Ph.D. Fellowship in Dept. of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, Belgium scholarship essay contest
Research project: MMS (ERC-Starting Grant 240865)
“The ‘Mamlukization’ of the Mamluk sultanate. Political traditions and state formation in 15th century Egypt and Syria.
Principal Investigator: Jo Van Steenbergen
On 1 October 2009, a new research project on Mamluk political history started at the department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, Ghent University (Belgium).
The projects aims to radically reconsider the traditional account of the history of the Mamluk sultanate (1250-1517). The objective of the project is a comprehensive and coherent reconstruction of the political traditions that, in the interplay between individuals, institutions and social interactions, dominated the Syro-Egyptian Mamluk sultanate in the 15th century (1412-1517). In doing so, we will be aiming to validate the ambitious and revisionist hypothesis that a surprisingly thorough transformation of this regime took place, as a very different set of traditions emerged that were constructed around the criterion of military slavery (‘mamlukization’) and that were tantamount to a process of early modern state formation. If successful, a new framework for historical enquiry will emerge, that will enable, and even urge for, the consideration and reconsideration of all aspects of late medieval Islamic history, including from a comparative, trans-cultural and trans-regional perspective.
With the financial aid of the European Research Council (FP7), an international team of researchers at postdoctoral and doctoral level is being set up at Ghent University, each of whom focuses his/her individual research on different aspects of the project’s three main subjects (individuals, institutions, interactions). The team’s languages of communication are English and French. There currently is a vacancy for one doctoral researcher for a fixed term of up to four years.
Requirements:
- an MA, M.Phil, ‘doctoraal’ or ‘licentiaat’ degree in (Islamic) history, Arabic, Middle or Near Eastern Studies or an equivalent diploma in any similar field of study
- fluency in English and/or French (spoken en written) as well as at least a working knowledge of Arabic
- good communicative skills
- ability to work independently, in group, and in an international context
- working knowledge of research methods and of the current state of research in the field of Islamic history
- demonstrated interest in Mamluk history
- no prior appointments or fellowships in any institute of higher education or research
Tasks
- full collaboration to the creation of the project's core research tool, the database
- preparing a Ph.D. dissertation in the framework of the project, at Ghent University, within the remit of the project’s constituents ‘individuals’ or ‘institutions’
- preparing one or more related publications in an Arts and Humanities Citation Index journal (isi Web of Knowledge)
- presenting papers at international conferences
- contributing to the research and teaching of the project team
- assisting with the development and maintenance of a dedicated website
The successful applicant will start on 1 October 2010 and will be appointed, on the condition of a positive mid-term evaluation, for a fixed term of 48 months (4 years). He/she will be expected to reside near Ghent (incl. eg. Brussels) for the period of employment and will be provided with office space at the department. He/she will be a bursar, monthly receiving the equivalent of a full-time salary following Ghent University’s relevant pay scales.
For more information regarding working conditions at Ghent University, see http://www.ugent.be/en/work .
For more information regarding the doctoral program at Ghent University, see http://www.ugent.be/en/phd
For more information on the contents of the position: Jo.VanSteenbergen@UGent.be
Applications (in Dutch, English or French) should be submitted by 15 July 2010. They should consist of a cover letter stating your motivation for this position, a CV, a sample of written work (max. 10 pages), and two letters of reference.
The application should be sent to: Jo.VanSteenbergen@UGent.be (preferably), or to
Prof. Dr. Jo Van Steenbergen
Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures
Sint-Pietersplein 6, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
Contact Info:
Prof. J. Van Steenbergen
UGent - TCNO
Sint Pietersplein 6
B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
Phone: +32 (0)92643805
Fax: +32 (0)92644271
Email: Jo.VanSteenbergen@UGent.be
Website: http://www.ugent.be/en
