Professor in Evolutionary Developmental Biology of Animals (BOF) (29471)

Organisation/Company

Ghent University

Research Field

Biological sciences » Biology
Biological sciences » Other
Chemistry » Biochemistry
Technology » Biotechnology

Researcher Profile

Established Researcher (R3)

Application Deadline

24 Feb 2026 - 22:59 (UTC)

Country

Belgium

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

    →   Apply until 24/02/2026 (DD/MM/YYYY) 23:59 (Brussels time)
    →   Discipline: Evolutionary Developmental Biology of Animals
    →   100% Assistant professor tenure track
    →   Reference number: 202512/WE/ZAP-BOF/006

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world-class, open, pluralistic and socially engaged university. Our credo is 'Dare to Think' : we are a haven for courageous thinkers. 

With one of the most progressive career models for academics in the world, Ghent University evaluates its scholars not only by the length of their publication list but also by the impact they pursue, what they achieve and how they collaborate. 

Are you a good ‘fit’ with our university? Discover here our vision on education  and research .

ASSIGNMENT

The expectations regarding teaching, research, and institutional and societal engagement, as well as the positioning of this position within the expertise and strategic developments of the faculty and department, were outlined in a position profile document prior to the publication of this vacancy. This position profile document is publicly available via the following link:

 https://www.ugent.be/we/nl/onderzoek/2025-profieltekst-zap-we11 .

The position, funded by the Special Research Fund, is granted the privilege of focusing primarily on research for a period of 5 years. During that period the teaching load will be limited to no more than 8 ECTS credits per semester on average over a period of 3 years. For the further development of the academic career, please see ‘Appointment information’ below.

Academic education

You lecture various course units in the discipline of animal development, functional biology, and evolution that are covered in the Bachelor's and Master's programs in Biology and Biochemistry/Biotechnology. Your teaching reflects your expertise in evolutionary developmental biology and contributes to an integrated understanding of how form and function arise and evolve in animals. You will also supervise Bachelor's and Master's theses and doctoral research in this field, encouraging students to think critically and research-oriented.

Academic research

You conduct innovative and internationally recognized research in the field of evolutionary developmental biology of animals. This research field focuses on understanding how organisms function and how their traits develop, evolve, and relate to their ecological environment. With this appointment, the Biology Department aims to further strengthen this strategic research domain by developing an innovative and competitive program that bridges the gap between developmental biology, evolutionary biology, and functional morphology. The emphasis will be on unraveling the genetic and developmental mechanisms underlying the origin, diversification, and adaptation of animal body plans, using both model and non-model organisms.

Institutional and societal engagement

Based on your expertise and experience, you will contribute to the university's operations and/or take on external assignments.  

PROFILE

• You have a strong academic CV with international visibility in the requested field;

• Your achievements in the field of research and education contribute to the development of the scientific domain (e.g. publications, presentations, or other academic output);

• You are capable to initiate and supervise educational and research projects and to acquire the necessary funding for this;

• You are didactically skilled to teach university students to develop academic competences;

• Mobility is recommended (e.g. education, research, economic, or societal).  

• You work in a collaborative way and integrate smoothly into the department/faculty. You look for opportunities inside and outside the university and actively use your network to do so.

• You show leadership potential/have leadership experience. More information about leadership  at Ghent University. 

• If you don't know Dutch, you are willing to learn it. This will be assessed during the selection interview. When taking up a teaching assignment, you must master the language of instruction of the course. More information about the language requirements  and appropriate language guidance at Ghent University.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

We offer you a temporary appointment in a tenure track system for a term of five years. If positively evaluated by the University Board, the term of office will be transferred into a permanent appointment as an associate professor. At that moment the time devoted to research, education and institutional and societal engagement may be altered. 

The recruitment is from 1 september 2026.

OUR OFFER

Ghent University has developed a new inspiring career model  for professors. Academic freedom and academics' responsibility, talents and ambitions act as a natural drive to advance their careers, as part of teamwork. 

Ghent University is specifically committed to guiding international professors  in the process of coming to Ghent. At Ghent University, our view is as broad as possible, because internationalisation creates synergies within and outside the institution.

