KU Leuven has a vacancy for a full-time position as a research professor (BOFZAP) in the field of landscape architecture, urbanism and design. We are looking for internationally oriented candidates with an excellent research record and with teaching competence specialized in landscape architecture, urbanism and design. The structure of KU Leuven combines research departments and faculties in a multi-campus model. The candidate will contribute to the research of the Department of Architecture within the research section Urban Design, Urbanism, Landscape and Planning (UULP), which unites researchers from both the Faculty of Engineering Science and the Faculty of Architecture.
Overall, the appointed candidate:
• Is an excellent, internationally oriented researcher and develops a research programme at the forefront in the field of landscape architecture, urbanism and design. Today, advanced landscape architecture research is located at the crossroads of the landscape urbanism thesis (landscape as the framing structure for urbanism), eco-engineering, the transformation of human-nature relations, and the capacities of landscape architecture, urbanism and design to deal with the social-ecological crisis (global warming, de-colonization, social-environmental justice, biodiversity loss, strong heat and drought waves, high levels of soil and air contamination, recurrent flooding, etc.). The candidate will develop interdisciplinary theoretical, methodological and practical approaches for understanding, modeling, designing and implementing innovative nature- and landscape-based solutions for these contemporary challenges.
• Would need to have fundamental knowledge on aspects of landscape and urban design, ecology, building and water engineering, human-nature relations and ways to synthesize these through projective design of possible urban, rural and territorial futures.
• Will develop a top-level agenda of fundamental and applied research on research questions such as
(1) the spatial, structural and functional characteristics of ecosystem elements;
(2) the integrity of natural and human-produced ecosystems;
(3) the integration of nature-based solutions in architecture and urbanism scenarios;
(4) the creation of feedback loops between engineering and projective design scenarios of green, blue and built infrastructures, architecture, landscape and urbanism;
(5) the role of landscape architecture, urbanism and design in addressing socio-ecological challenges and injustices;
(6) the dynamics of strategic landscape projects and potential spatial policies that substantially contribute to a more sustainable society.
For more information and to apply before September 1st 2026: https://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/jobs/60628113
