Postdoctoral researcher in the field of Spatial History

Job title:

Postdoctoral researcher in the field of Spatial History

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Job description

Offer DescriptionLet’s shape the future – University of AntwerpThe is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow’s world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape.The Department of History in the Faculty of Arts is looking for a full-time (100%)* postdoctoral researcher in the field of Spatial History

• We do allow – in negotiation – part-time commitment for at least 50%, with subsequent extension of the contract period

DiplomatiCon – A Connected history of Medieval Mediterranean Diplomacy: The Mamluk Sultanate, Italy and the Crown of Aragon (14th-15th century)The Mediterranean is often seen as a dividing border between two worlds: North and South; Christian and Muslim. This pattern has been mostly influenced and supported by nationalist historiographies, which tended to create borders and accentuate differences between areas that were originally connected. DiplomatiCon-project aims precisely to break free from this one-sided view on the history of the region and to present the first example of History of Diplomacy that truly reflects the late medieval context of interactions and exchanges between the Islamic and Christian worlds. Based on the approaches and methodologies advocated by the New Diplomatic History and Connected History, the project will focus on the three most important actors of the late medieval world – the Mamluk Sultanate of Cairo on the Islamic side and the Italian polities as well as the Crown of Aragon on the Christian side – and it will challenge the common narratives of political and cultural antagonism between the two worlds by pointing at the spheres of contact and interaction where an informal type of diplomacy could be performed. This approach will allow to reveal the networks and whole set of actors and agents involved in the diplomatic process, as well as the way Mediterranean space was produced and perceived. In order to do so, the project turns to state-of-the-art methodologies using Geographic Information Systems (HisGIS) and Social Network Analysis (SNA).DiplomatiCon is a research project funded by the EOS (Excellence of Science) programme of the F.R.S.-FNRS and the FWO-Flanders. It is a collaboration between UAntwerp (Malika Dekkiche and Iason Jongepier) and ULiège (Frédéric Bauden), with the UniMol, UniBo (Isabella Lazzarini), and the IMF – CSIC (Roser Salicrú I Lluch).Position

• You will conduct GIS-based research in the field of Spatial History, more specifically on Medieval Mediterranean space
• You will co-produce a Medieval Mediterranean gazetteer consisting of all places occurring in the project sources
• You will lead the GIS-training and assist in supervision of PhD students and other team members
• You will closely collaborate with our already appointed postdoc that manages Social Network Analysis
• You will co-organize the Antwerp workshop on Mediterranean space (summer 2025)
• You will take part actively to the research activities and meetings of the DiplomatiCON team (yearly workshop and monthly seminars)
• You will present your research at international conference and extend your academic network.
• You will publish scientific articles related to the research project.
• You will take part to the dissemination activities, such as the blog, podcast/webinar and exhibition.

Profile

• You hold a PhD in Humanities, Geography, or equivalent (or you will have obtained it by the time you start work).
• You have advanced skills in Geographic Information Systems (QGIS/ArcGIS)
• You have experience conducting historical research, preferable via the application of GIS to historical cartographical or written sources (HisGIS)
• You have creative abilities allowing you to work with inconsistent or incomplete historical data following a quantitative approach
• You have basic experience in teaching and pedagogical skills
• You can speak and write fluently in English (working language for team meetings and publications)
• Not strictly necessary but beneficial to your application are

• Research experience in medieval Mediterranean history
• Skills in statistical programming and modeling, particularly spatial statistics
• Experience in network analysis
• Active or passive knowledge of one or more sources languages of the project (e.g. Catalan, Italian, Latin).
• You have a strong research profile that fits into one of the research groups of the Department of History (Centre for Urban History and Power in History: Centre for Political History).
• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and

. * You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.

• You are quality-oriented, conscientious, creative and cooperative.

What we offer

• We offer a full-time contract as a postdoctoral researcher for a period of 14 months (for a regular postdoc statute, calculated with max. 3 years seniority and to be adjusted if the seniority exceeds this number of years) OR maximum 25 months if you fit UA Bursary requirements.

• In order to be eligible for a bursary statute, you must have spent at least 12 months of the three years prior to the start date as a postdoctoral scholarship holder abroad and did not work or study in Belgium during these 12 months. Short-term stays (e.g. holidays, participation in conferences, preparation for this stay as a postdoctoral scholarship holder) will not be taken into account.
• We do allow – in negotiation – part time commitment for at least 50%, with subsequent extension of the contract period.
• Evaluation and renewal of the contract takes place each 12 months.
• Your gross monthly salary is calculated according to the

for a principal research fellow in the Contract Research Staff category (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP). * You will receive ecocheques, and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.

• The planned start date is May 1, 2025 or as shortly after as possible.
• You will do most of your work at the Brantijser (UA Stadscampus, History Department) in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• Opportunity to travel to DiplomatiCON related international conferences or archives
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp

.Want to apply?

• You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including March 1, 2025 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on ‘apply’, complete the online application form and don’t forget to include the following document(s): (1) a motivation letter, (2) your academic CV, (3) PhD thesis, (4) copies of diploma´s.
• Pre-selection results will be announced by March 7, 2025 after which the interviews will take on March 20, 2025 in the afternoon (online interview based on an additional written assignment)
• If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the

or send an email to . If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact Prof. Dr. Malika Dekkiche, and Prof. Dr. Iason Jongepier,The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.Where to apply WebsiteRequirementsResearch Field Cultural studies Years of Research Experience 4 – 10Research Field Environmental science Years of Research Experience 4 – 10Additional InformationWebsite for additional job detailsWork Location(s)Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute University of Antwerp Country Belgium City Antwerp Postal Code 2000 Street Prinsstraat 13 GeofieldContact CityAntwerp WebsitePostal Code2000STATUS: EXPIREDShare this page

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Location

Anvers

Job date

Sat, 25 Jan 2025 05:16:28 GMT

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