Description

Professor Electrical Engineering: Applied Power Electronics for Clean Energy Solutions

In the Science, Engineering and Technology Group of KU Leuven, Faculty of Engineering Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT-ELECTA), there is a full-time academic vacancy (part of the senior academic staff) in the area of electrical engineering at the Technology Campus in Ghent. We are looking for internationally orientated candidates with an excellent research record and with educational competencies within the field of power electronics and clean energy technology.

While the research of ESAT ELECTA-Ghent is embedded in EnergyVille (cooperation of KU Leuven, VITO, imec and UHasselt with headquarters in Genk and focussing on sustainable energy and smart energy systems), the professors of this unit are mainly operating from the research facilities in Ghent.

Research infrastructure is available for photovoltaic systems, grid protection, electric mobility, and the group has an extensive (inter)national network, connections with companies and non-profit organisations, a stable offer of skilled PhD students and a supportive work environment. The Faculty of Engineering Technology has a specific application-oriented teaching, research and PhD profile and focusses on R&D that brings innovation that is relevant for industry and/or society. The appointee will be expected to comply with that profile.

DUTIES

Research

• You develop a research program in the control, system integration or metrology aspects of one or more clean energy technologies, such as PV-systems, storage technology, electric mobility, LVDC, wind energy, hydrogen, …  The scale of these applications may vary from small stand-alone systems over residential to large-scale grid connected systems. Key element in the research are the conversion technologies enabled by power electronics.
• You look forward to cooperate intensively within the local ELECTA group where the R&D has a strong experimental component. You take responsibilities in setting up future research projects of the group and collaborations with academic partners, as well as national and international industrial partners (including SMEs). 
• You work together closely with the members of EnergyVille and actively assist in the carrying out of the ongoing research projects.
• You are capable of acquiring competitive funding.
• You publish at the highest scientific level, acquire resources for fundamental/applied research, develop international collaborations and supervise PhDs at an international level.
• You give the necessary attention to the valorisation on behalf of government and business in applied research.

Education

• You ensure high-quality education in the field of electrical engineering in the Bachelor and Master of Science in Engineering Technology – Energy - Electronics-ICT and Electromechanics in the Faculty of Engineering Technology, with a clear commitment for the quality of the programme as a whole. You are willing to teach or coordinate other courses in the program. All professors are expected to teach a few basic undergraduate courses.
• You are enthusiastic about pedagogic projects and coaching of students in the bachelor, master and PhD program.
• You develop teaching activities, in line with KU Leuven's focus on activating and research-based education. You make use of specific educational training programmes offered by the faculty and the university. 
• Besides your teaching duties at the Technology Campus in Ghent, you may be asked, within the multi-campus model, to take up a limited teaching duty at another campus.

Service

You are prepared to provide scientific, societal and internal services. You like to contribute to the promotion of STEM and electrical engineering to young people, and initiatives that encourage a diverse public to join the engineering programs of the Faculty of Engineering Technology of KU Leuven.

PROFILE

• You have a PhD or doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering.
• You have a strong research track record in the domain, evidenced by publications in good quality/international journals. Industrial experience and international research experience are positive factors. Experience in acquisition of competitive funding is an asset.
• You have good teaching skills, and educational experience is considered a positive factor.
• You possess leadership and organisational skills and value the cooperation in a team highly. 
• Proficiency in English is required. 
• The official language used at KU Leuven is Dutch. If you do not speak Dutch (or do not speak it well) at the start of employment, KU Leuven will provide language training to enable you to take part in meetings.
• Before teaching courses in Dutch or English, you will be given the opportunity to learn Dutch, respectively English, to the required standard.
• You accept the necessary mobility required in fulfilling the teaching and research assignments.

OFFER

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