Tenured senior academic staff in biomedical data sciences, multi-omics and bioinformatics

Let’s shape the future – University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape.

The Department of Biomedical Sciences in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences has the following full-time vacancy:

tenured senior academic staff in the field of Biomedical data sciences, multi-omics and bioinformatics

Position

You will contribute to the University of Antwerp’s three core tasks: education (45%), research (45%) and services (10%). Your role also includes organisational and managerial aspects and you contribution to the core tasks can be modified depending on the needs of the department.

Education

• You provide high-quality education in the degree programmes Biomedical Sciences and Biochemistry and Biotechnology.
• Your teaching assignment evolves in line with the curricula development and changes. As you will teach Dutch-taught course units, you must hold a C1 certificate in Dutch. As course coordinator or co-coordinator, you will teach, among others, the course units Programming, Machine Learning, and Data Sciences. Depending on planned educational reforms within the Department of Biomedical Sciences, you may also contribute as course coordinator, co-coordinator, or lecturer to one or more additional course units within the department, such as Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Immunology, or Novel Vaccine Technologies.
• You will play a role in developing activating, student-centred and competence-driven programme components and study programmes.
• You will supervise students and their Bachelor and Master dissertations.

Research

• You independently develop and lead a scientific research programme, using advanced data-driven methodologies to address complex biomedical questions. This includes the application of data mining and artificial intelligence for the analysis of high-dimensional multi-omics, biological, and clinical datasets. You have expertise across a broad range of data types, including molecular ‘omics’ data (transcriptomics, (epi)genomics, proteomics) and complex immunological data. You have experience spanning multiple ‘omics’ domains, their integration, and their application in immunology, combined with the pathophysiology of cell death and/or infectious diseases.
• In addition to a thorough knowledge of standard bioinformatics pipelines and tools, you have documented expertise in adapting and developing bioinformatics tools and databases. You can apply diverse computational strategies, including machine learning and next-generation AI techniques, to explore the inherent complexity of biomedical and biochemical datasets.
• You initiate new research lines and coordinate the progress of scientific research projects. Your research aligns with one or more of the ongoing research programs of the research groups in which you will be embedded, the Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH) and/or Cell Death Signalling (CDS) within the Department of Biomedical Sciences.
• Prior successful acquisition of research funding as principal investigator is a major asset. In addition, demonstrable experience in collaborative research projects, either as co-applicant or lead applicant, is a clear advantage.
• You acquire and manage (inter)national research funding and pay attention to research valorisation and collaboration with industry.
• You publish in leading international journals.
• You build an international scientific network.
• You supervise doctoral candidates and/or postdoctoral researchers.

Services

• You will play a role in the provision of both academic services and service to society, within the institution and externally. You will participate in student recruitment, boards and committees, popular science communication, and so on

Organisation and leadership

• You will accept, gradually increasing, coordinating responsibilities in the areas of education, research and/or service provision and you will contribute to policy, with a focus on a constructive and collaborative approach.
• Your leadership style will be motivating and coaching. You will be attentive to your employees’ growth and development processes.

Profile

• You hold a PhD in Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Bioengineering Sciences, Medicine, or an equivalent field.
• You can demonstrate at least six years of postdoctoral experience (or equivalent experience).
• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies. You have an excellent research track record, as evidenced by publications in top-tier journals as both first author and senior author, the successful acquisition of national and international research funding as (co-)principal investigator, and the receipt of scientific awards.
• Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision. You are motivated to develop your teaching skills further through the professionalisation opportunities available, or you have already acquired such competencies. Experience as course coordinator and/or co-coordinator is considered an asset.
• You teach in both Dutch and English. Proficiency in Dutch at CEFR level C1 (native speaker, language certificate, or a Dutch-taught secondary, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree) is required for this position. Proficiency in English at CEFR level C1 (language certificate or an English-taught master’s degree) is considered an asset; if not yet obtained, it is expected to be achieved within three years.
• You demonstrate leadership potential and organisational skills.
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.

What we offer

• We offer a full-time appointment as a member of the Senior Academic Staff (Dutch: Zelfstandig Academisch Personeel, ZAP). The level of your appointment (assistant professor, associate professor, professor or full professor) is determined on the basis of your professional experience and academic qualifications. Junior ZAP members are usually offered temporary appointment as a tenure track assistant professor for five years, which is then followed by permanent appointment as an associate professor. Appointment as an associate professor or higher leads to permanent appointment (tenure) after a maximum of three years. A favourable performance appraisal is always required for permanent appointment.
• We offer, after positive evaluation of a PhD project proposal you submitted, an attractive starter package consisting of a four-year PhD project and €25 000 of consumables to boost your research from the start of your employment at the University of Antwerp.
• Your gross monthly salary is calculated according to the pay scales for Senior Academic Staff.
• You will receive ecocheques, Internet-connectivity allowance and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
• The planned start date is September 1st, 2026, or as soon as possible after that date.
• You will do most of your work at Campus Drie Eiken in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here and discover all the other benefits.

Want to apply?

• You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including 1 July 2026. Click on the 'Apply' button and complete the online application form. Be sure to include the following attachments:
  • your motivation letter
  • the completed job application appendix for ZAP
  • your academic CV
  • Names and contact details of three referees
  • A concise overview of previous research results, and three key publications with a brief explanation of the impact of these publications on the research field (max. 1 page)
  • A research plan (max. 3 pages) that takes into account your expertise and experience, and the future embedding within the Department of Biomedical Sciences in line with the research focus described above
  • An abstract of your research plan of no more than 500 words
• Adding these attachments is mandatory. In the absence of one or more documents, your application will be declared inadmissible.
• The selection committee reviews all applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision is made, we will notify you. If you are still eligible after the pre-selection, you will be informed about the possible next step(s) in the selection procedure. If you are invited to the selection interview, you will also be asked to propose a topic for a four-year PhD project.
• If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerpen.be. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact the chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Prof. Peter Delputte (peter.delputte@uantwerpen.be).