KADOC- KU Leuven yearly awards one fellowship to an international scholar (M/F/X) with max. 10 years of scientific seniority after PhD) working on topics related to its main research fields. This programme offers the selected candidate the opportunity to work in its collections, to establish new scholarly links, and to broaden her/ his expertise in close interaction with Leuven scholars and heritage professionals. In our 2022-call we would like to express a particular interest in candidates researching the multifaceted social commitment of religious actors in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Presentation

KADOC, the Interfaculty Documentation and Research Centre on Religion, Culture and Society at KU Leuven, is one of the leading cultural heritage institutions in Belgium and an international research centre focusing on the societal legacies of religion and its material and immaterial manifestations in modern society.

The Centre’s impressive collection of archives and books documents the impact of religion on a variety of aspects of modern culture and society, in Flanders and internationally. KADOC’s research initiatives embrace innovative methods and deal with many different themes: gender, transnationalism and regionalism, imagination and practices, popular religion, intercultural exchanges, religion and science, religious entrepreneurship, subalternity, religious conflict and tolerance… KADOC considers international exchanges with innovative scholars working on these fields as vital for achieving its mission.

KADOC- KU Leuven yearly awards one fellowship to an international scholar (M/F/X) with max. 10 years of scientific seniority after PhD) working on topics related to its main research fields. This programme offers the selected candidate the opportunity to work in its collections, to establish new scholarly links, and to broaden her/ his expertise in close interaction with Leuven scholars and heritage professionals.

The KADOC research fellowship on religion, culture and society 2021 was granted to Dr. Paul Glen Grant of the University of Wisconsin- Madison. During his research stay in May-July 2022 he will valorize the rich archival collections of KADOC to study the ways European and North American missionaries, especially those active in Congo between 1960 and 1965, learned to receive Christian teaching and charitable care from Congolese Christians. 

For the coming years, the KADOC fellowship programme centers on the following themes:

• 2022: Religion and the margin: care and emancipation
• 2023: Religion, globalisation and international solidarity
• 2024: Religion, social ideas and policy

In our 2022-call we would like to express a particular interest in candidates researching the multifaceted social commitment of religious actors in the 19th and 20th centuries, for instance in health care, poor relief, popular education, care provisions for vulnerable and indigent people. We particularly welcome scholars researching the motives, specific nature and significance of this religiously motivated social agency, and how this was reflected in (public) discourses, strategies, and imagery. We are particularly interested in comparative or transnational research.

What we offer

• a unique opportunity to pursue research while living and working for two to max. three months in Leuven. KADOC offers a stimulating working environment.
• a monthly stipend of € 500, covering the costs of living in Belgium.
• an intervention in your housing costs at the Leuven Great Beguinage for a max. of 800 euro/month.
• close interaction with and support from scholars and professionals connected to the Centre. Each fellowship holder will be assigned one or more mentors or ‘buddies’.
• easy access to the Leuven collections and research infrastructure, the rich archival and book collections of KADOC in particular.
• a well-equipped working-space and all necessary administrative and logistical support

What we expect

• motivated candidates with proven research expertise on the topic
• applicants should have obtained their first doctoral degree not more than 10 years before the deadline.
• a well-considered plan for your research-stay, linked to tangible and achievable goals. This plan should make clear how your fellowship interlinks with KADOC’s collections and can impact its research activities. KADOC-fellows will work at the Centre in Leuven and actively participate in the Centre’s research activities and networks, for instance by hosting a seminar or contribute to its publications.
• proficiency in English, demonstrated by publications and/or an official certificate.

KADOC-KU Leuven seeks to foster an inclusive environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, religion, cultural back- ground, nationality, sexuality or disability. We support our university’s commitment to social responsibility, diversity and inclusion. 

How to apply

Candidates are invited to enter their application using the dedicated web-module

before Friday 29 April 2022 5 p.m.

For information, please contact dr. Peter Heyrman, head of Research: peter.heyrman@kuleuven.be

Candidates will receive formal notification of the reception of their application. They will be notified on the results of the evaluation procedure no later than Friday 17 June 2022.

Evaluation

Submitted applications will be closely evaluated and ranked by the Scientific Committee of KADOC.

This evaluation involves both the criteria ‘candidate’ and ‘research project’. The candidates will be assessed on their scholarly background, accomplishments and potential.

The evaluation of the project plan will focus on its scientific quality and relevance, innovativeness and feasibility, and how the plan is embedded within the collections and expertise of the host institution.

Scientific Committee

• Bart Raymaekers - KU Leuven, Institute of Philosophy - president
• Mathijs Lamberigts - KU Leuven, Theology and Religious Studies - vicepresident
• Nadia Fadil - KU Leuven, Social Sciences - member of the Bureau
• Pieter Verstraete - KU Leuven, Psychology and Educational Sciences - member of the Bureau
• Kaat Wils - KU Leuven, Arts - member of the Bureau
• Thomas Coomans - KU Leuven, Engineering Science
• Wouter Druwé - KU Leuven, Law
• Rajesh Heynickx - KU Leuven, Architecture
• Patrick Pasture - KU Leuven, Arts
• Eline Poelmans - KU Leuven, Economics and Business
• Chantal Van Audenhove - KU Leuven, Biomedical Sciences, Lucas
• Steven Van Hecke - KU Leuven, Social Sciences - president
• Tine Van Osselaer - UA, Ruusbroecgenootschap
• Dries Vanysacker - KU Leuven, Theology and Religious Studies
• Cathérine Verleysen - Museum of Fine Arts, Gent
• Kim Christiaens - added member - director
• Luc Schokkaert - added member - head general services