Group Leader & Professor AI in Biology (Human Genetics)

About the role

The VIB Center for AI & Computational Biology and KU Leuven are seeking a Group Leader and Professor to drive AI‑driven research in biology, with a focus on human genetics. The appointment combines a VIB Group Leader position with a full professorship in the Department of Human Genetics, starting in 2027.

Key responsibilities

• Build and lead an independent research group developing AI architectures, hybrid models, and foundation models for genomics, proteomics, imaging and disease modeling.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in English or Dutch, supervise MSc theses and PhD projects, and contribute to the university’s pedagogic initiatives.
• Provide scientific, societal and internal service to enhance the reputation of VIB and KU Leuven, and foster collaborations across institutes.

Required profile

• PhD or equivalent in machine learning, computer science, statistics, mathematics, physics, computational biology or a related quantitative field.
• Demonstrated excellence in machine‑learning research and programming, with a strong publication record addressing biological problems.
• Experience acquiring competitive research funding and mentoring post‑doctoral, PhD and staff scientists.
• Interdisciplinary mindset, international experience and fluency in English; willingness to achieve B2 level Dutch within five years.

Required skills

• Machine Learning
• Deep Learning
• Artificial Intelligence
• Programming
• Computational Biology
• Statistics
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Computer Vision
• Imaging analysis
• Protein structure modeling
• Single‑cell and spatial multi‑omics data analysis

What we offer

• Substantial core research funding renewable every five years and a 100% salary package with excellent health benefits.
• State‑of‑the‑art research space, access to high‑performance computing clusters, and comprehensive core facilities (sequencing, proteomics, microscopy, etc.).
• Support for recruiting technicians, PhD students and post‑docs, as well as a dedicated business‑development team for technology transfer.
• Professional leadership training, a diverse and inclusive work environment, and relocation assistance (visa, housing, schooling).