AdresseThe Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies (KU Leuven) and the History of Church and Theology Research Unit– in the context of the Book Heritage Lab/Expertise Centre for Book and Heritage Research – invite applications for a 20% appointment as a member of the senior academic staff in the field of preservation and management of religious library heritage.
KU Leuven is a research institution characterized by its international standing and by teaching based on innovative scientific research.
We are therefore looking for internationally oriented candidates with an excellent research record and with teaching competence in the field of the research, conservation and management of religiouslibrary heritage.
At the crossroad of university, church and society, the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, with its outstanding Maurits Sabbe Library, provides a unique, international and stimulating environment for high quality research, teaching and innovative service in theology and religious studies.
Duties
Research
You will develop a research program, strive for excellence in your research on an international level and promote cooperative networks for the study of the preservation and management of religious book and library collections from the early Middle Ages to modern times. To this end, you will cooperate with research groups at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, with the heritage team of the Maurits Sabbe Library and with other research groups and library collections at KU Leuven.
More specifically, you will conduct research into the historical, codicological, book-archaeological and material sources of the religious book- and library heritage, necessary for the knowledge, optimal preservation, conservation and accessibility of this heritage. Supported by an international scientific network and with an interest in interdisciplinary collaborations, you will develop innovative strategies for long-term storage, monitoring, digital access, preservation, conservation and valorization of writing and writing-bearing materials of which religious book heritage consists.
You will actively pursue the integration of Digital Humanities into your research and academic analyses of book heritage. You strive to secure competitive research funding. You coordinate the Book Heritage Lab/Expertise Centre for Book and Heritage and, in your capacity as senior academic staff member, you will be co-responsible for the Core Facility VIEW.
Teaching
You may be asked to provide high-quality education in the field of the preservation and management of religious library heritage, in both Dutch and English. In terms of its level, orientation and academic content, this education will conform to the requirements of academic formation. Your teaching is in line with the educational concept of KU Leuven.
You will supervise the writing of bachelor and master theses and doctoral research leading to the production of a thesis in the specified research area.
You will be committed to the quality of the program as a whole and take advantage of the opportunities for educational professionalization offered by the faculty and the university.
Service
Scientific administration within the framework of academic tasks will also form part of your responsibilities, as well as in-house administrative or managerial duties, within the faculty, the Maurits Sabbe Library and the university.
In this regard, you will develop and provide support service for religious heritage libraries, particularly the Maurits Sabbe Library, supporting the development of new research strategies for preservation and management.
Profile
You have a PhD in Humanities degree with a specialization in Book History and Conservation Sciences. Expertise in Digital Humanities would be a significant advantage. You have a strong academic research profile in the material culture, conservation, preservation and management of religious library heritage.
The quality of your research is evidenced by publications in major national and international journals, books and catalogs, by your involvement in prominent conservation and management projects, by your experience participating in research groups and networks, and by securing research funding.
You have demonstrable qualities related to academic education. Teaching experience would be an advantage.
You combine good communication skills with a cooperative attitude. You have the necessary competences in IT and communication and possess organisational skills in an academic context.
Proficiency in English is required. The official administrative language used at KU Leuven is Dutch. If you do not speak Dutch (or do not speak it well) at the start of employment, KU Leuven will provide language training to enable you to take part in administrative meetings.
Before teaching courses in Dutch or English, you will be given the opportunity to learn Dutch, respectively English, to the required standard.
Offer
We are offering a 20% position in an intellectually stimulating 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. To achieve this, it actively works together with research partners in Belgium and abroad. At the same time, it provides its students with an academic education that is based on high-quality scientific research.
You will work in Leuven, a historic, dynamic and lively city located in the heart of Belgium, within 20 minutes from Brussels, the capital of the European Union, and less than two hours from Paris, London and Amsterdam.
KU Leuven is well set to welcome foreign professors and their family and provides practical support with regard to immigration and administration, housing, childcare, partner career coaching, etc.
The position is available from 1 September 2024. Depending on your record and qualifications, you will be appointed at the level of assistant professor, associate professor, professor or full professor.
Interested?
For more information, please contact prof. dr. Bénédicte Lemmelijn, Dean of the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, Sint-Michielsstraat 4, bus 3100, B-3000 Leuven, e-mail: decaan.ftrw@kuleuven.be. In case you encounter problems in the process of submitting your application electronically, please contact solliciteren@kuleuven.be.
In the online application tool, you must upload the following documents in pdf format:
1) Your biosketch;
2) A file with your five most important publications or realizations;
3) An extensive CV with a full publication list included;
4) A research statement in which you provide information about the innovative research program you want to propose in your area of research (max. 2 pages, to be submitted as ‘additional information regarding your research’);
5) Your approach to academic teaching (max. 1 page, to be submitted as ‘additional information regarding your teaching’).
The KU Leuven considers scientific integrity as well as ethical and integral behaviour very important. Those who are hired are asked to sign a declaration along those lines.
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.
