Doctoral Researcher (PhD student) in the field of ancient history / archaeology

The University of Luxembourg is an international research university with a distinctly multilingual and interdisciplinary character. The University was founded in 2003 and counts more than 6,700 students and more than 2,000 employees from around the world. The University’s faculties and interdisciplinary centres focus on research in the areas of Computer Science and ICT Security, Materials Science, European and International Law, Finance and Financial Innovation, Education, Contemporary and Digital History. In addition, the University focuses on cross-disciplinary research in the areas of Data Modelling and Simulation as well as Health and System Biomedicine. Times Higher Education ranks the University of Luxembourg #3 worldwide for its “international outlook,” #20 in the Young University Ranking 2021 and among the top 250 universities worldwide. 

The Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (FHSE) brings together expertise from the humanities, linguistics, cognitive sciences, social and educational sciences. People from across 20 disciplines are working within the Faculty. Along with the disciplinary approach a very ambitious interdisciplinary research culture has been developed.

The faculty’s research and teaching focuses on social, economic, political and educational issues with the common goal of contributing to an inclusive, open and resourceful society. The FHSE offers four Bachelor and 15 Master degrees and a doctoral school providing students with the necessary knowledge and high-qualified skills to succeed in their future career.

The Institute for History (IHIST) brings together researchers from the fields of history, archaeology, cultural anthropology and sociology. Research at IHIST ranges from Antiquity to today, and by eschewing periodization, the continuities and changes over the long term are emphasized. The historical areas forming today’s Luxembourg and Greater Region, the crossroads of Europe, constitute a stimulating case study for historical investigation of Borders and Identity, Power and Legitimation, History and Space, Materiality and Culture.

This position is open for a student willing to write a PhD thesis in the field of digital history (focus on ancient history) or digital archaeology.

The main tasks will be to:

• write a PhD thesis in the field of digital history (focus on ancient history), digital archaeology
• participate in the FHSE Doctoral School
• participate at DTU training activities and research workshops
• present papers at academic conferences
• write research papers and publish peer-reviewed journal articles
• participate at public history and outreach activities of the C2 DH and the IHIST

The successful candidate will become a member of the Doctoral Training Unit “Deep Data Science of Digital History” (D4H). This interdisciplinary DTU focuses on multiple challenges at the intersection between the disciplines of history and data science. The DTU will train a new generation of digitally literate PhD students to deal with “big data of the past” in a critical and competent way, combining the epistemic tradition of close reading with machine-based methods of distant reading (“scalable reading”). It aims to develop a shared understanding of the human/machine nexus in collecting, curating, managing, analysing, interpreting, and visualizing historical data and to problematize the multi-layered temporalities of datasets and experiment with new forms and formats of historical models and simulations in a longue-durée / deep time perspective.

D4H involves the University of Luxembourg's Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C²DH), the Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine (FSTM), the Institute of History (IHIST) of the Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (FHSE), the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) and the Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER). The DTU will include a total of 18 PhD positions. For a detailed description of the conceptual framework, the training program see: https://dhh.uni.lu/news/

The PhD student will be a member of the IHist/ University of Luxembourg and be enrolled in the Doctoral School of Humanities and Social Sciences (DHSS). All applicants should carefully read the extended research proposal of the DTU which is made available at https://dhh.uni.lu/d4h  and submit an idea for a PhD project that fits into the conceptual framework of the DTU (one of the three research pillars).

• Master’s degree or diploma in history, archaeology, digital humanities
• Good digital literacy
• Excellent command in at least two of the following languages: German, English, French. A good command of all three languages is definitely an asset

We offer...

• Personal work space at the University / Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History / Institute of History
• Dynamic and multicultural research environment

• Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract 36 Month (extendable up to 48 months if required)
• Work Hours: Full Time 40.0 Hours per Week
• Foreseen starting date: January 2023
• Location: Belval
• Employee and student status
• Job Reference: UOL05133

The yearly gross salary for every PhD at the UL is EUR 38.028,96 (full time)

Applications should be submitted online and include:

• Motivation letter (max. two pages)
• Curriculum vitae
• Sketch of PhD project
• List of publications (if available)
• Copies of diplomas

We ensure a full consideration for applications received by 15 August 2022. Please apply formally through the HR system. Applications by email will not be considered.

The University of Luxembourg embraces inclusion and diversity as key values. We are fully committed to removing any discriminatory barrier related to gender, and not only, in recruitment and career progression of our staff.

• Multilingual and international character. Modern institution with a personal atmosphere. Staff coming from 90 countries. Member of the “University of the Greater Region” (UniGR). 
• A modern and dynamic university. High-quality equipment. Close ties to the business world and to the Luxembourg labour market. A unique urban site with excellent infrastructure.
• A partner for society and industry. Cooperation with European institutions, innovative companies, the Financial Centre and with numerous non-academic partners such as ministries, local governments, associations, NGOs …

For more information about the IHIST, please visit https://history.uni.lu

For a detailed description of the conceptual framework, the training program see https://dhh.uni.lu/news/

The research proposal of the DTU which is made available at https://dhh.uni.lu/d4h

For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Andrea Binsfeld https://history.uni.lu/team-andrea-binsfeld/  email: [email protected]