Vrije Universiteit Brussel 2022 International Postdoctoral Positions in Colonial and Construction History, Belgium for Fellowship: ()

This vacancy fits within the framework of the EOS research project “Construction History, Above and Beyond. What History Can Do for Construction History”, directed by professors Michiel Dehaene (UGent), Dave De ruysscher (VUB, Tilburg University), Rika Devos (ULB), Johan Lagae (UGent), Stephanie Van de Voorde (VUB) and Ine Wouters (VUB). In total, 3 PhD positions and 4 postdoc positions are included in this project (the fourth postdoc mandate will be opened later in 2023). An overview of the full project and all mandates involved can be consulted on: www.vub.be/arch/project/eos.

The EOS research project will set up a dialogue (in terms of sources, methodologies, concepts and cognitive interests) between Construction History and three other fields of history, namely Colonial History, Legal History and Planning History. As such, the project sets out to strengthen the historical dimension of Construction History, while simultaneously demonstrating its relevance and potential to other fields and disciplines. The project overall concentrates on selected aspects in 19th and 20th -century building knowledge and building practice in Belgium and its former colony, with particular attention for tacit knowledge, in order to voice crucial yet underrated actors, sources and types of knowledge.

The individual trajectory of each postdoc researcher is embedded in this larger team, operating in the 3 universities (VUB, UGent and ULB). Intensive exchange and shared outcomes among team members are crucial for the success of the project. The postdoc positions are each situated in one of the 3 fields of dialogue: (1) colonial history – construction history; (2) legal history – construction history and (3) planning history – construction history.

This specific vacancy is issued by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and engages in the dialogue between colonial history and construction history. It is co-supervised by profs. Stephanie Van de Voorde (VUB) and Johan Lagae (UGent).

The dialogue between colonial history and construction history will evolve around the use of particular technologies, the ecologies of building materials and debris, and the division of labor at the construction site, in Congo as the former Belgian colony, in the 19th and 20th centuries. These topics gain particular significance in a colonial context, with metropolitan methods and guidelines most often being translated and reformulated to be applied ‘overseas’ because of differences in climate, of availability of skills, of knowledge and resources, and of different agendas and expectations linked to the inequal power relationships that characterize the colonial situation.

About Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Established in 1970, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Free University of Brussels) is a non-profit private higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large city of Brussels (population range of 1,000,000-5,000,000 inhabitants). Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Vlaams Ministerie van Onderwijs en Vorming, België (Flemish Ministry of Education and Training, Belgium), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is a large (uniRank enrollment range: 15,000-19,999 students) coeducational higher education institution. Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) offers courses and progra…

Vrije Universiteit Brussel Fellowship

• Type Fellowship
• Organisation Vrije Universiteit Brussel
• Country to study Germany
• School to study Vrije Universiteit Brussel
• Course to study Not specified
• State of Origin
• Gender Men and Women
• Application Deadline June 30, 2022

Aim and Benefits of Vrije Universiteit Brussel Fellowship

• The University will offer a contract, for an assignment of 1 FTE, for 12 months, with a planned starting date of 01/10/2022.
• You’ll receive a salary linked to one of the scales set by the government.
• Full reimbursement for your home-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, or compensation if you come by bike;
• Cost-free hospitalization insurance;
• The space to form your job content and continuously learn via VUB LRN;
• Excellent facilities for sport and exercise;
• Ecocheques
• Delicious meals at attractive prices in our campus restaurants;
• An open, family-friendly work environment pays attention to work-life balance and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a full-time contract).

Requirements for Vrije Universiteit Brussel Fellowship Qualification

• To be eligible, the applicants must meet all the following criteria:
• Fluent passive knowledge of both Dutch and French. Attention: this is a binding requirement as it is necessary for archival research
• A passion for archival research
• Willingness to do (and preferable experience with) fieldwork in (Central-)Africa
• Good editing skills, to be demonstrated by a sample of writing: your best research text and a chapter of the PhD (in Dutch, French, or English)
• Good competencies in teamwork and good social skills.
• An interest in participating in international congresses.

Application Deadline

June 30, 2022