Junior Professor in the Domain of Critical Reflective Practice: Interior Architecture

Role Overview
KU Leuven is seeking a Junior Professor in the Domain of Critical Reflective Practice: Interior Architecture. The successful candidate will be an active interior architect within an exemplary design practice who develops a critical position within the field of interior architecture and its actual challenges and international debates. The role involves design-driven research affiliated with the interior architecture programme at the Faculty of Architecture, Sint-Lucas campus. The research activity is ‘projective’ in nature, projecting scenarios of future patterns of habitation through design projects. The candidate will advance a clear design-driven position regarding interior ecologies and argue for the agency of their practice.

Responsibilities
Research (20% of dedicated time within the 50% appointment):
- Develop a research programme with practice as the main driver, demonstrating expertise in designing and constructing design ideas derived from practice within real-world situations, linked to theoretical frameworks of ‘interior ecologies’.
- Connect research with ongoing research programmes and projects.
- Set up collaborations within and outside the department, supporting and promoting national and international collaborations.
- Actively participate in the development of future research projects.
- Publish and generate scientific output, including Artistic and Design-led Research Output (ADRO), at the relevant scientific level.
- Acquire resources for fundamental and/or applied research and build international cooperation.
- Facilitate and stimulate PhDs with a design-driven focus as a supervisor and member of supervisory committees.
- Strengthen design-driven, artistic, and practice-based research at the Department of Architecture.

Teaching (max. 30% of dedicated time within the 50% appointment):
- Provide high-quality teaching in the field of design in interior architecture, with a focus on design studios (Bachelor/Master).
- Supervise master's theses.
- Develop teaching in line with KU Leuven's vision of activating and research-based education.
- Operationalize and transfer insights from practice and practice-based research into the design studio environment.

Service and Management:
- Provide scientific, social, and internal services.
- Play a role in academic management and the consolidation of design as the core of the programmes.
- Contribute to the image and profiling of the department/faculty through public performances, information days, and introductory moments.
- Maintain close contact with the international practice of interior architecture.

Requirements and Qualifications
- Hold a master's degree in interior architecture.
- Hold a practice-based and/or design-driven PhD. If the doctoral degree is not yet held, the candidate will be appointed as a visiting professor (50%) for a maximum of five years to obtain the PhD at the Faculty of Architecture. Appointment to independent academic staff takes effect upon obtaining the PhD.
- Demonstrate a strong record in practice in the field of interior architecture through a portfolio of artistic and design-related work that shows investigative qualities and potential for ADROs.
- If holding a PhD, demonstrate research quality through investigative practice, ADROs, publications in leading/international journals, and research experience.
- Possess demonstrable qualities for academic teaching and extensive experience in the studio working format.
- Exhibit leadership skills, creating growth and collaboration opportunities for students and colleagues.
- Value teamwork, collegiality, and possess necessary organizational skills.
- Commit to development and innovation in education, research, and personal growth.
- Work transparently and share knowledge, methods, and findings with colleagues and society.
- Language Requirements: Good command of English is required. Sufficient knowledge of Dutch (CEFR level C1) is required at the start of recruitment to take up internal service and teaching assignments.

What They Offer
- A part-time employment contract (50%) in a vibrant and intellectually stimulating design environment.
- Appointment as an assistant professor on the tenure track for a period of 5 years; after a positive evaluation, permanent appointment (tenure) as an associate professor.
- Start-up funding of 110,000 euros for new professors appointed for at least 50%.
- A research position equivalent to a doctoral fellowship for 2 years.
- Practical support for foreign professors and their families in areas such as immigration, administration, housing, childcare, and language learning.
- Work location on the Sint-Lucas campus in Brussels or Ghent, determined by mutual agreement.
- Access to courses in academic English.