Senior Researcher in Humanities

Let’s shape the future – University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20,000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research, and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6,000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape.

The Department of Literature in the Faculty of Arts is looking for a full-time (100%) senior researcher for three years in the field of modernist genetic criticism and Joyce studies.

Position

• Your main task will be collaborating on the ERC Advanced Grant project MARGINAL (Modern Authors Reading: Genesis in Authors’ Libraries). The project investigates the reading habits of three modernist writers (Virginia Woolf, James Joyce and Samuel Beckett) and examines which books they read, how they read, what records they made of this reading, and how this translated into their own works.

• You will contribute to the digital reconstruction of the library of James Joyce and be involved in research activities of the Centre for Manuscript Genetics, part of the research group ACDC (Antwerp Centre for Digital Humanities and Literary Criticism).

• You will be responsible for the metadata relating to Joyce’s library, as well as the analysis and annotation of links between his reading and his writing.

• You will report to the project’s PI on a weekly basis.

• You will work closely with the project’s Research Software Engineer and provide material for the digital edition of Joyce’s library according to the project’s schedule.

• You are prepared to publish individual and co-authored articles in A1 journals and present your research as part of the team project at international conferences.

Profile

• You hold a PhD in Literary Studies in English or a related field of study (or you will have obtained it by the time you start work).

• You are an expert in the writings of James Joyce.

• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.

• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.

• You can speak and write fluently in English and also express yourself in Dutch.

• You are a team player.

• You have experience with TEI-XML (extensible markup language) and other skills in digital scholarly editing, or are willing to learn these skills.

What We Offer

• A full-time contract as a senior researcher for a period of 36 months.

• A gross monthly salary calculated according to the pay scale for a senior researcher in the Contract Research Staff category (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP).

• Ecocheques, an Internet-connectivity allowance, a group insurance, an income protection insurance, and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.

• Planned starting date: 1 July 2026 or as soon as possible after that date.

• Most of your work will take place at the city campus (Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerp, building D) in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.

Want to Apply?

You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including 6 November 2025 (by midnight Brussels time). Complete the online application form and include the following attachments:

• Motivation letter

• Academic CV

• Two letters of recommendation

The selection committee reviews all applications as soon as possible after the deadline. As soon as a decision is made, we will notify you. If you are still eligible after the pre-selection, you will be informed about the possible next step(s) in the procedure.

Important date: 21 November 2025 (selection interviews).

For questions about the application form, please email jobs@uantwerpen.be.
For questions about the job itself, please contact Prof. Dirk Van Hulle (dirk.vanhulle@uantwerpen.be).

Additional Information

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 our 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.

In your application, please refer to Professorpositions.com