Professor in AI-based modelling of Congo Basin rainforest ecology
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 Faculty of Engineering, Department of Hydrology en Hydraulic Engineering, is looking for a part-time professor.
More concretely your work package contains:
Education and Research domain:
Engineering, Physics, Biogeosciences
Education tasks:
You supervise MSc thesis students.
Research tasks:
You contribute to research projects in the field of tropical forest ecology, with a focus on the Congo Basin. This will include:
- You conduct research on the representation of tropical forest dynamics of the Congo Basin in state-of-the-art Earth System models, Land Surface Models and Ecosystem models;
- You conduct research on the emulation of tropical forest dynamics of the Congo Basin using Machine learning methodologies;
- You support in the recruitment of fundamental, strategic, and applied projects on the topic of tropical forest dynamics of the Congo Basin at national and European/international level;
- You supervise and guide PhD students;
- You collaborate with relevant partners in Belgium, other EU countries and African countries.
Other tasks:
- You will contribute to the visibility and the networking of the department;
- You will contribute to the visibility of the university.
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 have proven research experience in the fields of soil-plant relationships, tropical ecology, land surface modelling, and machine learning (all fields) preferably on the African continent;
- You have an outstanding publication track record.
- You subscribe to the university’s vision of education. The full text in relation to this is available on the university website.
- Every first appointment is dependent upon the successful delivery of a teaching session.
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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.
- As a (non-)EEA national, meet the conditions for obtaining a valid permit for VUB and comply with the VUB residence requirements. More info here.
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 as professor, for an assignment of 0.1 FTE, for 3 years (renewable, on condition of the positive evaluation of the activities), with planned starting date 01/03/2026.
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 04/01/2026, via jobs.vub.be, and upload the following documents:
- your motivation letter, including your vision on education and research, and an explanation about the development of your future research;
- your curriculum vitae, including you academic dossier;
- your diploma (not applicable for VUB alumni) and language certificates.
Our application process is as follows (subject to change):
- step 1: an initial selection based on your application file;
- step 2: on the basis of a trial lesson, a presentation and a selection interview, the selection committee identifies your competences;
- step 3: a final interview with the dean for the first ranked candidate.
Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Prof. Wim Thiery at wim.thiery@vub.be or on 02/629.30.29.
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.
