Vacancy Biblical Studies: Old Testament
The Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies of KU Leuven and the Research Unit Biblical Studies invite applications for the position of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Full Professor of Old Testament. You will join one of the world’s best theology faculties, benefiting from its extensive national and international networks and excellent research infrastructure. The Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies is currently ranked 3rd in Europe and 5th in the world in the subject “Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies” (2023 QS World Ranking). You will become a member of the Research Unit Biblical Studies, which has a long and successful history. The research unit organizes international colloquia and seminars (e.g., the annual Colloquium Biblicum Lovaniense). Its members are responsible for internationally recognized journals and book series, and supervise a diverse group of talented national and international doctoral students.
Duties
Research
The successful candidate will:
- Conduct research in the field of Old Testament studies based on your own expertise and interests.
- Be willing to work (as part of a team) to further shape the research focusses developed in the Research Unit Biblical Studies.
- Attract and support doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers.
- Attempt to acquire competitive research funding.
- Share research results by presenting at international conferences and publishing at the highest international level in peer-reviewed journals and book series.
- Be willing to take a leading role in international associations and learned societies.
Education
The successful candidate will:
- Develop and deliver teaching, covering all aspects of Old Testament study, including historical criticism, literary criticism, contextual hermeneutical approaches, Biblical theology, and reception history.
- Teach at all academic levels (BA, MA, PhD), both in Dutch and in English. On the BAlevel, the candidate might be asked to teach on the broad field of Biblical Studies (including the New Testament and language courses in Hebrew and/or Greek); on the MA and PhDlevel the candidate will mainly teach courses in the specific field of Old Testament Studies. The educational duties may include the teaching of the course Religie, zingeving en levensbeschouwing (Religion and Meaning) in other faculties of the university.
- Contribute to intra-disciplinary and team-taught courses both within and outside the Faculty.
- Participate in the international teaching cooperation projects of the Faculty (joint degrees, Erasmus)
- Supervise the writing of Bachelor’s papers, and Master’s and doctoral theses (in Dutch and in English).
- Support and stimulate international cooperation in teaching and research.
Service
The successful candidate will:
- Make research results available to the church and wider society and contribute to the development of didactic programmes for teachers and those in pastoral ministries.
- Contribute to the administration and governance in the Faculty and the University.
Profile
The successful candidate will meet the following requirements at a level appropriate to their career stage:
- A doctoral degree in Theology, specialization: Old Testament (PhD and preferably also STD, or equivalent).
- Teaching experience reflecting a broad knowledge of the study of the Old Testament, and of Biblical Studies in general.
- An excellent international research profile demonstrated by publications, research projects, and the successful supervision of MA students.
- The ability to teach courses/seminars in Dutch and in English at BA, MA, and PhD levels.
- Good communication skills and a cooperative attitude.
- Proficiency in English is required. The official administrative language and the primary teaching language of the KU Leuven is Dutch. If you do not know Dutch at the start of your employment, the KU Leuven will provide language training (for a period of up to five years) to enable you to participate in meetings and to teach courses in Dutch.