2026-2027 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

The Phyllis Beddington Wiener Chair is a teaching and research chair at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) set up by the Fondation Wiener-Anspach (FWA) to establish or strengthen collaborations between researchers of the ULB and of the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford, in any field. The FWA can award more than one chair annually.

ELIGIBILITY R EQUIREMENTS

Chair holders must have a full-time permanent academic position at the University of Cambridge or Oxford.

Applications must be submitted by a full-time permanent member of the ULB academic staff, in their own name or on behalf of a group of ULB academics and researchers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CHAIR

Chair holders will be affiliated as a Visiting Professor to the ULB and will be required to:

  • Spend 1 or 2 months at the Université libre de Bruxelles between 15 September 2026 and 15 September 2027 (the stay can be divided into two one-month stays).
  • deliver 12 hours of teaching to ULB students (lectures and/or seminars), to be integrated in one single course (maximum two, if justified).
  • Deliver an inaugural or closing public lecture at ULB, aimed at a general audience, on the subject of their research.

The chair holder is awarded a non-taxable research grant (£3,500/month of stay) called subside à savant. This subsidy will be paid at the end of each month.

The host promoter(s) will have at their disposal on a ULB account:

– EUR 3,000/month of stay to cover the chair holder’s travel and accommodation expenses

  • Travel expenses are restricted to one Oxford-Brussels round trip per month.
  • Per diems are not permitted.

– 1,000 EUR/month of stay for research-related operating costs

  • The expenses need to be directly related to the laboratory’s scientific activities in relation to the research of the Chair or the organization of the public lecture.
  • A maximum of 30% of the budget may be used for expenses related to catering for the working meetings (coffee breaks/meals) or the public lecture.
  • The funds may not be used to purchase any equipment of any sort, including a computer.

If a workshop is organised within twelve months after the end of the stay, the Foundation will contribute to its financing to a maximum of 15,000 EUR. The workshop must be co-convened by the ULB Host and the Chair Holder and must be held at the ULB. Co-financing is encouraged.

Funds may be used to cover:

  • Participants’ travel and accommodation expenses;
  • Logistic costs (hiring room and audio-visual equipment, student jobs, communication material);
  • Catering costs (coffee breaks/lunch/closing dinner) for a maximum of 20% of the budget.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE AND DEADLINE

The application must be submitted by completing the online form. You will be requested  to upload the following annexes:

  1. A document presenting the research topic and describing the benefits of the proposed stay at the ULB of the Oxbridge candidate (2 pages). Any existing collaboration should be described.
  2. A presentation of the twelve hours of teaching (subject, format, target student audience), to be integrated into one single course (or maximum two, if justified). This 1-page document must be approved and signed by the Dean of the ULB Faculty to which the candidate will be affiliated as Visiting Professor.
  3. A detailed description of the work environment in which the candidate would be welcomed, the facilities and tools at their disposal and how they would be involved in the department’s activities (1 page).
  4. The CV of the Oxbridge candidate.
  5. The CV of the ULB host promoter(s).
  6. The agreement of the relevant Cambridge or Oxford Department authorising the candidate to be released from his or her commitments for the duration of the Chair (one or two months).
  7. If applicable, a presentation of the workshop to be organised at the ULB within the 12 months following the end of the candidate’s research stay (1 page).

The online application has to be submitted by Monday 8 September 2025 (noon Belgian time).

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact our Administrative Officer, Andréanne Lafrance, at fwa@ulb.be or + 32 650 27 16 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10am-1pm CEST).