We offer you a wide range of employee benefits . The basic teacher training and courses in 'Dutch' and 'English' for foreign-speaking lecturers are just a few of our wide range of courses and training. 

Candidates who are newly appointed at Ghent University with an appointment of at least 50% receive a Starting Grant  of € 240,000 to contribute towards the personnel, operating and/or equipment costs. Furthermore, professors who meet the conditions may be eligible for Basic Research Funding .

DIVERSITY

Ghent University pursues an equal opportunities policy and values everyone's talent, regardless of gender, age, philosophy of life, skin color, sexual orientation, migration background or disability. We encourage everyone to apply.

Ghent University strives for a gender balance, whereby a maximum of three-fifths of the doctoral members of the academic staff are of the same sex. As long as this target has not been met at the level of the scientific group, priority will be given to candidates of the under-represented sex for senior academic staff mandates with mainly research assignments in the event of equal qualifications. This precedence is not automatic and unconditional; the personal situation of each candidate is always taken into account when assessing the applications.

Interruptions in research careers and/or atypical career paths (e.g. relevant experience outside the academic sector) will be taken into account when assessing the application.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

The selection committee will carry out an initial, substantive screening of the admissible applications on the file. This assessment takes into consideration both the candidate's merits and potential.

Ghent University emphasizes the qualitative assessment of academic performance. Therefore, candidates are asked in the application form to mention their most important academic or non-academic achievements with the most impact.

For shortlisted candidates, the following steps in the selection procedure shall consist of at least:

• a selection interview in which the vision and planning regarding education, research, and institutional and societal engagement as well as the embedding in the bigger picture are discussed

• a trial lesson on a subject in the relevant field 

• a screening of leadership 

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• You hold a thesis-based doctorate or a diploma or certificate that is recognized as equivalent. 

• You have at least two years of postdoctoral experience on 1 september 2026. This term of two years is determined by the date mentioned on the required diploma.

• Your application meets the formal requirements (submitted on time, complete: with a completed application form and a copy of the diploma, delivered via e-recruitment).

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online through the e-recruitment system before the application deadline (see above). We do not accept late or incomplete applications, or applications that are not sent through the online system.

Your application must include the following documents:

• In the field ‘Application form’: the application form  + a mandatory appendix in which you explain your vision on research that will be realized during the next term of the mandate of ZAP member with mainly research assignment. Minimum 3 – maximum 5 pages, references not included. All this combined as a one-pdf file.

• In the field ‘Diploma’: a transcript of your doctoral degree. If you have a foreign diploma in a language other than our national languages (Dutch, French or German) or English, please add a translation in one of the mentioned languages.

• In the field ‘Certificate of equivalence’: only for diplomas awarded outside the European Union: certificate of equivalence (NARIC ) (if already in you possession). For diplomas awarded in the UK before January 31st of 2020, a certificate of equivalence is not required.

Note that the maximum file size for each field is 10 MB.

MORE INFORMATION

For further information regarding this vacancy, please contact Professor Bart Braeckman (Bart.Braeckman@UGent.be , +32 (0)9 264 87 44) at the Faculty of Sciences, department Biology.

Vragen over online solliciteren? Lees de FAQ of contacteer ons via selecties@ugent.be .

Website

https://academicpositions.com/ad/ghent-university/2026/professor-in-evolutionar…

Research Field

Biological sciences

Years of Research Experience

More than 10

Research Field

Biological sciences

Years of Research Experience

More than 10

Research Field

Chemistry

Years of Research Experience

More than 10

Research Field

Technology

Years of Research Experience

More than 10

Website for additional job details

https://academicpositions.com

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Ghent University

Country

Belgium

City

Ghent

Postal Code

9000

Street

Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 33

City

Ghent

Website

http://www.ugent.be/en

Postal Code

9000

• X (formerly Twitter)
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Whatsapp
• 
  More share options
  • E-mail
  • Pocket
  • Viadeo
  • Gmail
  • Weibo
  • Blogger
  • Qzone
  • YahooMail