Full-time academic position - Gembloux agro-bio tech - Field: digital ecology applied to socio-ecosystem Biodiversity

University of Liège (ULiège); Belgique; On-site; EUR 64,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Statutory pension

Relocation support

IFRES teaching training

Meal vouchers

Public transport reimbursement

Bike travel allowance

Teaching and research credits funding

Professional relocation allowance

Access to university courses at a pref

Job summary

The University of Liège (ULiège) invites applications for an academic position in Digital Ecology Applied to Socio-Ecosystem Biodiversity within the Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech Faculty. The role combines teaching across multiple Master’s programmes with active research on biodiversity, ecological networks and environmental data platforms.

The successful candidate will design integrated courses, supervise doctoral work, and contribute to regional and international collaborations, while promoting

Qualifications

• Proven international collaborations in the field of study.
• Ability to teach in French and English or willingness to learn within two years.
• Ability to finance and lead a research project and team.

Responsibilities

• Teach across Master’s programmes in Bioengineering: Forest and Natural Space Management, Landscape Architecture and Agroecology.
• Supervise internships, dissertations and doctoral theses; oversee projects and community services.
• Develop integrated courses linking biodiversity, ecosystems, and planning with quantitative and digital methods.

Skills

International collaborations

Teaching in English & French

Leadership of a research team

Education

Doctoral degree

Job description

Organisation/Company University of Liège (ULiège) Research Field Computer science » Other Engineering » Agricultural engineering Engineering » Other Environmental science » Ecology Environmental science » Other Technology » Environmental technology Researcher Profile Established Researcher (R3) Application Deadline 31 Jan 2027 - 22:59 (UTC) Country Belgium Type of Contract Permanent 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

Offer Description

JOBREFERENCE: PA271002

START DATE: 01/09/2027

The University of Liège is the largest French-speaking public university in Belgium. It 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. It 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-IndustrialCities, 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 Humanresources 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.

Within the University of Liège, the Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech Faculty (GxABT) offers people the opportunity to develop their scientific careers in a creative atmosphere which encourages multidisciplinary approaches to cutting-edge research and high-quality teaching for the next generation of bioengineers. GxABT provides a supportive infrastructure, including professional development programmes, a welcome group for new academic staff, funding opportunities, and collaboration platforms to encourage successful research and scientific excellence.

Situated in the French-speaking part of Belgium, the GxABT campus is just a short distance south of Brussels, the cosmopolitan capital of Europe (30 minutes by train). The town of Gembloux combines the serenity of a peaceful way of life with practical access to urban amenities.

JOB DESCRIPTION

A full-time, indivisible academic position, in the field of “Digital Ecology Applied to Socio-Ecosystem Biodiversity” within the single Department of the Faculty of Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech. This position includes teaching and research activities as well as services to the community.

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

The post covers a cross-cutting range of teaching across several Master’s programmes in the Faculty, mainly the Master’s in Bioengineering: Forest and Natural Space Management, the Master’s in Landscape Architecture and the Master’s in Agroecology.

The courses taught mainly relate to ecosystemic services and their applications, ecological networks and regional planning, spatial approaches and ecological modelling, multivariate analysis of ecological data (biodiversity and the environment), the connection between data, analysis and decision-making support. At this stage, the courses which have been identified include:

The teaching load will cover several courses for a total of between 15 and 18 credits, including:

• BIOD0007-1 Biodiversity analysis methods: community and populations (community analysis method / population analysis method)
• ENVT0047-1 Ecosystemic and landscape services
• ENVT2052-1 Environmental impacts: concepts and methodology
• ENVT3050-1: Quantification of ecosystemic services
• PAYS0001-2: Ecological networks
• PAS0014-1: Ecological engineering

The courses are aimed at Master’s students and can be given in French or English.

The teaching load also includes overseeing and supervising internships, final dissertations, doctoral theses, various projects, etc.

In order to offer our students enhanced training in the modelling and use of complex ecological data, the successful applicant shall be asked to, within their colleagues, design and contribute towards more integrated courses connecting biodiversity, ecological networks, ecosystemic services and planning, as well as the strengthening quantitative, spatial and digital approaches.

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

The research activities shall aim to develop approaches to digital ecology applied to biodiversity and socio-ecosystems. Themes shall focus on:

• The integration and analysis of multi-source data relating to biodiversity;
• The use of spatial-temporal modelling of species, habitats and ecosystemic services;
• The development of indicators, scenarios and decision-making aids for the development of biodiversity.

These themes may be applied to the development of biodiversity observatories and green infrastructures (ecological networks).

The field presents great potential for the development of regional, European and international projects, particularly in the fields of biodiversity-climate, ecological monitoring, environmental data infrastructures and digital tools to assist with decision-making.

SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY

Services to the community shall be identified gradually, taking into account the needs of the University and the individual’s skills, in partnership with the Dean and the Department. These will include taking responsibilities within management bodies inside and outside the University.

In particular, the post-holder shall contribute to positioning the University of Liège and Gemblous Agro-Bio Tech as leading actors in the field of analysing and supporting environmental and regional transitions. Their activities shall include: the development of decision-making tools for biodiversity policies, ecological networks and green infrastructures, scientific support to public-sector and regional actors, contribution to observatories and environmental data platforms, participation in expert groups, working groups and collaborative projects connected with environmental and regional policy.

The position shall encourage interactions between research, teaching, expertise and public policy support, from the perspective of science informing socio-ecological transitions.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED / PROFILE

• Hold a doctoral research degree at the time of submitting the application and have significant postdoctoral experience which is reflected in international high-level publications in the field of study. Demonstration of solid field experience in a developing country is an asset.
• Produce evidence of proven international collaborations relevant to the themes of the vacancy and a desire to develop these partnerships;
• Demonstrate an ability to finance and carry out scientific research and lead a research team;
• Demonstrate the ability to teach in both French and English or commit to being able to do so within two years of being appointed. If relevant, prior teaching activities should also be mentioned.
• Be able to work within a teaching and research team combining different disciplines and to use the human and technical resources which are pooled within GxABT at ULiège, as well as to develop R&D activities in contact with other stakeholders;
• Be available for various roles relating to services to the community;
• Have good communication skills;
• Comply with the quality management and continuous improvement systems implemented within the University.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Applications will be examined by a Faculty Committee responsible for selecting applicants to be interviewed. They will explain their decisions in terms of this vacancy notice and the applicants’ qualifications and skills. The Faculty Committee will conduct interviews, which will cover the applicants’ CVs, their teaching and research plans, integration into the University, and French and English skills. The interview will include a public lecture, the modalities of which will be set by the Faculty Committee. This interview should be held – in principle – within the first quarter of 2027.

Our institutional policy is based on diversity and equal opportunity. We select candidates based on their qualities and regardless of their age, sexual orientation, origin, beliefs, disability or nationality.

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 negative, the person’s appointment will end after the fourth year.
• If the evaluation is positive, the person will be appointed permanently.

INFORMATION

Further information concerning the position may be obtained from Professor Marie-Laure FAUCONNIER, Dean of the Faculty of Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, by email only at [e-mail]

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 €6,314.51 (reference index: September 2026), 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 – [e-mail]

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).
• Meal vouchers with a face value of €5 per working day.
• 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).