Full-time doctoral position in Egyptology – Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

The Faculty of Philosophy, Arts and Letters (FIAL) and the Institute for the Study of Civilisations, Arts and Letters (INCAL) of the University of Louvain (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium) invite applications for a two years full-time doctoral position in Egyptology   to start between January 1, 2024 and October 1, 2024 at the latest.

The successful applicant is expected to write a PhD dissertation on the following topic:

“Enseigner par l’exemple: repenser le texte à visée didactique en Egypte ancienne”

“Teaching through example: rethink the text with didactic scope in Ancient Egypt”

(détails à discuter avec le/la candidat.e – details to be discussed with the candidate)

Description du projet (English below):

Ce projet consiste en une réflexion sur le rôle du récit littéraire de fiction dans l’enseignement en Égypte ancienne. L’hypothèse de départ est que, outre les sagesses et enseignements, d’autres textes littéraires avaient une visée didactique et partageaient la caractéristique d’enseigner par l’exemple. Cela signifie qu’ils sont bâtis autour de situations modèles, dont l’élaboration témoigne d’une conscience linguistique et d’un regard réflexif des scribes égyptiens sur la production de l’élite lettrée dont ils faisaient partie. Le projet a pour but de les identifier et de les analyser dans le récit fictionnel égyptien et de mettre en évidence les éléments auxquels il est fait référence, que ce soit en intertextualité directe, à travers des références à divers genres littéraires au moyen de l’emploi de registres diagnostiques (= caractéristiques du genre en question), ou encore en termes de références politico-culturelles.

Cette étude adressera idéalement la question 1) de la corrélation entre genre littéraire et registre textuel; 2) de la conscience qu’en avaient les locuteurs et 3) de la manière dont ces registres témoignent d’une attitude réflexive sur la langue et la production écrite. Dans une perspective plus large, cette étude fournira des éléments de fondation pour dépasser le modèle des catégories de genre littéraire généralement proposées et d’adopter une approche, « feature-based », qui se concentre sur les éléments constitutifs plutôt que les catégories codifiées et labellisées de genre littéraire. La façon dont différents genres littéraires sont évoqués dans le texte de fiction en fonction de certains de leurs éléments caractéristiques constitue un angle d’approche prometteur et innovant de la question. Le sujet offre  de surcroît un grand potentiel pour l’intégration du/de la candidat.e dans un large et dynamique réseau de recherche interdisciplinaire.

Project description:

This project consists in a reflection on the role of the literary fictional text in teaching in ancient Egypt. The initial hypothesis is that, in addition to wisdom and teachings, other literary texts had a didactic aim and shared the characteristic of teaching by example. This means that they are built around model situations, whose development is a sign of linguistic awareness as well as of a reflexive look of Egyptian scribes on the production of the literate elite to which they belonged. The project aims to identify and analyze them in the Egyptian fictional narrative and to highlight the elements to which reference is made, whether in direct intertextuality, references to various literary genres by means of the use of diagnostic registers (= characteristics of the genre in question), or even in terms of political-cultural references.

Ideally, this study will address the question of 1) the correlation between literary genre and textual register, 2) the speakers’ awareness of them, and 3) how these registers reflect a reflexive attitude to language and written production. From a broader perspective, this study will provide a foundation for moving beyond the model of literary genre categories generally proposed, and adopting a « feature-based » approach that focuses on constituent elements rather than codified, labelled categories of literary genre. The way in which different literary genres are evoked in fictional texts according to some of their characteristic elements constitutes a promising and innovative angle of approach to the question. The topic also offers great potential for integrating the candidate into a broad and dynamic interdisciplinary research network.

Your research environment:

You will be employed in the Faculty of Philosophy, Arts and Letters (FIAL) and at the (Institute of Civilisation, Arts and Letters (INCAL), on the Louvain-la-Neuve campus, under the supervision of Prof. Gaëlle Chantrain, who specialised in the study of Egyptian language and literature.

Both the Faculty and the Institute constitute a very active, stimulating and interdisciplinary research environment. You will be encouraged to develop your international network and to take an active role in the scientific community.

Job characteristics:

• duration of 2 years (24 months). Note that the initial contract is not renewable. The candidate will have to apply to the FNRS (four years grant) or for a FSR extension of two years if needed.
• full-time
• salary: 2370,44 euros/month (net income) + research budget (mobility, equipment): 6000 euros for the 2 years.

Your profile:

• you own a master degree in egyptology by the start of the project
• you have demonstrated excellent knowledge of ancient Egyptian language (Middle Egyptian and ideally Late Egyptian)
• you are fluent in French and/or English and can write your dissertation in one of these languages.

Closing date for applications: November 24, 2023

How to apply:

Send the following documents to Prof. Gaëlle Chantrain: gaelle.chantrain@uclouvain.be (in one single file):

• CV,
• cover letter,
• copy of academic degrees,
• contact details for two references
• summary of the master thesis
• written sample (essay or equivalent)

Questions about the position can be sent to gaelle.chantrain@uclouvain.be

Requirements

Research Field

Language sciences » Philology

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

• you own a master degree in egyptology by the start of the project
• demonstrated excellent knowledge of ancient Egyptian language (Middle Egyptian and ideally late Egyptian)
• your fluent in French and/or English and can write your dissertation in one of these languages.

Languages

FRENCH

Level

Excellent

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Additional Information

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

FIAL/INCAL

Country

Belgium

Where to apply

E-mail

gaelle.chantrain@uclouvain.be

Contact

City

Louvain-la-Neuve

Website

http://www.uclouvain.be

Street

Place de l’Université, 1

E-Mail

gaelle.chantrain@uclouvain.be