Junior professor in metabolism associated diseases

Organisation/Company KU Leuven Research Field Biological sciences » Other Chemistry » Biochemistry Medical sciences » Other Researcher Profile Established Researcher (R3) Final date to receive applications 13 Aug 2026 - 21:59 (UTC) Country Belgium Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

The Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism (CHROMETA) is recruiting an outstanding basic scientist to advance understanding of metabolism and associated diseases in close collaboration with clinical researchers. This research profile will be embedded in the division Clinical & Experimental Endocrinology which harbors several research groups with excellent track records in metabolic research including fundamental research in diabetes type 1 and 2, bariatric surgery and bone disease as well as clinical research in nutrition, obesity management, and andrology.

Several of those groups focus on developing novel tools for trans-nutritional care and generating a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying metabolic diseases.
To excel within the rapidly evolving and highly competitive field of metabolic research, it is essential to employ an integrative approach by comprehensively studying developmental and disease mechanisms and therapeutic interventions in various metabolically interconnected organs, such as adipose tissue, liver, gut, pancreas, but also muscle, brain, microbiome, and the immune system. This holistic approach requires substantial expertise in the field of metabolism, combined with developing innovative concepts.

The availability of highly specialized equipment in our department (including metabolic and calorimetric rodent facilities, and rodent models of bariatric surgery), support by institutional Core facilities (multimodal imaging, genomics, metabolomics, microbiome), as well as the proximity of an academic hospital with more than 700 000 out-patient visits each year provide excellent opportunities for metabolic research. Therefore, we wish to expand our interdisciplinary research group with an expert in the field of metabolism, to advance fundamental and translational metabolic research and elaborate collaborations within and outside the CHROMETA department.

You develop a research program at an international level in the broad field of metabolic diseases, with a focus of your choice (e.g. obesity, gut-brain axis, MASLD).

You strengthen existing research lines and provide complementary expertise, by working closely together with the members of the  particular, you work closely with clinical researchers in order to strengthen the translational research on metabolism and associated diseases.

You set up collaborations within and outside the department. You initiate and collaborate in national and international partnerships of the research group.

You are capable of acquiring competitive funding.

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

You supervise master students, PhDs and postdocs at an international level.

You will ensure education within the area of metabolism and its associated diseases, with a clear commitment for the quality of the academic programs one of the three faculties of the group Biomedical Sciences.

You will also contribute to the pedagogic project of the faculty/university through the supervision of master theses and as a promoter of PhD students.

Your teaching will be in accordance with the KU Leuven's vision on activating and research-based education and will make use of the possibilities for the educationalist professionalisation offered by the faculty and the university.

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

You have a PhD in biomedical sciences, biology, biochemistry or a related field, and you have at least 3 years of postdoctoral experience in the field of metabolism. You have extensive experience with…