Professor ‘Applied Mechanics – Machine Elements’

Job title:

Professor ‘Applied Mechanics – Machine Elements’

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Job description

Offer Description1 – Working at the VUBFor more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and solidarity, and this is very much alive on our campuses among students and staff alike.At the VUB, you will find a diverse collection of personalities: innovators pur sang, but above all people who are 100% their authentic selves. With some 4,000 employees, we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer, in the private sector, in Brussels; an international city with which we are only too happy to connect and where (around) our 4 campuses are located.Add to this our principle of free research – in which self-reflection, a critical attitude and an open, creative mind around scientific and social issues are central – and you have a university that is fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research. In short: the VUB all over again.Moreover, the VUB is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of like-minded European universities, all ready to reinvent themselves.2 – Position descriptionThe Faculty of Engineering, Department Applied Mechanics is looking for a part-time professor.More concretely your work package contains:Education and Research domain:

• Applied Mechanics – Machine Elements

Education tasks:

• You have a teaching assignment in the domain of applied mechanics.
• More specifically, you will be responsible for the course ‘Machine Elements’/’Machineonderdelen’ (6 ECTS, civil engineering programme).

Research tasks:

• You conduct research in the domain of lightweight and smart gear boxes. Numerous research projects at VUB aim to consolidate expertise in gearbox technology, spanning from fundamental research to practical applications and valorisation. These efforts support the development of new IP and explore emerging fields. Research areas include smart mechanical devices with torque and health monitoring sensors, backdrivability to enable energy regeneration and transparent actuation principles, and advanced gear tooth geometry modelling with AI, with applications in robotics (including cobots, quadrupeds, and humanoids), space robotics, and e-bikes. Additionally, there is a shift in heavy machinery towards electrification, necessitating innovative gearbox solutions as well. These research lines, in collaboration with Flanders Make, have a strong focus on hardware. Given the content’s strong industrial relevance, this position aligns well with the IOF status of MECH/R&MM and would foster more industrial collaboration.
• You should independently pursue additional grants to advance research on novel, lightweight gearbox solutions while ensuring the quality and continuity of teaching in the “Machine Elements” course. Considering the current active opportunities and the anticipated benefits from the establishment of a VUB spinoff in this field, it is projected that the 10% ZAP position will yield an annual income of approximately 0.25 to 0.5 million euros for the Applied Mechanics Department.

Other tasks:

• You will participate in administrative and policy responsibilities, such as being a member of committees that support the functioning of the Department and the Faculty of Engineering.
• You will participate in scientific and educational activities for the wider public.

For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base.3 – ProfileWhat do we expect from you?

• For this 10% position at VUB’s MECH group, you should possess a robust background in gearboxes, ideally with a Ph.D. focusing on this domain.
• You should demonstrate expertise in modeling techniques tailored towards practical applications and valorization strategies, underpinned by hands-on experience in the design and validation processes of these devices. Moreover, you should have valuable industrial experience, particularly in the realm of actuators and/or machine elements, to support the group’s industrial collaboration objectives.
• Having a demonstrable network spanning both academic and industrial partners is essential, facilitating collaborative endeavours and fostering synergies for knowledge exchange and project development.
• You should be familiar with EU funding mechanisms, being crucial for leveraging available opportunities associated by a European research agenda that is strongly focusing on modern robotics and for driving research initiatives forward. Additionally, proficiency in teaching is indispensable, ensuring the effective dissemination of knowledge and the cultivation of the next generation of mechanical engineers.
• You should be fluent in English, given that this is the language of the BRUFACE master in which the Machine Elements course is inscribed, the international scope of research collaborations and the need for effective communication in academic and industrial contexts.
• Basic understanding of Dutch language is beneficial for effective interaction with local companies.
• Overall, you should embody a multidisciplinary skill set, encompassing technical expertise, industrial acumen, collaborative proficiency, and a commitment to excellence in both research and education.

• You subscribe to the university’s vision of education. The full text in relation to this is available on the university website.

• Every first appointment is dependent upon the successful delivery of a teaching session.

• Language regulations:

A member of the academic staff who is entrusted with a teaching assignment must also be able to demonstrate that the language of instruction is known at ERK level C1 through a qualification certificate or through an adequate diploma. The VUB also provides courses in, for example, academic English.The administrative language of the VUB is Dutch. In case of insufficient knowledge of Dutch, the VUB will provide an integration course. After a maximum of five years, a member of the academic staff must demonstrate adequate knowledge of the administrative language (ERK level B2).For a complete overview, please consult the complete language regulations on .Certificates demonstrating knowledge of the language can already be added to the application.The VUB wants to be a reflection of the society where everyone’s talent is valued, regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability and neurodiversity.4 – OfferAre you going to be our new colleague?You’ll be offered an appointment as professor, for an assignment of 0.1 FTE, for 3 years (renewable, on condition of the positive evaluation of the activities), with planned starting date 01/10/2024.You’ll receive a salary linked to one of the scales set by the government.At the VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.As well as this, you will also enjoy various other benefits:

• Extensive homeworking options, a telework allowance of 50 euros per month OR an internet fee of 20 euros per month;
• An open and informal working environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract), closure between Christmas and New Year and 3 extra leave days;
• Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
• Full reimbursement of your home-to-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, and/or compensation if you come by bike;
• A wide selection of meals in our campus restaurants at attractive prices;
• Excellent and affordable facilities for sport and exercise, a range of discounts via Benefits@Work (in all kinds of shops, on flights, in petrol stations, amusement parks…) and Ecocheques;
• Nursery near campus, discount on holiday camps;
• The space to form your job content and to continuously learn through our VUB learning platforms and training courses;
• And finally: great colleagues with a healthy drive.

5 – Interested?Is this the job you’ve been dreaming of?Then apply, at the latest on 14/07/2024, , and upload the following documents:

• your motivation letter, including your vision on education and research, and an explanation about the development of your future research;
• your curriculum vitae, including you academic dossier;
• your diploma (not applicable for VUB alumni) and language certificates.

Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Prof. Bram Vanderborght at or on +32 (0)2/6292305.Would you like to know what it’s like to work at the VUB? Go to , and find all there is to know about our campuses, benefits, strategic goals and your future colleagues.Would you like more information about EUTOPIA? Go to , and read more about the role of the VUB in the development of the EUTOPIA alliance.Where to apply WebsiteRequirementsResearch Field Computer science Years of Research Experience More than 10Research Field Engineering Years of Research Experience More than 10Research Field Engineering Years of Research Experience More than 10Research Field Engineering Years of Research Experience More than 10Research Field Physics Years of Research Experience More than 10Additional InformationWebsite for additional job detailsWork Location(s)Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) Country Belgium City Brussels Postal Code 1050 Street Boulevard de la Plaine 2 GeofieldContact CityBrussels WebsitePostal Code1050STATUS: EXPIREDShare this page

Expected salary

Location

Bruxelles

Job date

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 23:41:02 GMT

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