FWO

Two PhD positions are available in a joint FWO-funded project on the history of midwifery in Belgium and the Belgian Congo (1908–1960), hosted by Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the University of Antwerp.

The project is coordinated by Jolien Gijbels (Assistant Professor of Contemporary History, VUB) and Margot Luyckfasseel (Research Professor in African History, University of Antwerp), with additional supervision from Margo De Koster and Amandine Lauro. The research focuses on the roles and practices of midwives, reproductive care, archival research, oral history, and the mutual influences between Belgium and colonial Central Africa.

The VUB PhD will examine the Belgian case and is based in the SHOC research group (Social History of Capitalism). The University of Antwerp PhD will focus on the Belgian Congo and is based in the Department of History / Centre for Urban History. Both researchers will collaborate closely and are expected to publish in peer-reviewed journals, present at conferences and workshops, and share findings through public-facing outputs.

Eligibility highlights: a master’s degree in history or a related field; strong academic results; excellent English, and for VUB also Dutch and French; for Antwerp, English and French, with knowledge of Lingala, Kikongo, or other DR Congo languages as an asset. Experience with oral history, court archives, colonial archives, or field research is advantageous. Candidates should be prepared for interviews and, for the Antwerp post, fieldwork in the DRCongo.

Funding: doctoral scholarship for 2 years, renewable for 2 more years after positive evaluation. The scholarship is paid according to Flemish/doctoral scholarship scales. VUB includes hospitalisation insurance and commuting support; Antwerp includes ecocheques, internet allowance, and bicycle or public transport reimbursement.

Application deadline: 1 June 2026. VUB applications go by email as one integrated PDF to [email protected]; Antwerp applications go through the online portal. Interviews are planned for 7 July in Brussels or online for candidates outside Belgium.