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.