The KU Leuven Research Unit Roman Law and Legal History, part of the Faculty of Law and Criminology, invites applications for a three-year, full-time postdoctoral research associate position. This opportunity is embedded in a project funded by the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) titled "Stepchildren in the early modern Duchy of Brabant: the interplay between particular law and ius commune (1425-1629)." The research unit is internationally oriented and interdisciplinary, with a strong focus on the history of international law, colonial legal history, and especially the study of ius commune in the early modern period. The successful candidate will conduct archival and doctrinal legal-historical research on the legal position of stepchildren in the early modern Duchy of Brabant, focusing on family law, family property law, and inheritance law. The project aims to uncover how contractual and testamentary freedoms, as developed in learned law and moral theology, influenced the legal treatment of stepchildren compared to consanguineous offspring. Research will involve analysis of prenuptial agreements, last wills, and donations from archives in Leuven, Antwerp, and 's-Hertogenbosch, exploring the extent to which learned legal traditions deviated from customary law in addressing challenges faced by stepfamilies. Responsibilities include writing four scientific articles for international peer-reviewed journals, co-organizing an international conference, co-editing the conference volume, co-authoring a concluding article with the project promoter, and presenting research at international conferences. The position also offers financing for two one-month research stays at other European research institutions and integration into the MSCA Doctoral Network 'TESTAMENT'. Applicants must have a Ph.D. in Law (legal history) or a related discipline (e.g., medieval or early modern history), fluency in English, and reading knowledge of early modern Dutch and Latin. Knowledge of French, experience with archival research, and paleography are assets. Candidates should be able to work both independently and collaboratively in an international environment. Application materials include a motivation letter, detailed CV, and Ph.D. degree scan; if the Ph.D. is not yet defended, a supervisor's recommendation letter is required. The earliest start date is 1 May 2026, with flexibility up to October 2026. KU Leuven is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity. For more information, contact Prof. Dr. Wouter Druwé at [email protected]. Apply online via the KU Leuven job portal.

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.

The Research Unit Roman Law and Legal History at KU Leuven offers a fully funded PhD position (100%) for candidates interested in pursuing advanced research in Roman law and legal history. The unit is internationally oriented and provides broad education and research opportunities in various subfields of legal history, with a particular focus on the period after 1500. The team consists of four professors and five to ten scientific employees, fostering a dynamic and collaborative academic environment. As a PhD student, you will develop your own research project in consultation with the unit's professors, focusing on a theme within Roman law or legal history that aligns with their expertise. The research covers three main areas: the intellectual development of the continental legal tradition (with emphasis on Roman and canon law), the historical development of international law (including colonisation and imperialism), and the historical development of economic and financial law. You will have opportunities to present your work at national and international conferences and contribute to scientific publications. The unit is responsible for teaching foundational courses such as History of Public Law, Roman Law, and History of Private Law at the undergraduate level, as well as advanced courses like Legal History, History of International Law, and European Legal History at the master's level. PhD students are expected to support research and educational tasks, gaining comprehensive experience in academic life. Applicants must hold (or expect to obtain by September 2026) a master's degree in Law, or a master's in History or Latin Linguistics with a demonstrable interest in legal history. Strong academic performance (at least one distinction), excellent command of English and Dutch, and knowledge of other relevant languages are required. Candidates should be able to work independently and in teams, handle deadlines, and possess strong communication skills. The application must include a CV, a draft project proposal (ca. 2 pages), two references, and a motivation letter. The position is offered as a PhD scholarship holder (100%) for an initial period of 1 year, with the possibility of extension up to 4 years based on satisfactory progress. KU Leuven is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity, providing a respectful and supportive environment for all researchers. For further information, contact Prof. dr. Inge Van Hulle ([email protected]) or Prof. dr. Wouter Druwé ([email protected]). Application deadline is March 19, 2026. Apply online via the KU Leuven jobsite.