BrIAS Brussels Institute for Advanced Studies is looking for exemplary researchers and academics from the CIVIS Alliance to join the institute as fellows for the new academic year

24 July 2024
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The new 2025 fellowship call of the Brussels Institute for Advanced Studies offers high-level researchers and experts from foreign universities, institutes or organisations an unparalleled opportunity to join the institute as fellows for the academic year 2024/25.  

For the 2025 edition, the theme of BrIAS is “AI, Robotics and Automation as enabler/disabler of the UN Sustainable Development Goals”. As Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Automated Devices become an integral part of our lives, it has become critical to understand if they can be truly durable and how they could optimally contribute to sustainability as a whole. 

The BrIAS programme

Fellows will benefit from a research period of at least 2 months and up to 10 months, free from teaching and administrative duties. They will also become part of an international and interdisciplinary community of top-tier researchers and academics from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). Additionally, fellows will enjoy an excellent work and living environment conveniently close to both universities in Brussels. The BrIAS programme will run from 13 January 2025 until 31 May 2025. The fellowship stay must coincide at least in part with the BrIAS 2025 programme.

About The Brussels Institute for Advanced Studies

BrIAS was founded in 2018 by the two universities of Brussels, the VUB and the ULB. The first pilot programme started up in 2022 and continued until 2023 on the theme of “The past, present and future of food and sustainability”. In 2024 we launched our second programme on “Sustainable Robotics”. Over the past three years, BrIAS has welcomed a total of 63 Senior fellows and 20 Junior fellows in Brussels. View the 2021-2023 report here.

In the spring of 2024, BrIAS moved into its permanent premises within walking distance from the two universities of Brussels. The BrIAS premises feature 18 available apartments, a co-working space, a meeting room, a seminar hall with an 80-person capacity, and a convivial space with a communal kitchen for fellows and their families to meet and relax. 

BrIAS will cover travel and living expenses during their stay in Brussels. In the case that fellows receive no other external funding, lodging expenses will also be covered by BrIAS. Fellows will also be supported and integrated into the local research groups via the academic teams from both universities.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BRIAS INSTITUTE's MISSION 

Application procedure

Exemplary researchers from any discipline relevant to the theme are welcome to send their submissions. Candidates can apply for this fellowship by emailing the CV and motivation letter to: contact@brias.be 

Applicants will be assessed and prioritised following the selection criteria:

  1. Scientific excellence of the candidate;
  2. Relevance for the theme of sustainable development in robotics, AI, and automation;
  3. Interdisciplinary approach;
  4. Willingness to collaborate with local scientific institutions and other fellows
  5. Exempted from teaching and admin tasks at home institutions during the fellowship

For academics, the minimum rank of tenure-track assistant professor (or equivalent) is requested. 

Application deadline: 30.9.2024, candidates will be notified of results by 15.10.2024.

For further information or any further questions you can contact:

Learn more about the call

photo credits: BrIAS