Fully funded PhD Belgium

PhD Position in the Ancient History Research Group

KU Leuven, Belgium

Institution: KU Leuven
Country: Belgium
Position type: PhD
Location: Leuven, Belgium
Funding: Fully funded position

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About this position

The Ancient History Research Group at KU Leuven studies the Mediterranean World and the Ancient Near East primarily through written sources. Within this research group, we are seeking a new team member who wishes to pursue doctoral research as part of the MeaGRE project.
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Project

Ancient Mediterranean diets are generally described as primarily plant-based and largely centered on cereals, with a limited and often insufficient supplementation of animal products. Meat is commonly assumed to have been a luxury, mainly consumed by privileged groups and on special occasions. The project “Meat in Greco-Roman Egypt (MeaGRE): An Interdisciplinary Approach” aims to evaluate and contextualize these hypotheses through an interdisciplinary study of meat consumption in Greco-Roman Egypt, with particular attention to the origin and processing of meat, as well as its broader institutional, socio-economic, and dietary context.

The research combines textual and archaeological sources, which together provide an unparalleled level of detail for the Greco-Roman world. The project is carried out by ancient historians/papyrologists and archaeologists/Egyptologists at KU Leuven, in collaboration with other research networks and projects at the university (including Trismegistos+ and ICAG) and beyond (AGROS).

The PhD research project for which we are recruiting will focus on textual sources, primarily Greek papyrological texts, alongside a limited corpus of Greek and Latin literary and epigraphic texts. Relevant Egyptian sources will be provided by a postdoctoral researcher working on the project.

As a researcher, you will be supported by the project team, including the principal investigators Prof. Dr. Katelijn Vandorpe and Prof. Dr. Stefan Baumann, as well as a postdoctoral researcher. In addition, you will contribute to the teaching activities of the research group and you will take up at least one exam invigilation duty per examination period.

Profile

You hold a Master's degree in Ancient History or in Languages and Literature (Greek and another language, preferably Latin), or an equivalent qualification.
Students who will obtain one of these degrees during the 2025–2026 academic year are also eligible to apply.
You have a strong academic record, reflected in very good to excellent study results.
You have an excellent command of Ancient Greek and are familiar with, or can demonstrate a strong interest in, papyrological research.
Basic knowledge of Ancient Egyptian (especially Demotic) is considered an asset but is not required.
You possess excellent written and spoken communication skills in both Dutch and English.
You are willing to present research results at national and international conferences and to wider audiences.
You look forward to collaborating with the other researchers involved in the project.

Offer

We offer a full-time PhD scholarship position for a period of four years, subject to a positive evaluation after the first year.
The appointment is expected to start on 1 November 2026.
You will join a stimulating academic environment with a high degree of autonomy.
You will have the opportunity to pursue a doctoral training programme at the Faculty of Arts, KU Leuven.

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Katelijn Vandorpe, mail: [email protected].

Applications should include a CV and motivation letter and must be submitted no later than 24 August 2026. Interviews will take place during the first week of September 2026 (online if necessary).

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.

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