Permanent full-time scientific position - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - Field: Integrative animal physiology and spatial biology

JOB REFERENCE:

PSRA260602

Permanent full-time scientific position

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Field: Integrative animal physiology and spatial biology

Start date: 01/10/2026

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

The position of first assistant(M/F/X) is in the field of “Integrative animal physiology and Spatial Biology”, attached to the Department of Functional Sciences (DSF). This position is part of a strategy to strengthen strategic research within the DSF and to enhance the cross-disciplinary nature of teaching.

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

The recruited person will conduct tutorial sessions (TDs) and practical sessions (TPs) in the broad field of integrative animal physiology. They will ensure the transversal coherence of these teachings with other units within the DSF and promote their connection with related disciplines from an interdepartmental perspective.

The teaching activities concern the first-cycle bachelor’s program in veterinary medicine and relate to the course units listed below. Each cohort consists of about one hundred students per year, divided into 12 groups for practicals (TPs) and 3 groups for tutorials (TDs).

The relevant course units are as follows:

• VETE-2102: Physiology of Domestic Animals I (general physiology, muscle physiology, neurophysiology, thermoregulation, and exercise metabolism);
• VETE-2103: Physiology of Domestic Animals II (respiratory, cardiovascular, and exercise physiology);
• VETE-2105: Physiology of Domestic Animals III (endocrinology and reproductive physiology);
• VETE-2106: Physiology of Domestic Animals IV (digestive, excretory, and sensory physiology);
• VETE-0005: Biochemistry of Domestic Animals II (intermediary metabolism, synthetic and degradative pathways, energy balance, and associated regulatory mechanisms).
• VTFE0005-1: Final dissertation (8 weeks) [supervision of final dissertations].

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Spatial biology is a rapidly expanding field of research that aims to map gene and protein expression within tissues while preserving their spatial organization. These approaches provide an integrated and unprecedented view of cellular interactions and physiopathological mechanisms in situ. Based on high-resolution spatial transcriptomics and proteomics, they open new perspectives for understanding the functional complexity of animal tissues in various physiological, pathological, or therapeutic contexts.

The DSF has positioned itself as a pioneer in this emerging field. The research associated with this position will be conducted within the Laboratory of Immunophysiology (www.gigaimmunophysiology.uliege.be), which investigates the interactions between the immune system and tissues under physiological and pathological conditions.

The First Assistant will contribute to the development of approaches combining animal models and/or human or animal biological material with cutting-edge technologies in spatial biology, with the goal of elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing tissue homeostasis, inflammation, and repair.

   The recruited person will be specifically responsible for:

• developing and conducting original research projects in spatial biology applied to animal immunophysiology, in alignment with the strategic priorities of the DSF;
• participating in the scientific supervision and technical guidance of master’s and doctoral students involved in the laboratory’s projects;
• contributing to the Faculty’s visibility through the dissemination of research results (publications, collaborations, project funding).

SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY

1. The recruited person will be expected to contribute actively to faculty and university life, notably through participation in a reasonable number of service duties to the academic community (departmental council, faculty council, doctoral college, open house events, etc.).

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED / PROFILE

Given the missions combining life sciences research and teaching for future veterinarians, the candidate must:

• hold a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and demonstrate knowledge in animal physiology;
• hold a PhD in the field of Life Sciences, broadly defined;
• be able to communicate effectively in French;
• demonstrate an international-level scientific track record;
• show proven teaching skills;
• demonstrate recognized expertise in health sciences research and spatial biology, enabling them to design, implement, (co-)supervise, and fund research projects involving spatial biology technologies in the broad sense, in alignment with the DSF’s research priorities;
• demonstrate an ability to work in a team and collaborate effectively.

Evaluation criteria (non-hierarchical)

• Previous research experience (scientific CV, international publications, distinctions, research fellowships, etc.);
• Teaching abilities and the degree of cross-disciplinarity demonstrated in the teaching project;
• Knowledge, expertise, and technical skills in spatial biology in the broad sense, as evidenced by previous publications and the proposed research project;
• Scientific and operational credibility of the proposed research project.

Assets :

• Have completed a mobility stay of more than six months outside the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, not necessarily in one continuous period.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

1. Each candidate’s file is reviewed by a faculty committee, which selects the applicants to be interviewed, providing justification for its decisions based on the call for applications and the candidates’ qualifications and achievements. The committee then conducts the interviews, which focus in particular on the candidate’s curriculum vitae, research and teaching projects, and prospects for development in the position to be filled.
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 the online form available on the following website: https://my.uliege.be/portail/go_xt.do?a=o%7C11004%7Ce%7C639008. To be eligible, applications must be submitted no later than 28 février 2026 (before midnight Belgian time).

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

• Cover letter.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Copies of diplomas and certificates.
• Research appendix: proposal for a 3-year research project – maximum 15,000 characters, including spaces.
• Teaching appendix: proposal for a transversal tutorial (TD) or practical session (TP) at the end of the bachelor’s program in integrative physiology – maximum 15,000 characters, including spaces.
• List of publications.

Any exceeding of the character limits will not be considered.

These documents must be uploaded in PDF format to the online application platform (see link in the "APPLICATIONS" section).

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The appointment will be made for a two-year renewable term and may lead to a permanent appointment after an evaluation, or, in certain exceptional circumstances, immediately on a permanent basis.

INFORMATION

Any information regarding the position may be obtained from the Chair of the Department of Functional Sciences: Mr. Thomas MARICHAL – Tel.: +32 (0)4 366 40 30 – t.marichal@uliege.be

Additional information may be obtained from: Ms Ludivine COUNASSE,Administrative Director of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – tel.: +32 (0)4 366 41 54 – L.Counasse@uliege.be

REMUNERATION

The salary grids and their rules of application are available from the Human Resources Department of the University: Ms Valérie MELOTTE – Val.melotte@uliege.be