Research profile in Actuarial Sciences (BOFZAP)

• You are an ambitious, internationally oriented researcher in the field of actuarial sciences. A focus on the valuation and management of risks related to life insurance, health insurance, or pensions is considered an asset. 
• You publish in leading international journals in the field, secure research funding, develop international collaborations, and supervise PhD students. 
• You strive for excellence in your research and thereby contribute to the reputation of FEB and KU Leuven. 
• You have a strong interest in fundamental research and pay attention to the valorization and impact of your research as well as to applied research.

• You teach courses in the field of actuarial sciences on the Leuven campus. When defining the teaching assignment, your profile and experience will be taken into account as much as possible. You contribute to the further development of the education for which the AFI research unit is responsible, and you will supervise master s theses. Specifically, your teaching will contribute to the international Master of Actuarial and Financial Engineering programme. Candidates appointed in a tenure track position start with a reduced teaching load.
• You develop teaching methods in line with the KU Leuven approach of research-based education with an emphasis on activating students (see http://www.kuleuven.be/english/education/education-at-ku-leuven). 
• You take advantage of the opportunities offered by the faculty and the university to further develop your teaching skills. 
• You contribute to the educational philosophy of the university, and you show commitment to uphold the high standards of its programs.

You show a willingness to integrate in the research group, to actively participate in and contribute to professional group activities, and to take up internal service duties. You put teaching and research activities at the service of society and aim to contribute to the broader social debate. Tenure track candidates start with limited service duties. 

• You hold a PhD in economics, applied economics, business economics (with a focus on actuarial sciences), or a PhD in a related field, with demonstrable expertise in actuarial sciences (e.g., actuarial statistics, probability theory, and/or risk measurement).
• You have excellent research output or research potential. The quality of your research is demonstrated by publications in top-tier peer-reviewed journals, promising research projects and work-in-progress papers, and/or international research experience. Junior applicants show their research potential through the quality of their PhD dissertation or job market paper, and academic references. Experience in writing grant proposals and a strong international network are recommended. 
• You can show evidence of strong didactical skills and preferably have teaching experience in the field of actuarial sciences. You have the necessary communication and organizational skills and are a team player.
• Your written and spoken English is excellent. The official administrative language used at KU Leuven is Dutch. If you do not speak Dutch (or do not speak it well) at the start of employment, you can follow language training provided by KU Leuven to enable you to take part in administrative meetings. Before teaching courses in Dutch, you will be given the opportunity to learn Dutch to the required standard.

• The vacancy is open to both junior and senior researchers. You will be hired in the rank of assistant professor, associate professor or (full) professor, depending on your qualifications and academic experience. Junior researchers will be appointed as assistant professor in tenure track for a period of 5 years, which in case of a positive evaluation is followed by an appointment as a tenured associate professor.

• You will join a dynamic and internationally oriented research environment. This full-time position initially requires a clear commitment to the study programs offered on the Leuven campus of the FEB, where you will join the research group AFI, more specifically the Insurance research group. Research in the field of actuarial sciences is conducted in close collaboration with colleagues from the Leuven campus of FEB and with colleagues from the Department of Mathematics at the Faculty of Science.

• The Faculty of Economics and Business has systematically been ranked highly by several independent accreditation committees regarding the quality of its research and teaching programs. The FEB has acquired the renowned EQUIS accreditation and benefits from an extensive national and international network, both in academia and in the business world. For more information, please consult: http://feb.kuleuven.be/eng/research.
• The Insurance research group is also part of LRisk. LRisk is a KU Leuven research center for insurance and financial risk analysis, conducting internationally leading research in the fields of actuarial sciences, financial engineering, and risk management for financial institutions: https://feb.kuleuven.be/drc/LRisk/lrisk-research/LRiskResearch.
• KU Leuven is well set to welcome foreign professors and their family and provides practical support with regard to immigration & administration, housing, childcare, learning Dutch, and partner career coaching, among others. To facilitate scientific onboarding and accelerate research in the first phase a starting grant of 110 000 euro is offered to new professors (subject to eligibility criteria).
• The KU Leuven pursues a policy of equal opportunity and diversity and explicitly encourages underrepresented groups at the university to apply. For more information please consult: https://www.kuleuven.be/engage/english/diversity/index.html

Before you start your application, please read the full description of the procedure and important information about attachments and templates under 'Call for Research Professorships (BOFZAP)' and 'Procedure application and selection’ under 'More information'.

More information on the content of the job can be obtained from the academic contact person  Prof. dr. Jan Dhaene, Chair of the Search Committee, mail: [email protected] or Prof. dr. Sophie De Winne, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business, mail: [email protected].

External academic reference letters (required for junior applicants) can be sent directly to [email protected]. 

More information on the guidelines, regulations and application file is available from Ms. Kristin Vermeylen ([email protected]) or Ms. Martine van Nierop ([email protected] , tel. +32 16 32 76 98).