The KU Leuven, Belgium, invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for PhD position in New Testament Studies examining the important anthropological question of individuality and personality in the New Testament. The successful candidate will form part of the research team of the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) founded WEAVE project “Biblical Anthropology in Canonical Discourse: New Hermeneutical Perspectives on the Biblical Understandings of the Human Being” (G048625N) which is an international and interdisciplinary project led by Prof. Dr. Veronika Burz-Tropper (KU Leuven) and Prof. Dr. Katharina Pyschny (University Graz). The project is situated within the Research Unit of Biblical Studies of the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies (https://theo.kuleuven.be).
Project
The international and interdisciplinary project “Biblical Anthropology in Canonical Discourse: New Hermeneutical Perspectives on the Biblical Understandings of the Human Being” deals with the question of what constitutes a human being which is by no means new, but it has arisen with new acuity and urgency in the context of various public debates. The project aims to develop a comprehensive biblical anthropology using the biblical hermeneutic model of Erich Zenger. It is about the perception of the diversity and plurality of biblical conceptions of humanity and the continuities and discontinuities within the Biblical canon.
The main objective of the project is to map continuities and discontinuities between the Old and New Testaments regarding their multiple and diverse understandings of the human being. Unlike past and current research, this project does not develop Biblical Anthropology structured according to selected text corpora (e.g., the anthropology of Qohelet or Paul), but adopts a more systematic approach organized around relevant topics (e.g., creaturality, embodiment). Furthermore, Old and New Testament are treated both in their own right on the one hand, and within the context of the Christian canon on the other. By employing the Christian-Jewish hermeneutical approach of canonical discursivity, this project will undertake new hermeneutical reflections in the field of Biblical Anthropology.
The general work program has a two-fold structure. While the Graz team is responsible for the Old Testament aspects of the work plan, the Leuven team is tasked with the New Testament components. The PhD researchers of both teams are expected to contribute to the project by working on aspects of individuality and personality in Biblical Anthropology from their respective perspectives. Both researchers will engage in close dialogue with each other throughout the project.
The successful candidate will
- produce a complete and acceptable doctoral thesis proposal.
- comply with all the requirements of KU Leuven for doctoral studies.
- research, complete, and successfully defend a doctoral thesis within KU Leuven’s doctoral framework.
- contribute to the wider project and its publications through working on one important anthropological question.
- present research results at international and national conferences and colloquia.
- contribute to the organisation of events, activities and other tasks related to the project and its research (colloquia, team events, visits from external experts etc.).
- contribute to the Biblical Studies Research Unit and the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies by participating in its regular programme of academic activities and undertaking administrative activities.
Profile
The successful candidate
- has an excellent Bachelors and Masters degree in Theology with the main focus in New Testament Studies.
- has a high level of proficiency in (Hellenistic) Greek and at least basic knowledge of Biblical Hebrew.
- is familiar with the principles and application of historical-critical exegesis and biblical hermeneutics, in particular the Christian-Jewish biblical hermeneutics.
- has an excellent command of English (project language) and (the willingness to obtain) sufficient competence in other languages to access relevant secondary literature, mainly German.
- is capable of working independently, possesses organisational skills and has highly a cooperative attitude.
- is willing to conduct the PhD research being present in Leuven and to travel on project business (incl. conferences).
- meets the entrance requirements for a PhD at KU Leuven. Further information can be obtained on: https://theo.kuleuven.be/en/doctorate & https://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/en/phd/phd-information
Offer
We are offering a full-time position in an intellectually challenging and inspiring environment. KU Leuven is a research-intensive, internationally oriented university that carries out both fundamental and applied research. It is highly inter- and multidisciplinary focused and strives for international excellence.
The successful candidate will benefit from guidance and research training from experts in the field, a work space and resources to attend and present at conferences. The successful candidate will be part of an innovative research team in Leuven, a historic, dynamic and lively city located in the heart of Belgium, within 20 minutes from Brussels, and less than two hours from Paris, London and Amsterdam. KU Leuven provides practical support with regard to immigration & administration, housing, childcare, learning Dutch, etc.
The position is subject to admission to the Faculty’s doctoral programme. The contract will initially be for 1 year (starting no later than 1st October 2025) and may be extended subject to a positive performance review and KU Leuven regulations. The project team is led by Prof. Dr. Veronika Burz-Tropper.
Interested?
Your application should include (and be limited to) the following attachment(s)
- letter of motivation (max. 1 page) including contact details for two people who are willing to provide a reference;
- curriculum vitae including details exegetical skills as well as skills in Biblical hermeneutics;
- outline of the intended doctoral research on individuality and personality in the framework of the above described project (max. 2 pages).
Meer informatie is te verkrijgen bij prof. dr. Veronika Burz-Tropper, tel.: +32 16 37 33 75, mail: [email protected] more information please contact Prof. dr. Veronika Burz-Tropper, tel.: +32 16 37 33 75, mail: [email protected].
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