PhD Position on the Significance of Bilingual Manuscripts for Detecting Cross-Language Interaction in the New Testament Tradition

The KU Leuven, Belgium, invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for PhD position examining bilingual evidence in New Testament manuscripts. The successful candidate will form part of the research team of the European Research Council (ERC) funded Consolidator Grant project “BICROSS – The Significance of Bilingual Manuscripts for Detecting Cross-Language Interaction in the New Testament Tradition”. The project is situated within the Research Unit of Biblical Studies of the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies (https://theo.kuleuven.be) and the LEMMA research centre (www.lemma-centre.org).
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Project

BICROSS is an interdisciplinary project linking Greek, Latin, Syriac, Coptic, Gothic, Armenian and Arabic philology, New Testament textual criticism, manuscript studies, ancient history and digital humanities. The project investigates bilingual New Testament manuscripts from the 4th century to the 15th century. It aims at establishing the significance of bilingual manuscripts for the formation and transmission of New Testament texts by uncovering mutual exchange and cross-language interaction through a multilingual approach. The project team will assess bilingual manuscripts as artefacts (codicology) and analyse their texts by means of digital tools in order to classify their readings and relationships.

Working as part of a team of researchers, the successful candidate will contribute to the project’s objectives by focussing on one of the following aspects in a dissertation that is expected to be published as a monograph after completion:

(a) Cross-language Analysis of so-called “Western” Readings

The PhD candidate will investigate so-called “Western” readings in a selection of bilingual manuscripts and characterise these readings within the tradition. The research will provide a critical assessment of the classification “Western” in a post-text-type era.

The dissertation is expected to give new insights into the origin, development and transmission of the so-called “Western” readings and to provide new explanatory models from a bilingual manuscript perspective. 

(b) Cross-language Analysis of New Testament Text in Bilingual Codices

The PhD candidate will investigate the relation of a certain New Testament writing or set of New Testament texts in the bilingual tradition across at least two languages. The research will comprise comparative linguistic analyses, including aspects of translation, syntax and semantics in the wider context of each language tradition of the chosen New Testament text.

The dissertation is expected to give new insights into the correlation and potential mutual influence of biblical text across languages and times. 

(c) Codicological and Textual Analysis of Individual Bilingual Codices

The PhD candidate will focus on one single bilingual codex or on a group of bilingual manuscripts to investigate their text in both languages. Research questions to be addressed are the relation of the two texts to each other and in the wider context of each language tradition.

The dissertation is expected to make an innovative contribution not only to the specific questions of the individual codex but also to the fuller understanding of the bilingual New Testament tradition. 

The successful candidate will 

• produce a complete and acceptable doctoral thesis proposal.
• comply with all the requirements of KU Leuven for doctoral studies.
• research, complete, and successfully defend a doctoral thesis within KU Leuven’s doctoral framework.
• contribute to the wider project and its publications through digital transcriptions, study and textual analysis.
• present research results at international and national conferences and colloquia.
• contribute to the organisation of events, activities and other tasks related to the project and its research (colloquia, team events, visits from external experts etc.).
• contribute to the Biblical Studies Research Unit and the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies by participating in its regular programme of academic activities and undertaking administrative activities. 

Profile

The successful candidate 

• has an excellent Bachelors and Masters degree in Theology (New Testament Studies or Patristics), Classics or a related field.
• has a high level of proficiency in (Hellenistic) Greek and at least one other of the project’s languages (depending on the proposed bilingual studies).
• is familiar with the principles and application of textual criticism and is computer literate. Prior experience of working with biblical or patristic manuscripts and codicological analyses is desirable.
• has an excellent command of English (project language) and (the willingness to obtain) sufficient competence in other languages to access relevant secondary literature.
• is capable of working independently, possesses organisational skills and has a cooperative attitude.
• is willing to conduct the PhD research being present in Leuven and to travel on project business (incl. conferences).
• meets the entrance requirements for a PhD at KU Leuven. Further information can be obtained on: https://theo.kuleuven.be/en/doctorate & https://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/en/phd/phd-information

Offer

We are offering a full-time position in an intellectually challenging and inspiring environment. KU Leuven is a research-intensive, internationally oriented university that carries out both fundamental and applied research. It is highly inter- and multidisciplinary focused and strives for international excellence. 

The successful candidate will benefit from guidance and research training from experts in the field, a work space and resources to attend and present at conferences. The successful candidate will be part of an innovative research team in Leuven, a historic, dynamic and lively city located in the heart of Belgium, within 20 minutes from Brussels, and less than two hours from Paris, London and Amsterdam. KU Leuven provides practical support with regard to immigration & administration, housing, childcare, learning Dutch, etc. 

The position is subject to admission to the Faculty’s doctoral programme. The contract will initially be for 1 year (starting no later than 1st October 2024) and may be extended subject to a positive performance review and KU Leuven regulations. The project team is led by Prof. Christina M. Kreinecker. 

Interested?

Your application should include (and be limited to) the following attachment(s):

• letter of motivation (max. 1 page) including contact details for two people who are willing to provide a reference;
• curriculum vitae including details of linguistic skills;
• outline of the intended doctoral research on one of the above-mentioned aspects of the BICROSS project (max. 2 pages).

Further enquiries may be addressed to Prof. Christina M. Kreinecker, email: christina.kreinecker@kuleuven.be 

Applications for this job are possible until 7th May 2024 via the KU Leuven online application tool. 

KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us at diversiteit.HR@kuleuven.be. 

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.