Research professor in clinical motion analysis for childhood-onset neuromotor disability (BOFZAP

Organisation/Company KU LEUVEN Research Field Medical sciences » Medicine Researcher Profile Leading Researcher (R4) Established Researcher (R3) Final date to receive applications 1 Sep 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country Belgium Type of Contract To be defined Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Sep 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number BZI-2026-4 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

It is part of the assignment of the appointed candidate to develop, within the domain of clinical motion analysis, an internationally competitive research program that delivers excellent scientific results and actively contributes to national and international research collaborations. The candidate must demonstrate a strong research profile or clear potential to do so and is expected to adopt a multidisciplinary and collaborative research approach within KU Leuven and in close interaction with the clinical services of University Hospitals Leuven.

• Is an excellent, internationally oriented researcher and develops a research program at the forefront of clinical motion analysis, with a clear ambition to advance methodologies and strengthen a life-long perspective, focusing on multidimensional assessments (including 3D motion analysis, muscle imaging, and/or other instrumented methods of neuromuscular assessment) to elucidate the complex interactions between pathological motion, neuromuscular impairments, and muscle degeneration in individuals with childhood-onset neuromotor disability.
• Strengthens existing research lines within the Neurorehabilitation Research Group and CMAL and brings complementary and/or additionally new expertise by working closely with departmental and UZ Leuven members.
• Provides scientific guidance, coaching, and training to researchers (including PhD students and postdoctoral researchers) in clinical biomechanics within the department, promoting a collaborative research environment.
• Publishes research results at the highest international scientific level.
• Develops and leads an independent research group.
• Actively pursues competitive research funding from national and international agencies and submits high-quality research proposals.
• Establishes and maintains strong research collaborations within KU Leuven and with national and international partners.
• Demonstrates a strong interest in translational and clinical research, while also addressing fundamental research questions to deepen the understanding of neuromuscular mechanisms underlying pathological motion.
• Although this position initially concerns a research professorship, the appointed candidate is expected to gradually contribute to high-quality teaching. The candidate contributes to the pedagogical project of the faculty and university and develops teaching activities in accordance with KU Leuven’s vision on activating and research-based education. Teaching assignments (in English and/or Dutch) will be situated within the field of clinical biomechanics and pediatric rehabilitation.
  
  The candidate will supervise master’s theses and doctoral research and contributes to the education of future clinicians and researchers.
• The candidate provides scientific, societal, and internal services that contribute to the functioning and reputation of the research group, the department, the CMAL at UZ Leuven, and KU Leuven, as well as CMAL at UZ Leuven. This includes a progressive leadership role within CMAL, contributing to the coordination and further development of both the research activities and the clinically embedded team, in close collaboration with existing leadership.

• You hold a PhD degree in the field of clinical biomechanics (with background in Rehabilitation Sciences or Human Movement Sciences) or a closely related field, preferably in the field of childhood onset neuromotor disability. If you have recently obtained your PhD, it is important that you support your research and growth potential with academic references e.g. demonstrate potential through top publications reflecting your previous research, certificates/prizes,…