Professor in Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy

Professor in Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy (BOF) ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY Ghent University is a world-class, open, pluralistic and socially engaged university. Our credo is "Dare to Think": we are a haven for courageous thinkers. With one of the most progressive career models for academics in the world, Ghent University evaluates its scholars not only by the length of their publication list but also by the impact they pursue, what they achieve and how they collaborate. Are you a good ‘fit’ with our university? Discover here our vision on education and research. ASSIGNMENT This position is within the department of Rehabilitation Sciences of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. The position, funded by the Special Research Fund, is granted the privilege of focusing primarily on research for a period of 5 years. During that period the teaching load will be limited to no more than 8 ECTS credits per semester on average over a period of 3 years. For the further development of the academic career, please see ‘Appointment information’ below. Academic education You will be responsible for teaching in one or more course units aligned with your expertise in one of the following domains: musculoskeletal system, neuro-geriatrics or internal disorders. Your teaching will contribute clear added value through the forward-looking perspective - as described in the profile statement - on rehabilitation and physiotherapy in adult populations. This teaching assignment will take place in close interaction with, and complement the expertise of, existing teaching staff within the department’s research groups. Upon completion of BOF funding, you will take on a significant commitment within teaching where you are prepared to take on generic and coordinating tasks that transcend your specific area of expertise. Academic research You are expected to develop high-quality, internationally competitive research within one or more of the domains described in the profile statement, with a strong interest/emphasis on future-oriented developments in healthcare and professional practice. Your work should provide clear added value to the fields of rehabilitation and physiotherapy in the context of human movement. A central focus will be personalized care for all stakeholders (patients, clients, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals). The outcomes of your research may contribute to a broad range of applications, including the optimization of rehabilitation processes (in terms of content and/or organization) and the empowerment of care recipients, with the overarching goal of enhancing both the efficiency and effectiveness of care delivery. Institutional and societal engagement You will contribute to the department’s internal and external service activities, including the translation and dissemination of research findings to broader audiences through science communication, and the economic and/or societal valorisation of research outcomes. Throughout your academic career, you are expected to take on roles and administrative responsibilities that are relevant to the department and/or faculty. PROFILE You have a strong academic CV with international visibility in the requested field: Your achievements in the field of research and education contribute to the development of the scientific domain (e.g. publications, presentations, or other academic output); You are capable to initiate and supervise educational and research projects and to acquire the necessary funding for this; You are didactically skilled to teach university students to develop academic competences ; Mobility is recommended (e.g. education, research, economic, or societal) ; You have experience with conducting research involving adult patient populations, setting up studies within a given research framework, analysing research data, and reporting findings; Preferably, you have experience with technological and/or digital applications for research and/or clinical purposes, where you have taken responsibility for initiating, coordinating, and/or disseminating activities through protocols and training. You work in a collaborative way and integrate smoothly into the department/faculty. You look for opportunities inside and outside the university and actively use your network to do so. Y ou show leadership potential/have leadership experience. More information about leadership at Ghent University. If you don't know Dutch, you are willing to learn it. This will be assessed during the selection interview. When taking up a teaching assignment, you must master the language of instruction of the course. More information about the language requirements and appropriate language guidance at Ghent University. Considered an asset: Experience in supervising master’s theses and doctoral students. Experience in providing and/or organizing academic-level teaching. Engagement in teaching professionalization and a commitment to lifelong learning, both as a participant/trainee and as a provider/instructor. An innovative mindset and interest in developing new collaborations with external research partners. APPOINTMENT INFORMATION We offer you a temporary appointment in a tenure track system for a term of five years. If positively evaluated by the University Board, the term of office will be transferred into a permanent appointment as an associate professor. At that moment the time devoted to research, education and institutional and societal engagement may be altered. The recruitment is from 1 September 2026. OUR OFFER Ghent University has developed a new inspiring career model for professors. Academic freedom and academics' responsibility, talents and ambitions act as a natural drive to advance their careers, as part of teamwork. Ghent University is specifically committed to guiding international professors in the process of coming to Ghent. At Ghent University, our view is as broad as possible, because internationalisation creates synergies within and outside the institution. We offer you a wide range of employee benefits. The basic teacher training and courses in 'Dutch' and 'English' for foreign-speaking lecturers are just a few of our wide range of courses and training. Candidates who are newly appointed at Ghent University with an appointment of at least 50% receive a Starting Grant of € 240,000 to contribute towards the personnel, operating and/or equipment costs. Furthermore, professors who meet the conditions may be eligible for Basic Research Funding. DIVERSITY Ghent University pursues an equal opportunities policy and values everyone's talent, regardless of gender, age, philosophy of life, skin color, sexual orientation, migration background or disability. We encourage everyone to apply. Ghent University strives for a gender balance, whereby a maximum of three-fifths of the doctoral members of the academic staff are of the same sex. As long as this target has not been met at the level of the scientific group, priority will be given to candidates of the under-represented sex for senior academic staff mandates with mainly research assignments in the event of equal qualifications. This precedence is not automatic and unconditional; the personal situation of each candidate is always taken into account when assessing the applications. Interruptions in research careers and/or atypical career paths (e.g. relevant experience outside the academic sector) will be taken into account when assessing the application. SELECTION PROCEDURE The selection committee will carry out an initial, substantive screening of the admissible applications on the file. This assessment takes into consideration both the candidate's merits and potential. Ghent University emphasizes the qualitative assessment of academic performance. Therefore, candidates are asked in the application form to mention their most important academic or non-academic achievements with the most impact. For shortlisted candidates, the following steps in the selection procedure shall consist of at least: a selection interview in which the vision and planning regarding education, research, and institutional and societal engagement as well as the embedding in the bigger picture are discussed a trial lesson on a subject in the relevant field a screening of leadership a vision and ambition document in the evaluation, the complementarity of expertise and the compatibility of the profile within the department and faculty play an important role ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS You hold a thesis-based doctorate or a diploma or certificate that is recognized as equivalent in the field of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy. You have at least two years of postdoctoral experience on 1 September 2026. This term of two years is determined by the date mentioned on the required diploma. You are a licensed physiotherapist. Your application meets the formal requirements (submitted on time, complete: with a completed application form and a copy of the diploma, delivered via e-recruitment). HOW TO APPLY Apply online through the e-recruitment system before the application deadline (see above). We do not accept late or incomplete applications, or applications that are not sent through the online system. Your application must include the following documents: In the field ‘Application form’: the application form + a mandatory appendix in which you explain your vision on research that will be realized during the next term of the mandate of ZAP member with mainly research assignment. Minimum 3 – maximum 5 pages, references not included. All this combined as a one pdf-file. In the field ‘Diploma’: a transcript of your doctoral degree. If you have a foreign diploma in a language other than our national languages (Dutch, French or German) or English, please add a translation in one of the mentioned languages. In the field ‘Certificate of equivalence’: only for diplomas awarded outside the European Union: certificate of equivalence (NARIC) (if already in you possession). For diplomas awarded in the UK before January 31st of 2020, a certificate of equivalence is not required. Note that the maximum file size for each field is 10 MB. MORE INFORMATION For further information regarding this vacancy, please contact professor Dirk Cambier ( dirk.cambier @UGent.be , +32 9 332 26 32 ) at the faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, department of Rehabilitation Sciences. Vragen over online solliciteren? Lees de FAQ of contacteer ons via selecties@ugent.be. #J-18808-Ljbffr