Postdoctoral Fellow in Languages

Department

• Department: LW21 – Department of Languages and Cultures

• Faculty: Arts and Philosophy

• Institution: Ghent University

• Occupancy rate: 100%

• Vacancy type: Research staff

About Ghent University

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15.000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities.

With its 11 faculties and more than 85 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

Position Overview

YOUR TASKS

As part of the ERC research project HAIR on Muslim femininities in Egypt, Lebanon and the UAE and connected regions within the research centre Ghent Centre for Arabic, Islamic and Middle East Studies of the Department of Languages and Cultures/Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, your assignment consists of:

Research

• Develop and carry out an original PhD project within the scope of the ERC project

• Conduct ethnographic and digital fieldwork and analyses of Arabic literary texts

• Analyse qualitative data and source materials relevant to the HAIR research project and contribute to theoretical debates

• Prepare and process source materials for computational analysis within the project database

Academic Output

• Write a doctoral dissertation

• Submit at least 1 article for publication within a peer-reviewed journal

• Present research at international conferences

Collaboration & Participation

• Actively contribute to the ERC research team

• Participate in project meetings, workshops, and reading groups

• Contribute to the organisation of academic events

Training & Teaching

• Participate in doctoral training programmes at Ghent University

• Limited teaching may be possible (depending on department needs)

Project Description

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

For the ERC research group HAIR (Center for Arabic, Islamic and Middle East Studies, Department of Languages and Cultures, Faculty of Arts and Philosophy) we are looking for a m/f/x:

1 Doctoral fellow (100%) – ERC Project “HAIR” (subproject Egypt)

YOUR JOB

The Department of Languages and Cultures at Ghent University invites applications for 1 fully funded PhD position within the ERC-funded research project:

“HAIR – Hair, Identity, Beauty, and the Self in Muslim Contexts: Emotional Landscapes and Changing Femininities Beyond the Veil”

(Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Lisa Maria Franke, Ghent Centre for Arabic, Islamic and Middle East Studies, Department of Languages and Cultures, Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, Ghent University)

Project Description

The ERC project HAIR investigates the cultural, socio-religious, political and emotional meanings of beauty and body politics in Muslim majority contexts, with a particular focus on how beauty and hair practices intersect with identity formation, beauty ideals, gender norms, and selfhood beyond the veil. Combining approaches from Arabic/Islamic studies, anthropology, gender studies, literature studies and Middle Eastern studies, the project explores how beauty and the body can function as a site of negotiation between individual agency, religious discourses, political agendas and societal expectations. The research includes ethnographic fieldwork, literary analyses and digital methodologies across selected contexts in Egypt, Lebanon and the UAE. PhD researchers will develop their own subprojects within the broader thematic and methodological framework of the ERC project:

• 1 PhD subproject on Egypt

Position Description

The PhD candidate will conduct independent doctoral research (subproject on Egypt) under the supervision of the Principal Investigator, contributing to the intellectual development of the ERC project. They will be part of an interdisciplinary and international research team and are expected to actively engage in collaborative discussions, workshops, and project activities.

Research proposals may focus on gendered body politics in Egypt, including (but not limited to):

• Generational structures and social power

• Religious discourses and political agendas

• Embodied practices and representations

• Broader issues of identity, beauty, and selfhood

Candidate Profile

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Master’s degree in a relevant field (Arabic Studies, Islamic Studies, Anthropology, Middle Eastern Studies, Gender Studies, Religious Studies, Cultural Studies or related disciplines)

• Exceptional MA dissertation on contemporary Middle East topics

• Strong interest in gender, embodiment, literature and Muslim societies

• Excellent research and writing skills

• Motivation to conduct fieldwork (including international research stays)

• Ability to work independently and in a team

• Excellent communication skills in Arabic (spoken and reading)

• Excellent academic writing and communication skills in English

• Dynamic and enthusiastic team player

Assets

• Experience with ethnographic or qualitative research methods in the region

• Knowledge of regional languages and dialects

• Familiarity with gender theory, affect/emotions, body studies

• Experience in or connection to Middle East / Muslim majority societies

• Experience in digital humanities (online exhibition, digital storytelling, database construction)

What We Offer

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Full-time doctoral fellow position within a prestigious ERC project

• Initial contract of 12 months, extendable up to 48 months after evaluation

• Dynamic, international, interdisciplinary research environment

• High-level academic supervision and training

• International mobility and networking opportunities

• Integration into a collaborative research team

• Start date: 1 December 2026 at the earliest

• Net fellowship equivalent to AAP salary (tax-exempt under conditions)

• Additional benefits: training opportunities, 36 days annual leave, bridge days, bicycle allowance, eco vouchers

Application Procedure

INTERESTED?

Send your application to: hair@ugent.be

Deadline: 31 July 2026

Required Documents

• CV + academic transcript (max 2 pages, single PDF)

• Motivation letter (max 2 pages)

• Undergraduate and MA transcripts (with translations if needed)

• Research proposal (max 2000 words + references) including:

  • Project title

  • Rationale and literature positioning

  • Research objectives

  • Methodology and work plan

• Names and contact details of three referees

• Overview of study results

• Samples of published work (if available)

Selection timeline:

• Shortlist notification: 21 August 2026

• Interviews: early September 2026

• Final decision: shortly after

Contact: Prof. Lisa Franke (lisa.franke@ugent.be)

Equality Statement

Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy. Everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.

In your application, please refer to Professorpositions.com