Ghent University invites applications for two fully funded PhD positions in the Department of History, focusing on early modern astronomical culture in the Habsburg Netherlands. The research is part of a four-year project led by the Sarton Centre for History of Science and Humanities (Ghent University) and the Centre Leo Apostel (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), investigating astronomy in seventeenth-century Europe as an intellectual, moral, and religious practice. The project centers on the priest astronomer Govaart Wendelen (1580–1667), whose extensive correspondence and working notes reveal a transnational scholarly network spanning the Habsburg Netherlands, France, Italy, the Holy Roman Empire, and Rome. This unique combination of historiographical marginality and interconnectedness provides a rich starting point for examining Catholic scholarly networks in the early modern world.

The research draws on manuscript materials, correspondence, observational records, and printed works to rethink the relationship between Copernican astronomy, Catholic theology, chronology, and moral reform. It combines intellectual history, history of science, and manuscript studies, with special attention to the circulation, coordination, and authority of knowledge across political, institutional, and confessional boundaries. Within this shared framework, the two PhD projects each follow a distinct but complementary research trajectory:

• The “Eclipse Project”: Focuses on Wendelen’s astronomical and chronological work, including his observational practices, manuscript tables, and correspondence with other astronomers. It addresses fundamental questions about early modern scientific practice, such as the coordination of observational data, emergence of standards, and establishment of credibility within a fragmented yet highly connected Catholic scholarly world. This project contributes to broader debates on scientific coordination, infrastructure, and transnational knowledge production.
• The “Deluge Project”: Examines Wendelen’s theological, historical, and antiquarian work, especially his attempts to reconcile astronomical knowledge with biblical chronology, the Flood narrative, and programs of moral reform. This project offers a strong avenue for exploring the place of science within early modern Catholic intellectual culture and the entanglement of astronomy with theology, historiography, and the history of the humanities.

Each doctoral student will develop an individual PhD thesis within this shared framework and participate in joint activities such as workshops, conferences, and collaborative digital source analysis. The position is full-time, initially for 12 months and renewable up to 48 months after positive evaluation. The fellowship is tax-exempt and corresponds to 100% of the net salary of an AAP member, determined by seniority and family status. Ghent University staff members enjoy various benefits, including 36 days of annual leave, training opportunities, bicycle allowance, and eco vouchers.

Eligibility: Applicants must have a Master’s degree in History or a related humanities discipline (to be obtained by the start of the PhD). Interest in early modern manuscript and printed sources is required. Good passive knowledge of Latin or willingness to acquire it during the first year is expected. Passive knowledge of at least one Romance language (French, Italian, or Spanish) is required. Strong command of English (spoken and written) is necessary. Willingness to conduct archival research abroad and participate in international academic activities is required. Basic knowledge of Dutch or willingness to acquire it during the first year is recommended. Intellectual curiosity, philological sensitivity, and methodological openness are essential. No prior specialization in the history of astronomy is required.

Application Window: The contract can start as early as May 1, 2026. The application deadline is April 15, 2026. Please submit your curriculum vitae, motivation letter (max. 2 pages, indicating which PhD position you are applying for), writing sample (e.g. MA thesis chapter or research paper), and contact details of one or two academic referees by email to [email protected] and [email protected]. Late applications will not be accepted. Applications must be in English.

For more information about this vacancy, contact Prof. Steven Vanden Broecke ([email protected]). Ghent University adheres to an equal opportunities and diversity policy and encourages all qualified candidates to apply.