Doctoral scholarship holder in cultural mediation, Latin American studies, and international and contemporary history University of Antwerp in Belgium

The University of Antwerp is offering a full-time doctoral scholarship holder position in the Department of Applied Linguistics, Translation and Interpreting Studies within the Faculty of Arts. The project sits at the intersection of cultural mediation, Latin American studies, and international and contemporary history, with a strong focus on twentieth-century cultural transfer, archival research, and digital humanities methods.

The successful candidate will work on a PhD about the trajectories of two influential Latin American cultural mediators: Gabriela Mistral and Alejo Carpentier. Their careers as writers, intellectuals, and diplomats will be used to study South-South and South-North dynamics, the circulation of ideas and cultural practices, and the relationship between culture and politics across national, cultural, and linguistic boundaries. Fieldwork and archival research will be conducted in Santiago (Chile) and Havana (Cuba), where key sources relating to the project are held.

The dissertation is expected to combine primary-source archival work with data collection and open-data processing using network-mapping tools and databases. The project aims to produce an empirically grounded historical study and contribute to the understanding of transnational and global cultural networks. The researcher will be based in Belgium, report regularly to supervisors from the department and the TricS research group, participate in doctoral training through the Antwerp Doctoral School, present at conferences, defend the thesis publicly, and work toward publication in the scientific press.

The post is open to candidates with a Master’s degree in literary studies, history, language studies, translation studies, or a related discipline, or those who will have obtained such a degree by the start of the appointment. Applicants should have experience or a strong willingness to train in digital humanities, particularly network analysis and visualization. A minimum B2+ level of Spanish and strong academic English writing skills are required, along with excellent academic results and experience in cultural and/or transnational studies. The university also expects commitment to further methodological training where needed, and values quality, integrity, creativity, and cooperation.

The scholarship is awarded initially for 12 months and can be renewed following a positive evaluation for up to a maximum duration of four years. The planned start date is January 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter. The package includes a monthly doctoral scholarship and additional benefits such as ecocheques, an internet-connectivity allowance, and a bicycle allowance or full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.

Applications must be submitted online by 5 October 2026 (midnight Brussels time). Candidates should include a motivation letter, CV, diplomas with transcripts and study results, and a brief research proposal of 1–2 pages including objectives, research questions, theoretical framework, methodology, and bibliography.