PhD in Late Ancient Philosophical Historiography
Fully funded 4-year PhD fellowship investigating Damascius’ Vita Isidori and digital text reuse at KU Leuven.
Best for:Best for graduate students in Classics or Ancient History with strong Greek reading skills and an interest in digital humanities.
Overview
KU Leuven invites applications for a fully funded, four-year doctoral position focusing on late ancient philosophical historiography and digital editions. Operating within the interdisciplinary project “A New Model for the Edition of Ancient Philosophical Fragments,” the successful candidate will examine Damascius’ Vita Isidori preserved in Photius and the Suda. The researcher will analyze textual transmission, historical context, and prosopography while contributing to an innovative online digital edition. Supervision is provided jointly by an ancient historian and a historian of philosophy within a vibrant academic community.
What you'll do
- Prepare a doctoral dissertation in Ancient History centered on Damascius’ Vita Isidori and related textual excerpts.
- Analyze Photius’ compilation methodology, the genre of Platonic school historiography, and intertextual relationships.
- Conduct historical, philological, and philosophical investigations into late ancient Platonism and associated prosopography.
- Contribute directly to the annotation, commentary, and development of the online digital edition of the text.
- Participate in research group activities, seminars, and collaborative events within the host faculties.
- Perform a limited amount of teaching and administrative duties as required by the university.
Requirements
Degree required: Master’s degree in Classics, Ancient History, Philosophy, or a closely related discipline
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English; academic proficiency required. Ability to read French, German, and Italian secondary literature.
Instruction: English
- Broad and solid competence in reading and interpreting ancient Greek texts
- Ability to combine historical, philological, and philosophical methodologies
- Capacity to write and speak English fluently at an academic level
- Proficiency in reading secondary literature in French, German, and Italian
- Must hold an excellent graduate degree (M.A. or equivalent) prior to appointment
- Must reside in Belgium from a legal standpoint for the duration of the fellowship
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-11-10
Interested candidates must submit a comprehensive CV including academic performance details, a cover letter explaining their suitability, a research-based writing sample, and a letter of recommendation from a research institution representative via the designated application channel.
- CV
- Diploma supplement
- Cover letter
- Research-based writing sample
- Letter of recommendation
Contact
Stefan Schorn· Professor
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