About this role
1 - Working at the VUB For more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for f reedom, 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 description The Faculty of Engineering , Department of Applied Physics and Photonics , is looking for a part-time professor . More concretely your work package contains: Education and Research domain: Applied Physics and Photonics Education tasks: You will be responsible for courses taken by Master students in Photonics, more in particular you can be charged with a course in Optical Sensors. Research tasks: You will perform research that fits within the research activities of Brussels Photonics (B-PHOT) as core lab of Flanders Make. We expect that you accomplish research with international visibility in the domain of photonics with a focus on optical fiber sensing technologies, photonic sensing systems and structural health monitoring for industrial and engineering applications, in particular: your research of excellent quality resulting in publications in international peer review journals in the fields of photonics and optical fiber sensing; your recruitment of fundamental-, strategic-, and applied projects at national and European/international level; your supervision and guidance of PhD students; Other tasks: You are willing to take up responsibilities in departmental, faculty and/or university governance bodies and committees and that you will contribute to outreach activities and the visibility of the university. For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base. 3 - Profile What do we expect from you? You must hold a PhD awarded on the basis of an original thesis. You are an electrotechnical, electronic or photonics engineer or master in science (physics) and doctor in applied sciences or in engineering. You dispose of the following competencies: Technical and scientific competencies: you have an expertise in optical fiber sensing technologies, with a proven track record of publications in international peer-reviewed journals; Research and project management competencies: you have a demonstrated experience in securing research funding, the ability to build and lead national and international research consortia and experience in fostering collaboration between academic and industrial partners; Teaching competencies: you have a proven experience in delivering high-quality university education, as well as supervising PhD students and leading research teams; Personal competencies: you show scientific excellence and vision, an entrepreneurial and proactive mindset, and strong communication skills; Moreover, having an established professional network in the fields of photonic sensing technologies, optical fiber sensing, structural health monitoring and condition monitoring is considered a plus. Candidates will be selected and ranked on the basis of their track record. 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 https://jobs.vub.be/content/Regulations-concerning-language-proficiency/ . Certificates demonstrating knowledge of the language can already be added to the application. As a (non-)EEA national , meet the conditions for obtaining a valid permit for VUB and comply with the VUB residence requirements. More info here . 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 - Offer Are 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 01/01/2027 . 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 23/10/2026 , via jobs.vub.be , 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. Our application process is as follows (subject to change): step 1: an initial selection based on your application file; step 2: on the basis of a trial lesson, a presentation and a selection interview, the selection committee identifies your competences; step 3: a final interview with the dean for the first ranked candidate. Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Prof. Heidi Ottevaere at [email protected] or on ++32 629 34 53. Would you like to know what it’s like to work at the VUB? Go to jobs.vub.be , 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 eutopia-university.eu , and read more about the role of the VUB in the development of the EUTOPIA alliance.