Doctoral Candidate in Legal History – KU Leuven – MSCA DN "TESTAMENT"

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.