Junior professor position in metabolism associated diseases

The Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism – CHROMETA – is recruiting an excellent research assistant to further deepen insights into metabolic diseases in close collaboration with clinical researchers. This research profile will be embedded within the Department of Clinical & Experimental Endocrinology, which comprises several research groups with an excellent track record in metabolic research, including fundamental research in type 1 & 2 diabetes, bariatric surgery, and bone disorders, as well as clinical research into nutrition, obesity, and andrology. Several of these research groups focus on developing new tools for transnutritional care and gaining insights into the mechanisms underlying metabolic diseases.
To excel in this rapidly evolving and highly competitive domain of metabolic research, it will be essential to study both mechanisms of action and disease, as well as therapeutic interventions, using an integrative approach in various metabolically related organ-organ interactions such as adipose tissue, liver, gut, and pancreas, but also muscle, brain, the microbiome, and the immune system. This requires not only extensive expertise in the field of metabolic research and diseases, but also the development of innovative concepts. The presence of specialized equipment in the Chrometa department (such as metabolic and calorimetric measurement setups for experimental animals, animal models of bariatric surgery) and of various Core facilities in the Biomedical group (molecular imaging of small animals, genomics, metabolomics, microbiome, LC-MS/MS), as well as the proximity of a university hospital with more than 700,000 outpatient visits per year, offers excellent opportunities for this research.
Therefore, we wish to expand our interdisciplinary research with an expert in the field of metabolism, in order to further develop fundamental and translational metabolic research and to develop collaborations within and outside the CHROMETA department.

Research

You will develop an internationally competitive research program in the broad domain of metabolic diseases, with a focus of your choice (e.g., obesity, gut-brain axis, MASLD).

You strengthen existing research lines and provide additional expertise by collaborating closely with members of the department.  In particular, you work closely with clinical researchers to strengthen translational research in metabolic diseases.

You establish collaborations within and outside the department. You initiate and participate in national and international collaborations of the research group.

You are able to independently secure competitive research funding.

You strive for excellence and publish at the highest scientific level.

You supervise Master’s students, PhDs, and postdocs at an international level.

Education

You contribute to education in the field of metabolic diseases, with a clear commitment to the quality of academic programs in one of the three faculties of the Biomedical Sciences group.

You also contribute to the pedagogical project of the faculties by supervising master’s theses and acting as a supervisor for doctoral candidates.

Your teaching will be in accordance with KU Leuven’s vision on active and research-based education.

Services

You are willing to provide scientific, social, and internal services that contribute to the reputation of the entire university.

Profile

You hold a PhD in biomedical sciences biology, biochemistry, or an equivalent field. You have at least 3 years of postdoctoral experience in the field of metabolic diseases. You have extensive expertise in animal models and cell biology. Experience with -omics is a plus.

The quality of your research is demonstrated by publications in leading international journals, by international research experience, and by unquestionable research integrity.

You have demonstrable qualities for academic teaching. Teaching experience is a plus.

You possess organizational skills and a collegial attitude. You possess leadership qualities in a university context.

A good command of English is required. KU Leuven offers Academic English courses.

The administrative language of KU Leuven is Dutch. If you have no or insufficient knowledge of Dutch upon recruitment, KU Leuven provides training designed to enable you to participate in board meetings. Before teaching a course in Dutch (or English), you will be offered the opportunity to acquire the necessary knowledge of Dutch (or English).

Offer

We offer full-time employment in an intellectually challenging environment. KU Leuven is a research-intensive, internationally oriented university that conducts both fundamental and applied scientific research. It is strongly inter- and multidisciplinary oriented and strives for international excellence. To this end, it actively collaborates with its research partners at home and abroad. It offers its students an academic education based on high-level scientific research.  The Knowledge and Technology Transfer Service KU Leuven Research & Development (lrd.kuleuven.be/en) is a role model for many European universities.

You work in Leuven, a historic yet dynamic and lively city in the center of Belgium, twenty minutes from Brussels, the capital of the European Union, and less than two hours from Paris, London, and Amsterdam.

You are appointed as a tenure track lecturer for a period of 5 years. Subsequently, upon a positive evaluation, you will be permanently appointed as an Associate Professor. Holders of external postdoctoral fellowships may be asked to complete their fellowship first. They will then be appointed as part-time ZAP during a transitional period.

KU Leuven is well-equipped to welcome foreign professors and their families and offers practical support regarding immigration and administration, housing, childcare, learning Dutch, partner career coaching, … 

To facilitate scientific integration and research in the first phase, seed funding of 110,000 euros is offered to new professors who are recruited for at least 50%.

If you are selected for the next round, it will take place on 11 or 14 September 2026 in Leuven. 

Interested?

More information can be obtained from Prof. Dr. Wim Janssens, email: wim.janssens@kuleuven.be. If you experience problems applying electronically, you can email solliciteren@kuleuven.be.

You can apply for this vacancy until 13/08/2026 via our online application system.