Maud Devolder

Ghent University is recruiting a Postdoctoral Researcher in Archaeology to join the ERC project DAEDALOS within the Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts and Philosophy. The position is based in Ghent, Belgium, and is a full-time postdoctoral appointment with a maximum term of one year. The successful candidate will spend at least 70% of the assignment on academic research. The main task is to conduct a literature review on labour systems in pre-industrial monumental building projects worldwide and, in collaboration with the project PI and researchers in archaeology and geomatics, assess whether particular labour systems leave identifiable material, structural, or spatial traces. The work will contribute to a broader framework for understanding relationships between labour organisation and built environments across cultures and time periods. The project draws on synthetic scholarship, databases, and contextual sources including ethnographic, archaeological, and regional studies. Expected outputs include research reports and co-authored publications. This is a strong fit for researchers interested in archaeology, cultural anthropology, social anthropology, cultural history, and comparative studies of architectural production. Applicants must hold a thesis-based doctorate in cultural anthropology, history, or archaeology, earned within the last six years. The role requires experience in literature reviews, strong comparative and cross-cultural analysis skills, independence in research, and excellent academic writing in English. The successful candidate will join a collaborative academic team and contribute to an ERC-funded research environment at Ghent University. Salary will be determined according to scale PD1. The contract starts at the earliest on 1 October 2026. Applications must be submitted online before 15 August 2026 at 23:59 Brussels time. Required documents include a CV with academic transcript, a cover letter, and relevant diploma documentation and study results.