Ghent University Global Campus
Ghent University is a pluralistic institution, open to all regardless of ideological, political, cultural, or social background. Our credo is “Dare to Think.” As a top-100 university with more than 49,000 students and 15,000 staff members, we are one of the largest universities in the Dutch-speaking world, located in Flanders, Belgium. Our 11 faculties offer more than 200 programs and conduct in-depth research across a wide range of scientific domains. Several of our research groups, centers, and institutes are internationally renowned in fields such as biotechnology, aquaculture, microelectronics, and history, among others. In 2017, Ghent University celebrated its 200th anniversary. Over the past two centuries, our university has welcomed many eminent scientists, ministers, and even Nobel Prize winners among its staff and alumni.
Ghent University Global Campus (GUGC) is the first European university established in Songdo, South Korea. It offers Bachelor of Science programs in Molecular Biotechnology, Environmental Technology, and Food Technology. The main research areas at GUGC include plant biotechnology, biomedical technology, biotech data science, food technology, and environmental technology.
Please visit the homepage of Ghent University (http://www.ugent.be/en) and Ghent University Global Campus (http://ghent.ac.kr/ | http://www.ugent.be/globalcampus/en) to learn more about our organizations.
Biomedical Research Center (KR01)
The Biomedical Research Center (RC5) is one of the five existing research centers of the Ghent University Global Campus, Korea (https://rc5.ghent.ac.kr/). The Biomedical Research Center (RC5) is dedicated to the study of human brain disorders such as mental disorders and neurodegeneration with the aim of delivering knowledge for better diagnosis and treatment. To sustain and strengthen the teaching, research, and service activities of the Biomedical Research Center (RC5), GUGC is looking for a full-time Research & Teaching assistant (PhD student).
Current research lines with a strong focus are:
- Identification of mechanism of action of antidepressant to treat depression and related psychiatric disorders
- Systemic approaches using -omics technologies to understand interactions between brain and microbiome
Job Summary
| Full-Time Research & Teaching Assistant, PhD Candidate – Ghent University Global Campus Department: Department of Environmental Technology, Food Technology, and Molecular Biotechnology (KR01) Department: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology (WE10) Degree: Master’s degree in one of the following disciplines: Biology, and Biotechnology or a related field Contract: 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 years, for a total of maximum 6 years (renewal conditional on a positive evaluation) Occupancy rate: 100% Vacancy type: Research and Teaching Assistant (PhD Candidate, AAP) Last application date: Review of applications will begin on December 17, 2025, and continue until the position is filled Starting date: February 1, 2026 (open to negotiation) Scientific supervisor: Prof. Dongik Park |
Job Position
Ghent University Global Campus in South Korea has a vacancy for a Research & Teaching Assistant in the field of neuroscience, starting on February 1, 2026 (negotiable). This is a one-year full-time position, renewable up to three times (subject to favorable evaluation), for a maximum total duration of six years.
The PhD candidate will be enrolled as a doctoral researcher at the Biomedical Research Center at Ghent University Global Campus in Korea, under the supervision of two to three doctoral advisors. In addition, the candidate will be able to spend time at the home campus in Ghent during his/her PhD studies. For non-Korean applicants, free student accomodation and a yearly travel budget are foreseen. Ghent University Global Campus is an equal opportunities employer.
Job Qualification (Profile of the Candidate)
• You hold from September 2024 (or earlier) a Master of Science degree with strong focus on biology/biotechnology.
• You have a good knowledge of biology, microbiome and procedures with laboratory animals holding a credential for laboratory animal experiments issued either in South-Korea or Belgium/EU.
• Having practical laboratory experience with performing biological experiments and/or having experience in neuroscience, microbiome and relevant fields is an advantage.
• You have good knowledge and skills regarding biology, and you feel comfortable with wet-lab and mouse experiments.
• You have excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. To be eligible, B2 level of English proficiency has to be proved with the language certificate. (https://www.ugent.be/prospect/en/administration/application/requirement/languagerequirements/proficiency)
-Prospective students are exempted from the applicable language requirements, if they:
• hold a diploma of secondary education awarded by (an educational institution that is recognized by) the Flemish Community;
• hold a higher education diploma awarded by an institution for higher education that is recognized by the Flemish Community;
• have already passed an English-language study programme, either in secondary education or at another institution for higher education (i.e. the student needs to have obtained 60 credits).
Job Description
• Design and execute research projects investigating the role of gut microbiome in regulation of animal cognitive function
• Manage animal facility and Perform animal behavior experiments
• Analyze -omics and microbiome data using computational tools
• Present research findings at conferences
• Prepare practical course materials and involved in teaching in practical courses organized by the research center
• Supervise annual bachelor project as well as occasional internships and master’s theses
• Collaborate with research teams
Selection Criteria
- Scientific background and knowledge
- Educational experience
- Certified experience with laboratory animal experiments
Application Documents
- Motivation letter
- Full CV, including contact details of at least 2 references
- Copy of BSc and MSc degrees
- Transcripts (overview of study results)
- PDF version of your Master’s Thesis
- Language certificate of B2 level English proficiency
- A credential for laboratory animal experiments (certification for laboratory animal science) either from Belgium/EU or South-Korea
The application documents must be merged into a single PDF and emailed to Prof. Dongik Park (Dongik.Park@ghent.ac.kr) with the subject line “Full-time PhD Position in Neuroscience.” Applicants will receive a confirmation email upon receipt.
Application Process and Interview
- Interviews will be conducted in stages, starting from the earliest available time.
- Applicants are encouraged to apply timely, as the position will be filled once a suitable candidate has been identified.
We reserve the right to hold applications on file for future job openings. For inquiries, please contact us via email.
Selection Process
CV Screening -> Interview -> Internal committee -> Approval -> Acceptance Notice to the candidate selected.
Compensation & Benefits for the Selected Candidate
- Basic terms of the contract
- year contract (renewable, after positive evaluation, for a total period of maximum 6 years).
- Salary : Starts from an Annual Base Salary of 27,375,000 KRW (Monthly Salary of 2,281,250 KRW, Gross).
- Bonuses : Two additional bonuses in June (92% of monthly salary) and December (100% of monthly salary).
- Housing unit or housing allowance-A single dormitory unit operated by the Incheon Global Campus (IGC) will be provided for non-Korean candidates. If the selected candidate is a Korean national or a permanent resident of Korea, a housing unit will not be provided. Instead, a monthly housing allowance of 725,000 KRW will be offered.
- Two roundtrip tickets to hometown (for non-Korean candidates only)-A non-Korean candidate will be provided with two round-trip tickets per year to their hometown, up to a total cost of 4,000,000 KRW.
- Severance pay shall be provided upon contract termination, provided that the candidate has worked for more than one year.
- Private health insurance-Marsh private health insurance is provided, which covers basic medical reimbursements.
- Extensive annual paid leave and holidays-The selected candidate shall have 35 days of paid annual leave per year
- Additional holidays: from Christmas (Dec 25) to New Year (Jan 1).
