis of their qualities regardless of age, sexual orientation, origin, beliefs, disability or nationality.
Applications
Applications should be made using the online form available on the following website: https://my.uliege.be/portail/go_xt.do?a=o%7C11004%7Ce%7C606302. To be eligible, applications must be submitted no later than 31/03/2025 (before midnight Belgian time).
Documents required:
- Cover letter (1 page, underlining the strengths of the candidate which relate to the expected profile and explaining the motivations for the position)
- Curriculum vitae, strictly following the model downloaded HERE.
- Copies of diplomas and certificates.
- Teaching plan (max. 1 page, including your long-term vision of teaching and the practical implementation in the next 4 years).
- Research plan (max. 3 pages, including your long-term vision for the research in your future team and the practical implementation in the next 4 years).
- Plan for community services and integration within ULiège (max. 1 page).
These documents (written in English) must be uploaded in PDF format to the online application platform (see link in the "APPLICATIONS" section). Only applications in the correct format will be processed.
Conditions of employment
The position is awarded either for a fixed term of four years, or, in certain exceptional circumstances, immediately on a permanent basis.
If a fixed term contract is awarded, an evaluation will be carried out at the end of the third year.
- If the evaluation is positive, the person will be appointed permanently.
- If the evaluation is negative, the person’s appointment will end after the fourth year.
Information
Further information about the vacancy can be obtained from Mr Frédéric FRANCIS, Dean of the Faculty of Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, by email only, to the following address decanat.gembloux@uliege.be
REMUNERATION
Basic appointments are made at the grade of lecturer.
The gross monthly salary at the start of the scale (on a full-time basis) is currently €5,992.58, to which is added an end of year allowance (in December) and a holiday allowance (in June).
In exception circumstances, the Faculty may submit a substantiated application to obtain a higher grade in the salary scale (length-of-service bonus).
The career of full-time teaching staff includes the grades of lecturer, professor, and full professor. Career development (after the recruitment grade) is possible through the promotions’ procedure, the terms and conditions of which are defined by the Board of Directors.
Please contact the Human Resources department for further information on careers, salary scales, and the terms and conditions of their application: Ms Valérie MELOTTE – Val.melotte@uliege.be
Benefits
- “Statutory” position which can lead to a public sector pension if the appointment is permanent.
- Financial contribution to private relocation expenses.
- Possibility of assistance with access to the labour market for partners.
- University of Liège professional relocation allowance of €2,500 for a full-time position.
- Initial and ongoing teaching training provided by the Institut de Formation et de Recherche en Enseignement (IFRES).
- Wide range of training courses available.
- Welcome seminar and introduction to the bodies and operations of the Université of Liège (two-and-a-half days in September 2025).
- Meal vouchers with a face value of €5.
- Full refund of public transport costs between the home and the workplace.
- Flat-rate payment for travel by bicycle.
- Call for proposals for the allocation of teaching and research credits.
- Help with setting up research projects.
- Preferential rate for registration for a ULiège course, also applicable to children.
- Possibility of preferential conditions for taking out private insurance.
- Preferential rates and reductions in a wide range of fields - shops, leisure, culture, training, sport, etc. (Benefits at Work).
