Junior Researcher or Postdoctoral Researcher PRAYER

Junior Researcher or Postdoctoral Researcher PRAYER

Leiden University was founded in 1575 and is one of Europe’s leading international research universities.

Applying is possible until: 15 maart 2026

Application Invitation

The Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS) invites applications for a Junior Researcher (0.8 fte for 2 years) or Postdoctoral Researcher (0.7 fte for 18 months) in the ERC Starting Grant project "Pages of Prayer: The Ecosystem of Vernacular Prayer Books in the Late Medieval Low Countries, 1380-1550 (PRAYER)".

What you will do

The Junior or Postdoctoral Researcher will be working on a subproject within the ERC Starting Grant research project PRAYER, funded by the European Research Council (ERC) for 2023-2029, and directed by Dr. A. (Anna) Dlabačová (Senior University Lecturer in Book History at Leiden University). Vernacular prayer books were by far the most commonly read books in the late medieval Low Countries. The mainstay of this vast corpus is the Book of Hours in the translation by Geert Grote, founder of one of the period’s most powerful religious reform movements, the Devotio Moderna. PRAYER sets out to conduct the first large‑scale investigation of this unique corpus by introducing a new approach – network philology – that studies all aspects of vernacular prayer books in their mutual interdependence. The project aims to chart the entire ecosystem of Dutch‑language prayer books over a long period of time by combining quantitative digital analysis with advanced qualitative analysis. The nature of the material requires this research to be tackled within a multidisciplinary project: sections of the ecosystem are analysed in subprojects that focus on the production and reception of manuscripts, the poetics of prayer, the function of images, and changes and continuities in relation to religious movements and the advent of print. PRAYER aims to yield an integrative understanding of the role of prayer books in the late medieval Low Countries on the threshold of the medieval and early modern era.

The Junior or Postdoctoral Researcher will work on the subproject The Poetics of Prayer in Manuscript Prayer Books: Texts, Co-transmission, and Religious Practice, focusing on the textual and literary analysis of (groups) of prayer texts and their (co-)transmission in manuscripts. Depending on the researcher’s background, the analysis can be either quantitative and digital – using the data collected in the PRAYER database – or qualitative, or a combination of both. Possible research angles include, but are not limited to: the analysis of a group or set of prayers which were transmitted together in manuscripts, the function(s) of a group of prayers within a manuscript as a whole and the way(s) in which they relate to each other within a group; the structure, poetics and rhetoric strategies of prayers, the ways in which they engage the reader, evoke emotions and/or mental images and the intended (transformative) effects on the reader. A literary analysis may also be conducted in tandem with an analysis of the lay-out/spatial arrangement of these texts within the handwritten codices: how does lay-out affect the (intended) function of the texts? Finally, the cultural, social and religious environment within which the manuscripts were used may be taken into account, as well as treatises containing instructions about reading and praying in the Dutch vernacular.

Depending on the candidate’s career phase, the researcher will be appointed either as a Junior Researcher (0.8 fte for 2 years or equivalent) or as a Post-Doctoral Researcher (0.7 fte for 18 months or equivalent).

Key Responsibilities (Junior Researcher)

• You will conduct research on Middle Dutch manuscript prayer books
• You will (co-)author at least one article in a peer-reviewed journal
• You will contribute to the acquisition of data on prayer books in Middle Dutch in the PRAYER database (the database has been set up in Heurist; https://heuristnetwork.org/)
• You will participate in meetings of the project research group
• You will (co-)present papers at conferences, both in the Netherlands and internationally
• You will contribute to the organization of the events and activities within the project
• You will develop a research proposal for a PhD-project

Key Responsibilities (Postdoctoral Researcher)

• You will independently conduct research on Middle Dutch manuscript prayer books
• You will author and publish at least two articles in a peer-reviewed journalYou will contribute to the acquisition of data on prayer books in Middle Dutch in the PRAYER database (the database has been set up in Heurist; https://heuristnetwork.org/)
• You will participate in meetings of the project research group
• You will present papers at conferences, both in the Netherlands and internationally
• You will contribute to the organization of the events and activities within the project

Selection criteria (Junior Researcher)

