PhD position on medieval representations of disability within the project DISMANTLE

Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS) invites applications for a

PhD position on medieval representations of disability within the project DISMANTLE (1.0 fte, 4 years / 0.8 fte, 5 years)
The PhD candidate will write their dissertation within the framework of the Vidi research project ‘DISMANTLE: Disability and Mobility Aids in Northwestern-European Textual, Literary and Artistic Evidence, 1100-1500’, funded by the Dutch Research Council and directed by Dr. K.A. Milne (university lecturer in medieval literature at Leiden University). Prof. dr. S.P.M. Bussels (professor of art history at Leiden University) will be the co-supervisor of the PhD candidate.

The project
DISMANTLE is a new funded research project that aims to gather a corpus of hundreds of medieval literary and visual representations of disability aids (crutches, walking sticks, etc.) from the UK, France, Belgium and The Netherlands, and to analyse them at a large scale.

PhD Position
This particular PhD project, which is part of the broader DISMANTLE framework, will focus on the intersections of class, gender, and disability. The PhD candidate will contribute to the creation of the project corpus (gathering and describing literary and artistic representations of disability aids using online databases, digitised manuscripts and in-person manuscript consultation), and will write a dissertation analysing this corpus by examining the date, region, and markers of gender and class among the representations in the corpus. The PhD candidate will support the project goals by sharing the results of their work at academic conferences and by publishing their work in internationally recognised peer-reviewed journals.

Key responsibilities

• You will complete a PhD thesis within four years (or five years, if conducted at 0.8 fte);
• You will contribute to the creation of an online corpus of literary and artistic representations of medieval disability aids;
• You will analyse this corpus and conduct research into medieval disability aids and their representations;
• You will share research through publication in international peer-reviewed journals and at international conferences;
• You will participate in meetings of the project research group;
• You will participate in PhD training programmes within the institute/faculty, the Leiden Graduate School of Humanities, the Dutch National Research School for Medieval Studies, and other relevant courses;
• You will participate in the PhD community and the intellectual life of the institute and faculty;
• Subject to progress and demand, you will undertake teaching in the second and/or third years of the PhD project, in line with the candidate’s expertise and prior experience.

Candidate profile

• You hold a MA or ResMA with a specialisation in medieval English, French, or Dutch literature or in medieval art history from one of the corresponding regions. Experience in one or more of the following fields is an asset: disability studies, manuscript studies, corpus-based or quantitative methodologies, or medieval book or art history;
• Your MA/ResMA should be awarded with a grade of 8.0 or above on a ten-point scale (or international equivalent). If the MA thesis is not yet finished, candidates may provide contact details for the MA supervisor to enable the committee to consult with them regarding the MA progress;
• You have well-developed analytical and research skills (including the ability to formulate creative research questions), and a clear and persuasive writing style;
• You have full professional working proficiency in English;
• You have a record of experience working with texts in one of the following medieval vernaculars: Middle English, Old/Middle French (or the medieval French of England), or Middle Dutch;
• You have a record of experience working with texts in medieval Latin, or a willingness to learn how to work with such texts;
• If you have competence in, or experience working with, one of the modern languages relevant to this project (e.g., Dutch or French), this is an asset;
• If you have experience publishing in international peer-reviewed journals this is an asset;
• You have proven time-management skills;
• You have the ability to finish the proposed PhD research in 4 years full time (or 5 years at 0.8 fte).

Due to university policies, international candidates must be willing and able to relocate to the Netherlands for the duration of the project.

The organisation
The Faculty of Humanities at Leiden University 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: http://www.universiteitleiden.nl/.

Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS) is one of the seven Academic Institutes of the Faculty of Humanities. The institute hosts a range of academic disciplines, clustered around a key research theme: the relationships between the arts and society. Our members study cultural production over the course of two millennia, from classical antiquity to our contemporary world, and teach in programmes ranging from Classics and Book History to Modern Literature, International Studies and Art History. Strengthened by our diversity, LUCAS members are uniquely placed to study the broad concept of the arts, with its rapidly changing ideas, aesthetics, and theories of cultural production. Through research, teaching and outreach, the Institute aims to deepen our understanding, both inside and outside academia, of the cognitive, historical, cultural, creative, and social aspects of human life.

As an academic community, we strive to create an open and welcoming atmosphere, stimulating everyone to get involved and contribute, and connecting scholars from different fields and backgrounds.

Terms and conditions
PhD project for 4 years at 1 FTE (or, alternatively, the position can be for 0.8 FTE for 5 years); starting date 1 September 2026.

Initially, the employee will receive a 14-month contract, with extension for the following months on condition of a positive evaluation. The appointment must lead to the completion of a PhD thesis. Salary range from € 3.059 gross per month in the first year for a fulltime appointment – € 3.881 in the fourth year (pay scale for PhDs, 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, see http://www.workingat.leiden.edu/.

Diversity & inclusion
Fostering an inclusive community is a central element of the values and vision of Leiden University. Leiden University is committed to becoming an inclusive community which enables all students and staff to feel valued and respected and to develop their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High quality teaching and research is inclusive.

Information
Enquiries can be made to the PI of the research project, Dr. K.A. Milne (k.a.milne@hum.leidenuniv.nl). Questions about the procedure can be directed to Nina Schat (im-lucas@hum.leidenuniv.nl). Information about the institute can be found at http://www.universiteitleiden.nl/geesteswetenschappen/centre-for-the-arts-in-society; information about Leiden University can be found at http://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en.

Applications
Please submit your application via the online recruitment system by clicking the blue button at the top of this page. The deadline for applications is April 15th, 2026. Applications received via e-mail will not be taken into consideration. Your application should include:

• Letter of application (maximum 2 pages) in which you explain your relevant experience related to the PhD project and explain why you are an appropriate candidate for the position;
• Your CV, listing education, relevant employment history, and relevant academic achievements (conference presentations, publications, organization of events, etc.);
• A brief diversity statement (maximum 1 page; structured as the candidate sees fit);
• Names, positions, and contact information for two referees (no reference letters); please list these on your CV rather than filling them out separately in the system;
• A copy of your MA-thesis or a writing sample (if the MA-thesis is not yet finished);
• If you have not yet completed your MA, a letter from your MA advisor or programme director stating the expected date of completion of the MA degree.
• Copies of relevant course assessments (list of grades)

(Online) interviews will take place in May.

Enquiries from agencies are not appreciated.