Postdoctoral researcher in Literary Studies (ERC project AFROPRESS)

Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Brussel Hoofdstad; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Homeworking options

Telework allowance 50 euros/month

Internet fee 20 euros/month

Work-life balance

35 days leave

Hospitalisation insurance

Commuting reimbursement

Campus restaurant meals

Benefits@Work discounts

Ecocheques

Nursery near campus

Career learning & training

Great colleagues

Job summary

Vrije Universiteit Brussel invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher in Literary Studies as part of the ERC AFROPRESS project. The role is based at the Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) with a home base at the Centre for Literary and Intermedial Crossings.

You will conduct archival and empirical research on magazines in Uganda/East Africa (1945-68), contribute to project outputs, and collaborate on events.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Literary Studies required.
• Excellent proficiency in English, written and spoken.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Conduct individual research on literary/cultural/political or student magazines in Uganda (1945–1968) with focus on transnational exchanges; travel for archival/empirical data.
• Contribute to ERC project outputs: conference papers, journal articles, and coordinating a special issue.
• Collaborate with team members on workshops, conferences and related academic events.
• Submit a funding proposal for a follow-up mandate (e.g. FWO).
• Assist the PI in administrative and teaching matters.

Skills

English proficiency

Collaborative work

Education

Doctoral degree in Literary Studies

Job description

Postdoctoral researcher in Literary Studies (ERC project AFROPRESS)

Category: Academic Staff & Researchers

1 - Working at the VUB

For more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and solidarity, and this is very much alive on our campuses among students and staff alike.

At the VUB, you will find a diverse collection of personalities: innovators pur sang, but above all people who are 100% their authentic selves. With some 4,000 employees, we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer, in the private sector, in Brussels; an international city with which we are only too happy to connect and where (around) our 4 campuses are located.

Add to this our principle of free research - in which self-reflection, a critical attitude and an open, creative mind around scientific and social issues are central - and you have a university that is fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research. In short: the VUB all over again.

Moreover, the VUB is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of like-minded European universities, all ready to reinvent themselves.

The Faculty of Languages and Humanities, Department Linguistics and Literary Studies, research group Centre for Literary and Intermedial Crossings, is looking for a postdoctoral researcher.

More concretely your work package contains:

• Conducting individual research on literary, cultural, political or student magazines in Uganda (or, by extension, East Africa), especially in the period 1945-68 and with particular attention to transnational exchanges. This will require travel to Uganda and elsewhere to gather archival and empirical data;
• Contributing to the delivery of the ERC project’s output, including conference papers, journal articles and the coordination of a special issue;
• Collaborating with other team members, e.g. on the organisation of workshops, conferences and other related academic events;
• Submitting a funding proposal for a (personal) follow-up mandate (e.g. FWO);
• Assisting the Principal Investigator (PI), e.g. in administrative and teaching matters.

For this function, ourBrussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene)will serve as your home base.

3 - Profile

What do we expect from you?

You have a doctoral degree in Literary Studies. If you have completed your PhD but not yet had your viva, you may also be considered;

• You have an excellent proficiency in English, written and spoken;
• You are able to work collaboratively as a team.

Desirable criteria, but not required:

• You have experience with archival methods or empirical methods;
• You are familiar with Uganda’s languages other than English.
• As a (non-)EEA national, meet the conditions for obtaining a valid permit for VUB and comply with the VUB residence requirements. More info here .

The VUB wants to be a reflection of the society where everyone's talent is valued, regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability and neurodiversity.

4 - Offer

Are you going to be our new colleague?

You’ll be offered a contract, for an assignment of1FTE, for24months (extendable, on condition of the positive evaluation of the research activities), with planned starting date01/05/2027.

You’ll receive a salary linked to one of the scales set by the government.

At the VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.

As well as this, you will also enjoy various other benefits:

• Extensive homeworking options, a telework allowance of 50 euros per month OR an internet fee of 20 euros per month;
• An open and informal working environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave(based on a fulltime contract), closure between Christmas and New Year and 3 extra leave days;
• Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
• Full reimbursement of your home-to-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, and/or compensation if you come by bike;
• A wide selection of meals in our campus restaurants at attractive prices;
• Excellent and affordable facilities for sport and exercise, a range of discounts via Benefits@Work (in all kinds of shops, on flights, in petrol stations, amusement parks...) and Ecocheques;
• Nursery near campus, discount on holiday camps;
• The space to form your job content and to continuously learn through our VUB learning platforms and training courses;
• And finally: great colleagues with a healthy drive.

DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS VACANCY?

You can contact the person mentioned in the job description.