• A ResMA/MRes or MA in Middle Dutch Literature, Medieval Studies, (Book) History, Digital Humanities or Religious Studies, with a thesis on a medieval literature, textual culture or manuscript related topic, preferably focusing on the late medieval period, awarded by time of appointment, and a grade of at least 8.0 on a ten-point scale (or equivalent)
• Well-developed research skills, including the ability to formulate creative research questions, descriptive and analytical skills, and a clear and persuasive style of writing
• Willingness to travel to libraries and conferences in the Netherlands and abroad
• Excellent competence in English, as well as reading competence in Middle Dutch and Dutch
• Experience with manuscript research and palaeography
• A serious interest in orienting yourself towards a PhD position
• An interest in digital approaches, knowledge of digital humanities and/or the willingness to acquire digital skills
• Knowledge of late medieval religious culture and/or religious literature will be considered a plus

Selection criteria (Postdoctoral Researcher)

• You have a PhD in Middle Dutch Literature, Medieval Studies, (Book) History or similar, awarded by the time of appointment, preferably on a topic related to late medieval literature, manuscript studies and/or spirituality
• You have well-developed research skills, including the ability to formulate creative research questions, descriptive and analytical skills, and a clear and persuasive style of writing
• You are willing to travel to libraries and conferences in the Netherlands and abroad
• You have an excellent competence in English, as well as reading competence in Middle Dutch and Dutch
• You have experience with manuscript research
• You have a strong interest in the late medieval spirituality and textual culture
• Team player and independent, flexible thinker with a solution-oriented mindset
• Familiarity/experience with digital philology will be considered a plus

International candidates are encouraged to apply but must be willing to relocate to the Netherlands for the duration of their appointment.

The organization

The Faculty of Humanities is a unique international centre for the advanced study of languages, cultures, arts, and societies worldwide, in their historical contexts from prehistory to the present. Our faculty is home to more than 6,000 students and 800 staff members. For more information see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/humanities. The Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS) is one of the seven Research Institutes of the Faculty of Humanities. LUCAS is dedicated to ground-breaking research that explores the multifaceted relationships between the arts and society. For more information see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/humanities/centre-for-the-arts-in-society.

Terms and conditions

We offer position of either 0.8 fte (30.4 hours/week) as a Junior Researcher (2 years) or 0.7 fte (22.8 hours/week) as a Postdoctoral Researcher (18 months) depending on the candidate’s experience, starting date 1 June 2026.

For the Junior Researcher, the salary range starts at € 3,546 gross per month for a fulltime appointment depending on prior education and working experience (pay scale 10), in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.

For the Postdoctoral Researcher, the salary range is from € 4,241 to € 6,433 gross per month for a fulltime appointment depending on prior education and working experience (pay scale 10 or 11), in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3%), training and career development. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. For more information https://www.workingat.leiden.edu/.

What we value

Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. We strive to be an open community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to fully develop themselves. We consider an inclusive academic environment, where students and staff can share their experiences and viewpoints, to be essential for the development of talent.

Information

Enquiries about the project, the position and the procedure can be addressed to Anna Dlabacova, PI of the project, e-mail: [email protected]. Questions about the procedure can be directed at Nina Schat via [email protected]. Information about LUCAS and links to staff expertise can be found at http://www.universiteitleiden.nl/geesteswetenschappen/centre-for-the-arts-in-society.

Applications

Please ensure that you upload the following additional documents in a single PDF, quoting the vacancy number

Please submit your application online (in English) via the blue button in our application system, no later than 15 March 2026, 23:59 CEST.

• Letter of application with a motivation statement (750 words max. In case you are applying to be employed as a Junior Research; 1000 words max. For applications to be employed as Postdoc)
• A short proposal in which you formulate your initial ideas and approach for the subproject (1000 words max.)
• Your CV, listing education, employment history, organizational experience, publications, and any other academic achievements (conference presentations, organization of events, etc.)
• Names, positions and contact information for two referees (no reference letters). Please only list these in the PDF and not in the dedicated fields in the online application system
• For the Junior Researcher position: please also include a copy of your MA-thesis and your MA degree certificate.

Interviews will take place in April 2026.

Enquiries from agencies are not appreciated.

Job details

Title: Junior Researcher or Postdoctoral Researcher PRAYER

Leiden University was founded in 1575 and is one of Europe’s leading international research universities.

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