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Professor in Electrical Energy Management in Distribution Grids

In the Science, Engineering and Technology Group of KU Leuven, Faculty of Engineering Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT-ELECTA), there is a full-time academic vacancy (part of the senior academic staff) in the area of electrical engineering at the KU Leuven Ghent Campus. We are looking for internationally orientated candidates with an excellent research record and with educational competencies in electrical energy management. While the research of ESAT ELECTA-Ghent is embedded in EnergyVille (cooperation of KU Leuven, VITO, imec and UHasselt with headquarters in Genk and focussing on sustainable energy and smart energy systems), the professors of this unit are mainly operating from the research facilities in Ghent. Research infrastructure is available for photovoltaic systems, energy storage, grid protection, electric mobility,… and the group has an extensive (inter)national network, connections with companies and non-profit organisations, a stable offer of skilled PhD students and a supportive work environment. The Faculty of Engineering Technology has a specific application-oriented teaching, research and PhD profile and focusses on R&D that brings innovation that is relevant for industry and/or society. The appointee will be expected to comply with that profile.

Research

• You develop a research program in electrical energy management focused on the design and/or control of low voltage distribution networks. The energy management may be approached from a system, hardware or metering perspective. Your research supports the energy transition by optimizing the implementation of innovative techniques such as (the combination of) V2X, energy sharing, local energy storage and production.
• You cooperate intensively within the ELECTA Ghent group where the R&D has a strong experimental component. You take the initiative to develop future research projects and  set up collaborations with national and international academic partners, as well as industrial partners, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs). You closely work together with the members of the EnergyVille research institute and actively assist in the carrying out of the ongoing research projects. You are capable of acquiring competitive funding. You publish at the highest scientific level and supervise PhDs and master students.
• You pay the required attention to the technology transfer and application of the results of your research in industry/government/society.

Teaching

• You ensure high-quality education in the field of electrical engineering in the Bachelor and Master of Science in Engineering Technology – Energy - Electronics-ICT and Electromechanics in the Faculty of Engineering Technology, with a clear commitment for the quality of the programme as a whole. You are willing to teach or coordinate other courses in the program. All professors are expected to teach a few basic undergraduate courses.
• You are enthusiastic about pedagogic projects and coaching of students in the bachelor, master and PhD program.
• You develop teaching activities, in line with KU Leuven's focus on activating and research-based education. You make use of specific educational training programmes offered by the faculty and the university. 
• Besides your teaching duties at KU Leuven Ghent Campus, you may be asked, within the multi-campus model, to take up a limited teaching duty at another campus.

Service

• You are prepared to provide scientific, societal and internal services. 
• You like to contribute to the promotion of STEM and electrical engineering to young people, and initiatives that encourage a diverse public to join the engineering programs of the Faculty of Engineering Technology of KU Leuven.

Profile

• You have a PhD or doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering.
• You have a strong research track record in the domain, evidenced by publications in good quality/international journals. Industrial experience and international research experience are positive factors. Experience in acquisition of competitive funding is an asset.
• You have good teaching skills, and educational experience is considered a positive factor.
• You possess leadership and organisational skills and value the cooperation in a team highly. 
• Proficiency in English is required. The official language used at KU Leuven is Dutch. If you do not speak Dutch (or do not speak it well) at the start of employment, KU Leuven will provide language training to enable you to take part in meetings andto acquire the level of Dutch that is required for tenure. Before teaching courses in Dutch or English, you will be given the opportunity to learn Dutch, respectively English, to the required standard.
• You accept the necessary mobility required in fulfilling the teaching and research assignments.

Offer