KU Leuven
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3 days ago
Postdoctoral Positions in Critical Political Theology of Coloniality at KU Leuven KU Leuven in Belgium
Degree Level
Postdoc
Field of study
Anthropology
Funding
Postdoctoral research position in an ERC Advanced Grant project. Initial appointment for one year, with expected renewal subject to satisfactory performance and project needs up to a maximum of five years. Appointment level is normally 80% to 100% FTE. Competitive compensation according to KU Leuven pay scales and a research budget for conferences, workshops, and training.
Deadline
Oct 26, 2026
Country
Belgium
University
KU Leuven

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About this position
KU Leuven’s Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies is recruiting three postdoctoral researchers for RECUR: Towards a Critical Political Theology of Coloniality, an ERC Advanced Grant project led by Prof. Judith Gruber. The project examines how colonial power continues to shape contemporary Europe through political-theological discourses across religious, secular, and academic domains.
The researchers will work in an interdisciplinary team and contribute to a shared research agenda combining qualitative discourse analysis, discourse network analysis, and critical theological reflection. The project focuses on Belgium, Germany, and Ireland, and each postdoctoral researcher will take primary responsibility for empirical research in one national context.
Research themes include: sexualized violence in the Roman Catholic Church, remembrance practices of state violence, and academic knowledge production in Post-/Secularity Studies. The postdoctoral positions are especially relevant for candidates with backgrounds in theology, religious studies, political theory, anthropology, sociology, history, or related fields.
Applicants should have a completed PhD by the start date, strong interest in coloniality, power, authority, memory, religion, and/or secularity, and a strong publication record for career stage. Experience with qualitative methods, discourse analysis, textual analysis, empirical research on religion or public discourse, and critical theoretical approaches is welcome. Excellent English is required; knowledge of German, Dutch, French, or Irish is highly desirable.
The appointment is initially for one year and may be renewed up to five years in total, depending on performance and project needs. The role is normally 80%–100% FTE, with competitive KU Leuven salary scales and a research budget for conferences, workshops, and training.
Apply online by 26 October 2026, 23:59 CET. Submit a CV, motivation letter, writing sample, and two references. Contact Judith Gruber at [email protected] for more information.
Funding details
Postdoctoral research position in an ERC Advanced Grant project. Initial appointment for one year, with expected renewal subject to satisfactory performance and project needs up to a maximum of five years. Appointment level is normally 80% to 100% FTE. Competitive compensation according to KU Leuven pay scales and a research budget for conferences, workshops, and training.
What's required
PhD in Theology, Religious Studies, Philosophy, Political Theory, Anthropology, Sociology, History, Cultural Studies, or a related discipline completed by the start of appointment; demonstrated expertise in at least one of the three research areas; strong interest in coloniality, power, authority, memory, religion, and/or secularity; demonstrated capacity for original and independent research; excellent publication record relative to career stage; excellent command of English; competence in at least one relevant language (German, Dutch, French, or Irish) is highly desirable; experience with qualitative social research methods, discourse analysis, qualitative coding, textual analysis, empirical research on religion/political discourse/institutions/memory/public culture, and/or critical theoretical approaches is valued.
How to apply
Apply in English via the online application tool by 26 October 2026, 23:59 CET. Submit a CV, motivation letter (max 2 pages), a writing sample (max 20 pages), and contact information for two references. For questions about the position, contact Judith Gruber by email.
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