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The Department of History in the Faculty of Arts is looking for a full-time doctoral scholarship holder in the field of History. The project will be carried out under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Julia Heinemann and is entitled
Historicizing healing. An actor-centered approach to the intersections of dis/ability, gender, religion and medicine in the Early Modern Period
Healing is a vague concept. Modern medicine lacks a clear definition or a consensus on healing which can encompass diverse phenomena such as physical functionality or the absence of pain. But healing was even more elusive in the early modern period. Categorial differentiations between curable and incurable diseases or between lifelong disabilities and short-term sicknesses were not common. More so, concepts and practices of healing touched and connected fields that we today understand as separate, such as medicine (academic and empiric), magic and religion. In the end, it was God who could grant a cure or prevent it. So how can we grasp healing in a world where there is neither a unified approach to it nor a coherent understanding?
Despite the existence of a wide range of historical studies on patients’ options, medical pluralism, or the role of sickness and disability with regard to pain and the ability to work, neither medical history nor disability history have thus far questioned the concept of healing itself. This is where the project comes in: It investigates early modern concepts and practices of healing by asking what healing was for people with disabilities in the early modern period. The aim is to radically historize healing and dis/ability by significantly broadening the analytical framework from a focus on patients towards an actor-centered approach which analyzes healing as a part of early modern life stories. The project thus wants to reclaim healing from the perspective of disability history whilst avoiding the problematic assumption that disability needs healing.
In so doing, it innovatively combines the two usually unconnected research fields medical history and disability history, while also integrating body history and the history of religion. Methodologically, the project does not presuppose a modern concept of disability or healing and instead works with an actor-centered approach. The analysis is focused on intersections of dis/ability, gender, social status, religion and medicine. A close reading of a representative selection of early modern ego-documents (the period and regional focus will be determined by the PhD student) that compares writings from authors of different gender, social status and confession allows for this approach.
Position
- You will work actively on the preparation and defence of a PhD thesis in the field of History (with a focus on the early modern period). The PhD project (“Historicizing Healing”) investigates practices and concepts of healing in Western Europe in the early modern period, based on an analysis of ego-documents. It combines disability history, medical history, the history of the body, and the history of religion to ask what healing was for historical actors, and how this was connected to gender, social status, and religion. The project thus aims to historize healing and dis/ability by significantly broadening the analytical framework from a focus on patients towards an actor-centered approach which analyzes healing as a part of early modern life stories and life trajectories.
- You will present your research at international conferences and publish scientific articles related to the research project.
- You will carry out a limited number of teaching and research support tasks for the Department of History.
- You will be an active member of the centre for political history “Power in History” (PoHis).
Profile
- You hold a Master degree in History, or you will have obtained it by the time you start work.
- You can demonstrate excellent study results.
- You have a strong interest in historical research, especially on the early modern period.
- Knowledge of the research fields and perspectives of the history of the body, medical history, and/or disability history is a plus.
- Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision.
- Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
- You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
- You have an excellent knowledge of English, and you have very good knowledge of at least one other language, preferably Dutch, German or French, as you should be able to analyse historical sources in at least two different languages. Knowledge of several languages is a plus.
What we offer
- We offer a doctoral scholarship for a period of two years. Following a positive evaluation, the scholarship can be renewed once for another two-year period.
- The planned start date is 1 October 2025 or as soon as possible after that date.
- Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for doctoral scholarship holders on the pay scales for Contract Research Staff (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP).
- You will receive ecocheques, Internet-connectivity allowance and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
- You will do most of your work at Stadscampus in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
- Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here.
Want to apply?
- You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including 9 July 2025 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on the 'Apply' button, complete the online application form and be sure to include the following attachments: (1) a motivation letter in which you address why you are interested in a PhD and in the topic specifically, and explain shortly which time period and region you would like to focus on and why, (2) your academic CV, (3) your master´s thesis, and (4) a (preliminary) transcript of records of your BA and MA studies.
- The selection committee will review all of the applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure. Interviews will take place online in the week from 14 to 18 July (language: English).
- If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to [email protected]. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact Dr. Julia Heinemann ([email protected]).
The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity 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.
