项目介绍
KU Leuven, Belgium, invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for a PhD position focused on the letters of the Syriac author and bishop Philoxenus of Mabbug (d. 523). The successful candidate will form part of the research team of the project “Epistolary Culture and the Formation of the Syriac Orthodox Church: The Letters of Philoxenus of Mabbug (d. 523)” (PI: Prof. Philip Michael Forness), funded by the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO). The project is situated within the Research Unit of the History of Church and Theology of the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies (https://theo.kuleuven.be) and the Louvain Centre for Eastern and Oriental Christianity (https://theo.kuleuven.be/en/research/centres/centr_loceoc).
Project
The fifth and sixth centuries were a decisive period for the emergence of the Syriac Orthodox Church. The Christological controversies sparked by the Council of Chalcedon in 451 led to divisions between churches that persist to the present. Late antique letters offer rich details about interactions between leaders of the anti-Chalcedonian, miaphysite movement which over the course of the sixth century started to take shape as the Syriac Orthodox Church. The twenty-seven letters of Philoxenus of Mabbug (d. 523), a bishop and major actor in the miaphysite movement, form the earliest corpus of ten or more letters in Syriac. This project uses Philoxenus’s letters as a focal point to understand the miaphysite movement from the perspective of its epistolary culture. Alongside a comprehensive dissertation on Philoxenus’s letters and the emerging Syriac Orthodox Church, the project will publish a suite of digital fascicles that lay a foundation for further studies on Syriac letters and are linked with digital humanities projects in other fields extending the potential impact of the project.
Profiel
The ideal candidate will:
● have a Master’s degree in theology, religious studies, history, Middle Eastern studies, or classics.● have a background and strong interest in the history of Christianity in late antiquity. ● have an excellent knowledge of classical Syriac and classical Greek.● have a reading knowledge of French and/or German.● have the capacity to work independently but also be interested in engaging with the broader field of church history.● preferably have prior experience with digital humanities.
The successful candidate will:
● produce a complete and acceptable doctoral thesis proposal.● comply with all the requirements of KU Leuven for doctoral studies.● research, complete, and successfully defend a doctoral thesis within KU Leuven’s doctoral framework.● contribute to the project’s joint digital publications.● present research at international and national conferences.● contribute to the organisation of events, activities and other tasks related to the project and its research (workshop, meetings with project partners).● contribute to the Research Unit of the History of Church and Theology by participating in its regular meetings and undertaking some administrative activities within the statutory limits.
Aanbod
KU Leuven is offering a full-time position in an intellectually challenging and inspiring environment. KU Leuven is a research-intensive, internationally oriented university that carries out both fundamental and applied research. It is highly inter- and multidisciplinary focused and strives for international excellence.
The successful candidate will benefit from guidance and research training from experts in the field, a work space, and resources to attend and present at conferences. The successful candidate will be part of an innovative research team in Leuven, a historic, dynamic and lively city located in the heart of Belgium, within 20 minutes from Brussels, and less than two hours from Paris, London and Amsterdam. KU Leuven provides practical support with regard to immigration and administration, housing, childcare, etc.
The position is subject to admission to the Faculty’s doctoral programme. The contract will initially be for 1 year (starting ideally on 1 October 2024) and may be extended for up to three years subject to a positive performance review and KU Leuven regulations. The project team is led by Prof. Philip Michael Forness.
Interesse
Your application should include (and be limited to) the following attachment(s):
● letter of motivation and interest (maximum of two pages).● a curriculum vitae including a statement on linguistic background (especially in regard to Syriac, Greek, and modern languages).● a writing sample of no more than twenty pages (seminar paper, thesis chapter, publication) that best represents your interests and qualifications.● contact details for two people who are willing to provide a reference.
For more information please contact Prof. Philip Michael Forness, e-mail: philip.forness@kuleuven.be.You can apply for this job no later than May 22, 2024 via the online application tool
KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.
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