"Full-time academic position - Faculty of Sciences - Field: Collective and resilient management of energy resources in the construction industry"

Full-time academic position - Faculty of Sciences - Field: Collective and resilient management of energy resources in the construction industry

The University of Liège is the biggest 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-Industrial Cities, 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 Human resources 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.

JOB DESCRIPTION

A full-time, potentially divisible, position in the field of the Collective and Resilient Management of Energy Resources in the Construction Industry within the Department of Environmental Sciences and Management based at the ULiège Arlon campus. This position includes teaching and research activities as well as services to the community.

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

The subject of this position is an important part of the training programme of the Environmental Sciences and Management Department, particularly its cross-border implications, as it falls within the double degree with the University of Luxembourg, in the “Renewable Energies and Sustainable Buildings” stream within the Master’s in Environmental Sciences and Management.

To give an indication, the planned list of courses forming the basis of this post is as follows:

• Introduction to environmental physics and thermodynamics
• Integrated energy management, particularly in the construction industry
• Analysis of systems applied to the environment
• Course project “Simulating and optimising building energy systems”
• Course project “Promoting renewable energies”
• Course project “Energy communities”
• Course project “Environmental performance of buildings” (English)
• Technical and economic analysis of energy systems and project methodology

The classes largely take place in the Master’s in SGE amounting to a maximum total of 250 hours of classes, including practical work.

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

The scope of the post is specifically oriented towards issues of collective and resilient management of energy resources within the construction industry in the context of climate change. It covers aspects linked to the building envelope, processes, and systems, and the study of their respective and combined impact on the environment and occupants. It involves:

• Developing resilient management approaches: the adaptability of the building to climate change, to new types of energy, and new ways of living; the study of the circularity of materials (e.g. development of an integrated metrological tool for the evaluation of (1) intelligence home automation and user), (2) resilience, and (3) building performance).
• Developing shared management on different scales, in particular within energy communities. Moving to a bigger scale (network or community) poses specific and additional research questions in terms of optimisation, etc.

The position includes responsibility for promoting the “Laboratoire J Geelen” tool. This is used as an experimental platform which can carry out tests on energy systems in real conditions: a 50m3 climatic chamber connected in real time to a digital simulation tool. Integrated to the cross-border virtual laboratory platform RCC I KN, it forms part of the range of coordinated services of the ArlonEnviroLab campus platform.

SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY

The post-holder will develop continuing education projects with the Sustainable Technological Platform installed at the University’s Arlon campus. They will ensure coordinate the Master’s in Environmental Sciences and Management, “Renewable Energies and Sustainable Buildings” double degree with the University of Luxembourg.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED / PROFILE

• Hold a Doctorate in Sciences, Applied Sciences, Architecture or equivalent.
• Recognised scientific expertise in energy management in the construction industry.
• Experience of higher education teaching (universities, Hautes Ecoles, etc.).
• Modelling skills required (development of algorithms).
• Openness to multi-disciplinarity is an advantage.
• Ability to maintain or strengthen collaboration with other faculties (particularly the Faculty of Applied Sciences and the Faculty of Architecture).
• Ability to develop new research and teaching collaborations, including with socio-economic actors.
• Leadership, experience, and enthusiasm for collaborative and multi-disciplinary working.
• Good knowledge of French and English.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

1. The selection procedure will be in line with the regulations applied within the University of Liège.

2. 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.

APPLICATIONS

Applications should be made using an on-line form available at: https://my.uliege.be/portail/go_xt.do?a=o%7C11004%7Ce%7C621338 To be eligible, applications must be submitted no later than 15/09/2025 (before midnight Belgian time).

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.

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 €5,992.58, 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.

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 2025).
• Meal vouchers with a face value of €5.
• 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).