Group Leader and Professor AI in Biology - Dept of Computer Science and Dept. Electrical Engineering

1000scholars; Vlaams-Brabant; On-site; EUR 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Top research facilities

Support to attract PhD students and Ph

Internationally competitive package

Job summary

KU Leuven in Leuven, Belgium seeks a Group Leader and Professor of AI in Biology to advance AI and mechanistic models in biology. You will lead a research program, teach at the Faculty of Engineering Science, and contribute to university and VIB services.

Dutch language training is provided if needed. You will build a strong network across VIB, KU Leuven, and beyond, addressing ambitious research questions in AI for biology, with a focus on scalable funding and training of PhD students and

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in machine learning or related quantitative field.
• Proven track record in foundational or applied ML research.
• Excellent programming and research publication record.
• Ability to secure competitive funding and supervise researchers.

Responsibilities

• Research leadership and building an independent program within VIB/KU Leuven.
• Teach courses in English or Dutch with high-quality education.
• Provide scientific and institutional service to the university and VIB.

Skills

Machine learning

Programming

Interdisciplinary mindset

Competitive funding ability

English proficiency

Education

PhD or equivalent in a quantitative field

Job description

Group Leader and Professor AI in Biology - Dept of Computer Science and Dept. Electrical Engineering

VIB

Leuven, Belgium

We are particularly interested in recruiting faculty members who use and develop artificial intelligence methods and mechanistic mathematical models to address fundamental questions in biology.

Examples of research topics include but are not limited to: development of new AI architectures for biology and hybrid models that combine deep learning with mechanistic models; foundation models of genome regulation using single-cell and spatial multi-omics data; AI-based modeling of protein structure and protein interaction networks; AI-based modeling of cell morphology and tissue function using imaging and computer vision; AI models of disease and digital twin applications. We also welcome applicants with applied projects, including synthetic biology, AI-driven experiments (experiment-in-the-loop), and bio-engineering.

This position comes with full salary and core funding (internationally competitive package) that is renewable for multiple additional 5-year periods, and access to state-of-the-art research and top-notch support core facilities, as well as support to attract talented PhD students and postdocs from across the world.

Assignment

• Research. As a VIB Group Leader and KU Leuven Professor, you will be expected to (continue to) build your research program with your own independent research group, and to set up or consolidate a strong network with other researchers within VIB, KU Leuven and beyond. You strive for excellence in your research and thereby contribute to the scientific development of the new VIB.AI center.
• Teaching. The candidate will be appointed at the Faculty of Engineering Science and will take up teaching assignments (in English or in Dutch). You ensure high-quality education, with a clear commitment to the quality of the program as a whole. You also contribute to the pedagogic project of the university through the supervision of MSc theses and as a promoter of PhD students.
• Service. You provide scientific, societal, and internal services that contribute to the reputation of the entire VIB and university.

Your profile

• PhD or equivalent experience in machine learning or a related quantitative field (Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Statistics, Mathematics, Physics, Computational Biology/Chemistry).
• Candidates will be considered at junior or more senior levels assuming relevant experience in foundational machine learning research and/or applied machine learning in an academic and/or industrial setting (post-doctoral).
• Excellent machine learning and programming experience.
• Published impactful research, demonstrates creativity, originality, and addresses relevant problems in biology & computational research.
• Demonstrated ability to acquire competitive funding.
• Interdisciplinary mindset and keen on collaborating broadly in the center, the department and the university.
• Motivated to guide postdoctoral researchers, PhD interns, and full-time scientists.
• International working experience.
• You have a thorough knowledge of spoken and written English.
• The official administrative language at KU Leuven is Dutch. If you do not speak Dutch or are not proficient at the beginning of your employment, VIB and KU Leuven will offer language training. You are required to achieve a CEFR-level of B2 in Dutch within five years of starting your appointment.

Deadline 15 November