Ghent University Global Campus (GUGC), located in Songdo, South Korea, is offering a full-time PhD Research & Teaching Assistant position in Biotech Data Science, starting March 1, 2026 (negotiable). GUGC is the first European university established in Korea and is part of Ghent University, a top-100 global institution renowned for its research excellence in biotechnology, bioinformatics, and computational sciences. The Center for Biosystems and Biotech Data Science at GUGC focuses on developing advanced mathematical and computational approaches for modeling biosystems and analyzing biotech datasets, with deep machine learning as a core technology. Research areas include trustworthy AI, biomedical image analysis, biomolecule design, neural networks, and computer vision, with strong interdisciplinary collaboration between the Department of Environmental Technology, Food Technology, and Molecular Biotechnology (KR01) and the Department of Electronics and Information Systems (TW06).

The PhD candidate will be supervised by Prof. Wesley De Neve, Prof. Joris Vankerschaver, and Prof. Shodhan Rao, and will have the opportunity to spend part of their doctoral research at the home campus in Ghent (IDLab – ELIS). The position involves a balanced combination of research and teaching duties: approximately 50% of time will be dedicated to supporting undergraduate courses in informatics and bioinformatics, including supervising labs, developing course materials, grading, and mentoring student projects. The research component centers on deep machine learning applications in biomedical image understanding (e.g., surgical video analysis) and biomolecule design and characterization, with potential involvement in European projects focused on enzyme design for biodegradable food packaging.

Applicants must hold (or expect to hold by March 2026) an MSc in Computer Science/Engineering, Informatics, Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field. Strong programming skills (C++, Python, Rust, R), experience in scientific computing and machine learning, and proficiency in English (minimum TOEFL iBT 80) are required. Familiarity with deep learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, Keras) and GitHub is advantageous. Non-Korean nationals must have at least three years of relevant work experience post-master’s degree unless exempted by Korean government visa rules. Candidates with non-Belgian degrees must demonstrate equivalence of at least 18 ECTS credits in relevant courses. The position is open to candidates with a proactive, creative, and analytical mindset, strong self-learning ability, and excellent communication and academic writing skills.

Compensation includes an annual base salary of 27,375,000 KRW, two annual bonuses, rent-free dormitory accommodation for non-Korean candidates or a housing allowance for Korean nationals/permanent residents, two round-trip tickets per year for non-Korean candidates, severance pay, Marsh private health insurance, 35 days paid annual leave, and additional holidays. The doctoral degree awarded is Doctor in Computer Science Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at Ghent University, Belgium.

To apply, merge all required documents (motivation letter, research statement, CV with references, degree copies, transcripts, MSc thesis PDF) into a single PDF and email to Prof. Wesley De Neve ([email protected]) with the subject line 'Full-time PhD Position in Biotech Data Analysis.' Applications are reviewed starting December 10, 2025, and continue until the position is filled. For further details, visit the Ghent University and GUGC websites or contact the supervisors via email.