Doctor-Assistent Self-Regulated Learning

1 - Working at the VUB

For more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, 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 Faculteit Psychologie & Educatiewetenschappen, Department Educatiewetenschappen, is looking for a senior research fellow. 

More concretely your work package contains: 

Education and Research domain:

Educational Change processes with a focus on self-regulated learning

Education tasks:

• You will make a limited but active contribution to the MSc programs in Educational Sciences. This includes supervising and providing daily guidance to students working on master's theses that align with your own research.

Research tasks:

• You will conduct research in the field of educational change, with a central focus on self-regulated learning and its pedagogical components. Key research tasks include:
  • Publishing articles in internationally peer-reviewed journals;
  • Securing external research funding;
  • Supervising (pre-doctoral) researchers, including support in data collection, data analysis, and co-authoring scientific publications;
  • Supporting ongoing projects within the Brussels Research Center on Innovation in Learning & Diversity (BILD);
  • Expanding an (inter)national network within the research community and professional field;

Other tasks:

• You will take on a coordinating role within the research group and actively participate in departmental and faculty research activities. This includes attending department meetings and representing the department in relevant councils.

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 hold a PhD in Educational Sciences or a related discipline.

• You have demonstrable knowledge and expertise in self-regulated learning, evidenced by relevant publications and/or research activities.
• You possess a solid understanding of both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies relevant to educational research.
• You have a track record of publishing in international, peer-reviewed journals and have established an international network.
• You demonstrate strong competencies in supervising master's thesis students and/or doctoral researchers.
• You have experience in writing and submitting applications for competitive external funding.
• You are proficient in both written and spoken English.
• You can work effectively in an intercultural and multilingual environment, collaborating with students, faculty members, researchers, and administrative staff.
• You endorse the university's vision and educational philosophy, as detailed on the university’s website.

• You subscribe to the university’s vision of education. The full text in relation to this is available on the university website.

• 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. 

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, for an assignment of 0.5 FTE, for 1 years (renewable, on condition of the positive evaluation of the activities), with planned starting date 01/10/2025. 

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 15/05/2025, via jobs.vub.be, and upload the following documents:

• your CV, including you academic dossier;
• your motivation letter;
• your diploma (not applicable for VUB alumni).

Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Koen Lombaerts at koen.lombaerts@vub.be or on 026292281.

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.