PhD in late ancient philosophical historiography

Following a grant of the Research Fund of the University of Leuven, an interdisciplinary research project “A New Model for the Edition of Ancient Philosophical Fragments” was launched in October 2025. In its present phase, the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Philosophy seek to hire a doctoral student who will prepare a PhD dissertation in (Ancient) History.

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Project

The project intends to develop a new model for editions of fragments, making use of the possibilities of digital editions. By ‘fragments’ we mean instances of incomplete text reuse. The goal is not exclusively to reconstruct what would otherwise be lost, but to map text reuse as a whole. Fragments are not treated as chunks of text extracted from source texts but as a demarcation of the relevant data in the latter plus a set of annotations with metadata and comments. A new, complex digital annotation scheme will allow for overlapping and mixed categorizations, document editorial decisions, and signal uncertainty. Texts in which concepts, doctrines, and arguments are central demand special treatment. They require philosophical and historical analyses of source context and of the reused text.

Currently three editions from the history of Platonism serve as test cases for the premises of the project. One of those texts is Damascius’ Vita Isidori, preserved in excerpts and fragments compiled by Photius and the Suda.

Candidates can apply for a full-time, four-year fellowship for the study of Damascius’ Vita Isidori, focusing on Photius’ methodology in compiling the excerpts, on the genre of Damascius’ work (biography/historiography of the Platonic school), the relationship between the different sets of excerpts (including the possibility of finding further as yet unidentified excerpts in Suda), the possibility of reconstructing the text, and especially the prosopography of the persons named in Damascius’ text and the history of the Platonic schools described in that work. The PhD student will also contribute to the annotation of, and the commentary on, the online edition of the Vita Isidori. The PhD thesis, supervised by an ancient historian and a historian of philosophy, is supposed to lead to a doctorate in History.

Profile

Selected candidates will have a broad, solid competence in ancient Greek, and preferably also in late ancient philosophy. They should also have the ability to combine historical, philological and philosophical methodologies in an interdisciplinary fashion. Candidates demonstrating relevant experience with Digital Humanities will have an asset. Applications from candidates with an excellent graduate degree (typically M.A.) in Classics are especially welcome, and candidates with an excellent degree in related disciplines (e.g. Ancient History, Philosophy) are also strongly invited to apply, providing that they have the necessary competence in Greek. Candidates are expected to be able to write and speak English on an academic level and to read relevant secondary literature in French, German, and Italian.

Candidates are, in addition, willing to perform a limited number of administrative and teaching tasks that the university expects of doctoral students.

Offer

• This fellowship provides the opportunity to participate in an enthusiastic research group within the context of a dynamic, internationally-oriented academic environment possessing unrivalled library resources.

• We are offering a 4-year full-time doctoral position. Initially, a 1-year contract will be offered. Following a positive evaluation, the contract will be extended for 3 years.

• You will be paid as a doctoral researcher (100%). From a legal standpoint, it is therefore necessary to reside in Belgium.

Interested?

To apply please submit

• Your CV with detailed information about your academic performance in your bachelor’s and master’s programs (diploma supplement)

• A cover letter explaining why you are the best candidate for this project in this research unit (max. 2 pages)

• A writing sample in the form of a research-based text you have written (e.g., a scientific article, your master’s thesis)

• a letter of recommendation by a person related to a research institution

Preselected candidates will be invited for an interview by 16 November 2026, which will take place in the week of 30 November 2026 (in English).

Starting date: 1 February 2027 (or as soon thereafter as possible)

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Stefan Schorn, mail: stefan.schorn@kuleuven.be or Prof. dr. Gerd Van Riel, mail: gerd.vanriel@kuleuven.be.

You can apply for this job no later than November 10, 2026 via the online application tool

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