Professor in Holistic decision support systems for the water domain (27819)

    →   Apply until 03/11/2024 (DD/MM/YYYY) 23:59 (Brussels time)
    →   Discipline: Holistic decision support systems for the water domain
    →   10% Assistant professor
    →   Faculty of Bioscience Engineering 
    →   Reference number: 202409/BW26/ZAP/002

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is one of the most important education and research institutions in the Low Countries. On a daily basis, 15,000 staff members and 50,000 students implement its motto "Dare to Think". Ghent University's mission statement is characterised by qualitative education, internationally renowned research and a pluralistic social responsibility.

ASSIGNMENT

1/Link to the department

It is beyond doubt that water is a vital resource for life. Its management is crucial, both in terms of quantity (drought vs. flooding) and quality (for both nature and humans). Making decisions to ensure these aspects is becoming increasingly complex, especially as there is a growing trend to consider reuse within a circular economy. On the other hand, digitization is also advancing in the water sector, allowing for the development of new tools alongside traditional models to make more optimal decisions in a more holistic manner. This indicates that decision-making is also looking at aspects outside the water sector in the strict sense, enabling cross-domain decisions.

The Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modeling, particularly the research units BIOMATH, has been extensively engaged in modeling water systems for the past 25 years. In addition to further developing models of water systems and technologies, models for reuse also need to be developed, framed within the so-called water-fit-for-purpose context. Besides the traditionally used mechanistic models, there is a trend toward hybrid models that combine these with data-driven models. Expertise in the latter models is very strong within other groups in the department, allowing this position to leverage synergies within the department and be leading on a global scale in the water sector. In addition to hybrid models, other methodologies such as ontologies, knowledge graphs, and optimization techniques are needed to describe and optimize systems on a larger scale. Synergies within the department are also anticipated in this regard. Finally, this position further strengthens the digitization aspect within CAPTURE water.

2/ Description of the research domain

The water sector is facing multiple challenging transitions. First, there is digital transition where digital tools are becoming more important in water management at different stakeholders. Second, there is the transition to circularity and sustainability of the water cycle where water reuse “fit-for-purpose” and efficient water allocation to different applications are key pillars. Though challenging, the digital transformation can actually be synergistic and speed up the circular water transition process. This, however, requires a more systemic and holistic approach, which is inherently a multidisciplinary and multi-objective effort where data, predictive computational models and optimization tools are seamlessly integrated in a generic but flexible and reusable way. This position therefore focuses on methodological research for developing holistic computational modelling and decision support systems with interoperability in mind, i.e. connecting to domains other than water, yet closely connected (e.g. energy).

At the level of a water (treatment) system, a trend towards digital twins is observed as powerful digital decision support tools. Yet, there are still some research challenges to be overcome. Important ones are sufficient predictive power of system/process models and automated real-time data availability, quality and connection. In view of the above, highly predictive hybrid models, combining the best of both worlds of data-driven and mechanistic modelling paradigms, are required. Such novel modelling frameworks are a first important pillar of this research position that leads to development of a comprehensive library of models for the water domain.

At a higher level, moving to the scale of a neighbourhood, city, region or industrial cluster, the concepts of ontology and knowledge graphs form the backbone for developing interoperable frameworks for data/models of the water system to deal with complex water management problems and have a proven track record in other application domains such as energy and the chemical industry. Development for the water sector is however missing and will lead to a comprehensive and integrated digitalization framework for the water sector that can be coupled to other sectors. This forms the basis for smart cities that provide more overarching and large-scale optimisation and is the second important pillar of this research position.

There currently is a strategic basic research project (FWO) running on these topics, coordinated by UGent.

This position is embedded in and contributes to the water pipeline of the CAPTURE platform and more specifically in the digitalisation track.

3/ Motivation for the position

This position is a continuation of the work done in this research unit following the departure of Prof. Nopens.

Academic education

You lecture various course units in the discipline of applied mathematics in bio-science engineering, among which Digitalisation for resource recovery (I002599)

Academic research

You conduct research in the discipline of Holistic decision support systems for the water domain

Academic services

You take part in the internal and external service provision of the department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling (BW26)

PROFILE

Experience

• You have already conducted eminent academic research in the given discipline, which is clearly reflected in publications in high-quality academic journals and peer-reviewed books;
• You are capable of initiating, supervising and acquiring the necessary funding for academic research;
• You are didactically skilled to teach university students to develop academic competences;
• Recommended are:
  • International mobility, among other things thanks to research stays at institutions external to the  one where you acquired your highest academic degree;
  • Positively evaluated experience in provided or organised academic lecturing;
  • Professionalisation of education.

