As part of a new research project to be conducted at the University of
Louvain
(Belgium) in the field of comparative medieval encyclopaedism, we are
pleased
to announce the availability of 5 fellowships (3 doctoral and 2
post-doctoral)
to highly qualified young scholars.

The research project:

‘Objectifying the contribution of the Arab-Muslim world to the
history of
sciences and ideas: the sources and resources of medieval
encyclopaedism’ is a
project which seeks to explore medieval encyclopaedism in the East and the
West in order to provide unbiased information and quantifiable benchmarks
that
can help us better understand the extent of what Europe owes to the
scholars
of Islam. The comparative study of encyclopaedias in Islam, Byzantium, the
Latin and the Romance-speaking West has been at the core of our
investigations
ever since our group ‘Cyclopes’ was founded in 2003. The
current project will
run until at least 2017. In addition to the five topics of inquiry that
have
been specifically defined for PhD students and post-doctoral fellows (see
below), the project will include, among other activities, a yearly seminar
and
the participation in at least one international conference on issues at the
heart of the present investigation.

In attachment to the present email, please find a short description of the
project as a whole, together with a detailed presentation of each of its
five
topics designed for doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships
(‘Topics’), namely:


1) ‘Arabic sources in black and white: a study of Arab authorities in
the
Latin encyclopaedias of the 13th C.’ (PhD; supervisors: G. de
Callataÿ – B.
Van den Abeele)

2) ‘Between the East and the West: the sources and scopes of the
Byzantine
Suda (10th C.)’ (PhD; supervisor: F. Van Haeperen)

3) ‘From the Speculum historiale to the Miroir historial: towards a
more
‘neutral’ approach of Islam’ (PhD; supervisor: M.
Cavagna)

4) ‘A comparison of the Oriental and Occidental traditions with
respect to the
Wonders of the Word’ (Post-doc; supervisor: G. de Callataÿ)

5) ‘From Latin to the vernacular: the translation of Arab authors
into the
Romance-speaking area’ (Post-doc; supervisors: B. Van den Abeele
– M.
Cavagna).


The fellowships

The three fellowships for doctoral research (Topics 1 to 3) are for a
45-month
tenure. Topics 1 and 3 are to start in October 2012. Topic 2 will begin in
October 2013. The net monthly allowance for PhD students would amount to c.
1,500-1,700 euros. Applicants for these fellowships should not be over 30
years of age at the time of application.


The fellowships for post-doctoral research (Topics 4 and 5) are each for a
24-
month tenure. Topic 5 is normally to begin by October 2012, and Topic 4 by
October 2013, although some flexibility with the dates is possible. The net
monthly allowance for post-doc fellows would amount to 2,000-2,300 euros.
Applicants for post-doctoral fellowships should not be over 38 years of age
at
the time of application. They should not have stayed or worked in Belgium
for
more than 24 months during the three years that precede the appointment.
They
should not have obtained their PhDs more than 6 years prior to this
appointment.

The deadline for applications to Topics 1, 3 and 5 is 15 June 2012.
The deadline for applications to Topics 2 and 4 is 15 June 2013.

As full-time employments, it is implied that the recipients will reside in
Belgium during the entire tenure of the respective fellowships (both
doctoral
and post-doctoral).



How to apply?

           Applications should be made electronically at the following
address: godefroid.decallatay@uclouvain.be.
They should include:

• An up-to-date CV, including a full list of publications (no
published or
ready-to-be-published material should be sent).
• The name and address, with email address, of 2 (for doctoral
fellowships) or
3 (for post-doctoral fellowships) scholars of international reputation that
we
may address to obtain a reference.
• A letter of motivation (in English or French, maximum 5 pages in
all) in
relation with one of the above-defined topics of inquiry, containing the
following elements: 1) an outline of the proposed research, expounding as
clearly as possible the plan, method and aim of the research project; 2) an
exposition of the reasons why the applicant believes he/she has the
appropriate qualifications for conducting this particular research and for
completing it in due time; 3) the applicant’s view on how he/she
conceives of
his/her own interaction with the other fields of inquiry and with the
project
as a whole.

Please note that it is possible to apply for several topics at the same
time.
In this case, the applicant is invited to attach as many letters of
motivation
as there are fields of inquiry for which he or she is applying.


Schedule

•  Receipt of each fully completed application will be acknowledged
as soon as
possible.
• Final decision and notification of results are expected for 15 July
2012
(for Topics 1, 3 and 5) and for 15 July 2013 (for Topics 2 and 4).

Please feel free to pass on the present announcement to anyone you know who
might be interested.




“Objectifying”, ARC, UCL

Collège Erasme
Faculté de Philosophie, Arts et Lettres
Place Blaise Pascal, 1
B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve
Belgium


Godefroid de Callataÿ (FIAL/INCAL)
Baudouin Van den Abeele (FIAL/INCAL)
Mattia Cavagna (FIAL/INCAL)
Françoise Van Haeperen (FIAL/ INCAL)