→ Apply until 28/09/2026 (DD/MM/YYYY) 23:59 (Brussels time)
→ Discipline: International Economics
→ 100% Assistant professor tenure track
→ Reference number: 202604/EB21/ZAP/007
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
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. See also profile text.
For the further development of the academic career, please see ‘Appointment information’ below.
Scientific research
You develop innovative and internationally recognized research in the field of international trade and industrial organization. The research focus aligns with recent developments in the discipline (such as, for example, the evaluation of trade and industrial policy, and market power and competition in an international context) and may be either theoretical or empirical in nature.
The candidate contributes to the continuity and further development of the research line on international trade within the International Economics cluster of the Department of Economics.
The candidate independently develops scientific research and is open to collaboration with other members of the department.
The candidate is expected to publish in leading international journals, in accordance with UGent’s publication policy.
The candidate develops project proposals with a view to securing research funding and builds an international network.
The candidate supervises master’s and doctoral students in their thesis work, paying attention to the growth process and development of students and staff.
Academic education
You teach several courses in the field of international economics, with an additional focus on methodological and data science–related aspects of scientific economic research.
The candidate is expected to be able to contribute to teaching in international economics at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.
Furthermore, the candidate is expected to have sufficient experience with empirical analysis and quantitative methods in international economics and, on that basis, to be able to teach and supervise students in working with data and empirical applications in accordance with the standard requirements regarding the reproducibility of scientific economic data research in general.
The specific teaching assignment is subject to, and evolves in line with, possible programme changes within the faculty’s degree programmes and the teaching needs of the department.
Institutional and societal engagement
Based on your expertise and experience, you will contribute to the university's operations and/or take on external assignments.
Within the scope of service, an active contribution is expected to academic, institutional, and societal activities of the department and the faculty. This includes, among other things, participation in teaching- and research-related tasks, knowledge transfer to policy and society, and engagement in initiatives related to international cooperation and lifelong learning.
The appointment fits within the consolidation and further development of expertise in international economics within the Department of Economics.
The candidate will be embedded in the research area International Economics, which focuses on the analysis of international economic integration, with particular attention to trade, investment, and migration, and their implications for growth, inequality, and policy.
The candidate is expected to commit to contributing to the further development of the research area as a whole, with particular emphasis on the trade pillar.
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).
- Positively evaluated experience with education at an academic level is an asset
- 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.
- You 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.
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 February 2027.
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
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- You hold a thesis-based doctorate or a diploma or certificate that is recognized as equivalent.
- You have at least two years of postdoctoral experience on 1 February 2027. This term of two years is determined by the date mentioned on the required diploma.
- 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 Prof. Dr. Bruno Merlevede ([email protected]) at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Department of Economics.
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