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.