This doctoral position at KU Leuven is part of the prestigious MSCA Doctoral Network "TESTAMENT," funded by the European Commission. The project investigates the legal and social history of the Late Middle Ages and Early Modern Period, focusing on how earlier generations regulated the post-mortal transfer of patrimony through last wills and related legal mechanisms. The research explores the interplay between societal dynamics, learned law, and testamentary freedom, with a particular emphasis on generational dynamics and age inequality in late medieval Brabant. KU Leuven Kulak in Kortrijk will serve as the home base for the successful candidate, offering a close-knit academic community and a strong interdisciplinary research profile. The candidate will join the Research Unit of Medieval History in the Department of History, which specializes in social, gender, and political history, as well as power dynamics within families and communities in late medieval Europe. The doctoral candidate will be supervised by Professor Dr. Chanelle Delameillieure (KU Leuven) and co-supervised by Professor Dr. Marek Starý (Charles University). Additionally, Professor Dr. Wouter Druwé is available for contact and support. The fellowship includes a six-month research stay at Charles University in Prague and a three-month internship at the Museum Plantin-Moretus in Antwerp, providing valuable international and practical experience. The MSCA Doctoral Network "TESTAMENT" brings together five universities: KU Leuven (Belgium), Jagiellonian University Cracow (Poland), University of Warsaw (Poland), Charles University Prague (Czech Republic), and Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena (Germany). The network also includes associated partners such as museums and archives, offering internships and practical training. The consortium aims to study dynamics of freedom and oppression through testamentary law and practice in Western and Central Europe (c. 1420-1620), focusing on regions at the periphery of the academic tradition. Doctoral candidates will be trained in both disciplinary and transferable skills through summer and winter schools, monthly online seminars, secondments at academic partners abroad, and collaboration with non-academic actors. The project utilizes digital methods (including HTR-tools) and contributes new material to open access databases. Outreach activities include social media, blogposts, exhibitions, course materials, and interdisciplinary seminars. Applicants must have or expect to obtain a master's degree in law or history by August 2026, possess good communicative skills, and be able to work in a research team. A good command of English is required, along with passive command of Dutch and/or French (or their early modern variants); active Dutch is an advantage. Passive command of Latin is also needed. Candidates must not already hold a doctoral degree and must comply with the mobility rule (not residing in Belgium for more than 12 months in the past 36 months). The position offers full-time employment for three years, with an intermediate evaluation after one year. The gross doctoral scholarship is approximately 3,055.61 EUR per month (tax-free for single candidates, adjusted for family status), plus additional benefits according to KU Leuven regulations. High-quality training programs and support are provided to foster autonomous scientific researchers. Applications must be submitted online via the KU Leuven application tool, including a motivation letter, CV with references, and a list of bachelor and master courses and grades. The deadline for applications is 20 April 2026. Selected candidates will be invited for interviews, with employment starting 1 September 2026. For more information on other positions within the TESTAMENT consortium, visit the project website. KU Leuven is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity, welcoming candidates from all backgrounds. For accessibility or support questions, contact the provided email addresses.

The KU Leuven Research Unit Roman Law and Legal History invites applications for a Doctoral Candidate position in Legal History as part of the MSCA Doctoral Network "TESTAMENT". This prestigious, European Commission-funded network brings together five universities and several associated partners to explore testamentary practices and legal history in Western and Central Europe (c. 1420-1620). The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary and international research environment, focusing on the law of last wills in Leuven, with special emphasis on joint last wills of spouses. The research will utilize a variety of sources, including legal treatises, consultations, notarial archives, and court records, to investigate how local laws were adapted to Roman and canon law principles and how these reflected societal power relations. Supervision will be provided by Prof. Dr. Wouter Druwé (KU Leuven) and Prof. Dr. Agnieszka Bartoszewicz (University of Warsaw), with additional support from Prof. Dr. Chanelle Delameillieure. The doctoral candidate will benefit from a six-month research stay at the University of Warsaw and a three-month internship at the City Archives in Leuven, participating in a citizen science project. The TESTAMENT consortium offers high-quality training, including summer and winter schools, monthly seminars, and opportunities for collaboration with non-academic partners such as archives and museums. The project aims to develop new approaches to historical legal research, using digital methods and contributing to open access databases. Applicants must hold (or expect to hold by August 2026) a master's degree in law or history, demonstrate strong communication skills, and be able to work effectively in a research team. A good command of English is required, along with passive knowledge of Dutch and/or French (including early modern variants), and Latin. Active Dutch is an advantage. Candidates must not already possess a doctoral degree and must comply with the MSCA mobility rule (not having resided or worked in Belgium for more than 12 months in the past 36 months). The position is fully funded for three years, with a tax-free scholarship of approximately 3,055.61 EUR per month, adjusted for family status, and additional benefits per KU Leuven regulations. Applications must be submitted online via the KU Leuven job portal, including a motivation letter, CV with references, and a list of courses and grades. The deadline for applications is 20 April 2026. Selected candidates will be invited for interviews, with employment starting 1 September 2026. For further information, contact Prof. Dr. Wouter Druwé or Prof. Dr. Chanelle Delameillieure. KU Leuven is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity, welcoming candidates from all backgrounds. For more details and to apply, visit the project website or the KU Leuven job portal. Additional doctoral positions are available within the TESTAMENT consortium at partner institutions in Prague, Warsaw, Jena, and Kraków.