The KU Leuven Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies invites applications from qualified candidates for a PhD position in the research project 'Processes of Agency, Negotiation and Identity Construction (PANIC): Lived Religion and LGBTQ+ in relation to Catholic Norms and Practices in Europe from Historical, Ethical and Practical Theological Perspectives’. This project is supervised by Dries Bosschaert, Annemie Dillen, and Nenad Polgar.

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Project

On December 18, 2023, the Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith allowed the blessing of same-sex unions in the Roman Catholic Church. The Belgian bishops made a similar statement one year earlier, sparking varied reactions. This project examines the negotiation of religious identity in relation to LGBTQ+ matters within the Roman Catholic Church across Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Croatia. It will analyze interviews, historical and contemporary normative sources, and social media to explore identity construction, agency, memory, and cultural interactions. The aim is to understand the relationship between individual religious identity and social institutions, church communities, and societal context.

This PhD position focuses on the historical research line of the project, particularly analyzing historical sources, contextualizing individual and community memories, and examining LGBTQ+-related themes in religious identity formation.

Profile

You have a passion for church history and theology, with strong academic qualifications and a Master's degree (or soon to obtain one) in Theology and Religious Studies, History, or a related discipline with a strong historical or sociological/anthropological dimension.

• You have obtained or will obtain your Master's degree with good results and meet the requirements for admission to the doctoral programme of the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies.
• You are interested in intellectual, religious, and social history.
• You have experience with archival research, oral history (qualitative research methods), or are willing to train in these fields.
• You can work independently, take initiative, and have a sense of responsibility.
• You speak and write fluently in English. Knowledge of Dutch, French, and/or Croatian is highly valuable.
• You have not previously worked as a PhD fellow.

The successful candidate will:

• Prepare and defend a doctoral dissertation based on publications within the project.
• Publish academic articles related to the research project.
• Present research at conferences both domestically and internationally.
• Collaborate closely with other PhD researchers on the project.
• Contribute to organizing events, activities, and other tasks related to the project and its research.
• If eligible, submit an application for a FWO PhD Fellowship for fundamental research.
• Assist the supervisor with a limited package of teaching and research support tasks within the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies at KU Leuven.

Offer

• A full-time doctoral position for one year, renewable after positive evaluation for up to four years.
• Planned start date: 1 November 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.
• Monthly salary according to the scales for academic staff.
• Research conducted in a dynamic and stimulating environment at KU Leuven.

Interested?

Your application file should include:

• A motivation letter.
• Your CV with detailed information about your bachelor's and master's results.
• A research-based text (e.g., a scientific article, a chapter of your master's thesis).

The Selection Committee will make a first selection by 6 October 2024. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.

For more information, please contact Prof. dr. Dries Bosschaert, tel.: +32 16 32 38 40, email: dries.bosschaert@kuleuven.be.

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