Tenure track professor in geospatial analysis of human-environment interactions

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 Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences, Department of Geography, is looking for a tenure track lecturer. 

More concretely your work package contains: 

Education and Research domain:

Geomatics -  geospatial analysis of human-environment interactions

Education tasks:

• You will teach courses in the BSc and MSc programmes in geography and will also offer courses for other programmes in the faculty that require GIS skills (e.g. MSc Oceans & Lakes, MSc Biology, MSc Urban Studies, MSc Urbanism and Spatial Planning).
• Courses will include introductory Dutch-taught courses within the BSc Geography, such as cartography, spatial data handling, and spatial analysis.
• At the master’s level, teaching duties will include English-taught courses in advanced spatial analysis using up-to-date programming tools (e.g. Python, open-source geospatial libraries), with thematic relevance to human and/or physical geography.
• You are expected to supervise bachelor and master research projects in Geography, and potentially also in the field of Urban Studies, and Urbanism and Spatial Planning.

Research tasks:

• We are looking for enthusiast candidates who can strengthen the department’s research capacity in the field of spatial analytics and geospatial modelling. Thematically, the research should focus on human-environment interactions, but the candidate can bring in a more human geography or physical geography focus.

• Your research should broaden the scope and complement the research currently carried out within either the Cosmopolis Centre for Urban Research or the Physical Geography research group.

• You focus on spatial analytics and quantitative spatial modelling approaches and also foster synergy between existing research lines within the department. Relevant fields of application include -  but are not restricted to -  geographies of environmental risks and global change, geographies of social and environmental inequalities, or geographies of health and wellbeing.

• You are expected to generate high-quality research output, supervise PhD researchers, and apply for competitive research funding at relevant levels (i.e. local, regional, national, international).

• You will contribute to reinforcing the international reputation of the department’s research groups and engage in dissemination and societal outreach activities.

Other tasks:

• You will join one of the two research groups in the Geography Department at the VUB, depending on your research focus.
  The Cosmopolis Centre for Urban Research group focuses on the geographies of urban economies, urban social-environmental systems, housing and diversity, and urban design and planning, combining academic and practice-relevant research addressing current urban challenges.
  The Physical Geography group focuses on natural hazards and risk management, as well as on the dynamics of the continental cryosphere and its interaction with the climate system.
• You will participate in operational and administrative management at the research group and/or department level. This also includes embedding the research activities within the broader research and outreach strategies of the research group and other relevant VUB groups.
• The candidate will also gradually take an active role in the management of the BSc and MSc programs in geography, and in various faculty/department boards.

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 a PhD degree in geography, geomatics, environmental sciences, or an equivalent field.

• You have at least two years of postdoctoral research experience.
• You have experience in quantitative spatial analysis of geographical themes.
• You have an excellent research track record in the field of geomatics, as shown by:
  • High-quality international peer-reviewed publications
  • Experience or potential for successfully acquiring research funding at different levels (regional, national, international)
  • Experience with supervising Master’s and/or PhD students
•  You should be fluent English. Knowledge of Dutch at the C1 level is highly recommended at the start of the position.

• 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.  

• 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 a tenure track appointment, for an assignment of 1 FTE, for 5 years, with eligibility for tenure in the rank of senior lecturer by the end of this initial period, with planned starting date 01/10/2026. 

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 20/03/2026, 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. Matthieu Kervyn at makervyn@vub.be or on +32.629.36.61.

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.