TOGAS Postdoctoral position

talent attraction programme at the University of Antwerp , co-funded by the MSCA Choose Europe for Science initiative. TOGAS calls for talented and ambitious postdoctoral researchers who are strongly motivated to advance their academic career path at the University of Antwerp . More than a postdoctoral fellowship, TOGAS introduces a pre-tenure track career model , providing a stairway to a long-term academic perspective at UAntwerpen. The programme will recruit five outstanding postdoctoral researchers through one open, international, and competitive call. TOGAS welcomes applications from postdoctoral researchers who are ready to develop their own ambitious research project in one of TOGAS sustainability oriented research themes , grow their all-round independent academic potential and become part of the University of Antwerp's research community. Position As a TOGAS fellow, you will join a vibrant international research environment at University of Antwerp and benefit from: Attractive employment and working conditions Full-time employment for a period of 60 months (36 months Phase 1 + 24 months Phase 2) High-quality supervision Ambitious research aligned to a TOGAS sustainability-oriented research theme Tailored training in research, teaching, leadership and academic skills for the development of an all-round academic competence profile Pre-tenure track career model providing a structured career development pathway with a long-term academic perspective beyond the TOGAS fellowship Stimulating academic environments with opportunities to build interdisciplinary and international collaborations Profile Applicants to the TOGAS call should comply with the following eligibility criteria: Doctoral degree : applicants must hold a doctoral degree by 8 February 2027 or have successfully and unconditionally defended their PhD before this date. The doctoral degree should be in an area relevant for the selected TOGAS research theme. Research experience: applicant must have a maximum of six years of research experience from the award of their first PhD, subject to possible extensions for eligible career breaks and periods outside research. MSCA mobility rule : applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity in Belgium for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately preceding 8 February 2027. Employment status : applicants should not be permanently employed by the University of Antwerp at the time of application. Research theme : applicants must submit a research project aligned with one of the five TOGAS research themes and the programme’s overall sustainability research orientation: Theme 1: Catalytic methods for sustainable chemical transformations Theme 2: Plasma-based sustainable chemistry Theme 3: Co-governance for sustainable transitions: a systemic design perspective Theme 4: (Adaptive) reuse for environmental changes and stakeholder-driven design Theme 5: Molecular basis of disease and protein biochemistry Application requirement : application must submit a complete application in English, using the required templates and supporting documents , through the online application portal by the 8 February 2027 deadline. Timeline Call opens: 9 November 2026 at 9:00 CET Call closes: 8 February 2027 at 17:00 CET Online interview: June 2027 (exact dates to follow) Notification of call results: July 2027 Start of selected TOGAS fellows: 1 September - 1 November 2027 What we offer Fellows will be appointed for a total period of 60 months , structured in two phases: an initial Phase 1 of 36-months , followed by a Phase 2 of 24-months designed to support longer-term academic integration and progression. TOGAS is built around sustainability as an overarching cross-disciplinary research orientation. The programme addresses major sustainability challenges across a specific set of STEM fields: chemistry, circular product design, architecture and interior architecture, and medical biochemistry. For each of the five research themes , one postdoctoral researcher will be selected. Through TOGAS, the University of Antwerp aims to attract, develop, and retain academic talent, strengthening its research capacity in sustainability-related STEM domains and creating opportunities for the next generation of academic leaders. Want to apply? 1. Read the TOGAS Guide for Applicants 2. Check your eligibility , including the alignment with one of the TOGAS research themes 3. Explore the supervisor 's expertise and the research environment for your selected TOGAS research theme 4. Prepare your application Applicants must use the provided TOGAS templates and prepare the following documents for their application: Structured CV Research proposal Motivation letter Ethics self-assessment form PhD diploma or, where applicable, an official statement confirming the required PhD status 5. Complete the online application form Applications must be submitted online via the TOGAS application portal . Enter your personal details and key information about your proposed research project in the online form. 6. Upload your application documents All application documents must be uploaded as PDF files. Each file must be no larger than 2 MB. Files must follow the specified naming and formatting requirements. 7. Submit your application (deadline 8 February 2027 - 17h CET) Once the online form is complete and all required documents have been uploaded, submit your application via the portal on this website. You will receive an email confirmation once your application has been submitted. Important information Only one proposal per candidate may be submitted. If multiple applications are submitted, only the latest application will be considered. Only complete applications submitted through the online portal by the deadline will be considered for evaluation. Applications that do not comply with the required templates, page limits or formatting instructions may be deemed ineligible. No online registration is required to access the application portal. TOGAS (Training for Opportunities and Growth in Academic Sustainability) is co-funded by the MSCA Choose Europe for Science initiative, Grant Agreement No 101313599. The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.