• You must master the language of instruction in which you will teach a course at CEFR-  level C1.You can demonstrate this by means of a language certificate or a diploma obtained from an institution in which that language is the language of instruction. In addition, Article II.270, §1 of the Codex of Higher Education requires that: (i) you must master the Dutch language at least at CEFR-level A2 within two years after the start of the appointment. (ii) you must be able to master the Dutch language at least at CEFR-level of B2 within five years after the start of the appointment. More info: Language requirements at Ghent University for professorial staff — Ghent University (ugent.be)

Skills / Attitude

• You are quality-oriented;
• You take initiative;
• You are a team-player and can manage a team without micromanagement
• You build bridges between scientific disciplines
• You take the lead in vision development within your team and in the international domain

Admission requirements

• You hold a thesis-based doctorate or a diploma or certificate that is recognised as equivalent (article V.20 Codex Higher Education).

Upon evaluation of a foreign (non-EU) diploma, a certificate of equivalence may still have to be requested at NARIC. If this is the case, we advise you to initiate this recognition procedure as soon as possible. You are required to have the recognition no later than on the date of your appointment.

• You have at least two years of postdoctoral experience on 1 February 2025. This term of two years is determined by the date written on the above-mentioned required diploma.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

We offer you an appointment with renewable duration for a maximum of 6 years.

Pay attention: A part-time assignment of a certain degree of the professorial staff cannot be combined with a part-time assignment of a different degree of the professorial staff within the same institution. 

The recruitment is from 1 februari 2025.

OUR OFFER

The career and evaluation policy for Professorial Staff is based on talent development and growth, prioritizing vision development and strategy - at the personal as well as the group level. At UGent we focus on career support and coaching of the Professorial Staff in the different phases of the career. More information can be found on www.ugent.be/en/work/mobility-career/career-aspects/professorial-staff.

Ghent University is committed to properly welcoming new professorial staff members and offering them appropriate guidance. The basic teacher training and courses of 'Dutch' and 'English' for foreign-speaking lecturers are only a few examples of our wide range of training and education opportunities. Furthermore, each Ghent University staff member can count on a number of benefits such as a bike allowance, reimbursement of public transport commuting costs, daycare, a wide range of sports facilities and EcoCheques. A complete overview of all our employee benefits (in Dutch).

Ghent University also invests in welcoming international professorial staff. It offers various housing options, a relocation bonus, the International School for school-aged children (with a discount on the tuition fee), support when registering at the City of Ghent, support with the procedure of family reunification and other administrative matters in connection with moving to Ghent. Read more.

Candidates who are newly appointed at Ghent University with an appointment as autonomous academic staff of at least 50% or candidates whose appointment as autonomous academic staff at Ghent University is increased to a minimum of 50% receive a Starting Grant of € 230.000 to contribute towards the personnel, operating and/or equipment costs of establishing a research team.

GENDER AND DIVERSITY

Ghent University conducts an equal opportunities policy and encourages everyone to apply. Ghent University also strives for a gender balance. Female applications are thus especially welcomed.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

After the final application date, all received applications will be sent to the faculty selection committee assembled for this vacancy. After a pre-selection on the basis of the submitted and assessed as admissible application files, the selection committee may hear the candidates about their vision and planning regarding education, research and services. It is also possible to organize a trial lesson or a presentation on a subject in the relevant field. Afterwards, the committee will rank the suitable candidates and present this ranking to the Faculty Board. The advice of the Faculty Board will then be presented to the University Board for approval.

Candidates are asked to further discuss their top 5 most important publications or other academic achievements with the highest impact. Next to academic publications, the candidate is thus also able to show merit of knowledge transfer by academic dissemination, social valorisation, public awareness, seminars or conference presentations. These competences are also taken into account when evaluating the candidates.

The evaluation of the required international mobility is broad and partly takes the gender perspective into account, thus not only considering longer stays abroad by also other forms of internationalisation.

Pregnancy leave, prolonged sick leave, parental leave, filial leave or other forms of absence are taken into account when evaluating the available time for the realisation of academic output.

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 professorial staff application form (+ all annexes mentioned in the form), merged into one pdf file.
• In the field ‘Cover letter’: your application letter in pdf format
• 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 Ingmar Nopens (Ingmar.Nopens@UGent.be, +32 (0)9 2645932) at the faculty Bioscience Engineering, department Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling.

Do you have a question regarding the online application process? Please read the FAQ or contact us via selecties@ugent.be or +32 9 264 34 36