Doctoral fellow

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15.000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities.

With its 11 faculties and more than 85 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.
The Spanish Section of the Department of Translation, Interpreting and Communication is offering three six-month start-up grants to early-career researchers wishing to take their first steps in research within the field of Applied Linguistics, with a focus on Spanish.

YOUR TASKS

• You will prepare at least one academic publication in a field in which you have already gained expertise, for example in the context of a Master’s thesis. 
• You will explore opportunities for collaboration within the Spanish Department. 
• You will prepare a research grant application for the FWO (March 2027). 
• You will spend a maximum of 20% of your time carrying out support tasks in the context of ongoing research.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• You hold a Master’s degree (preferably) in Multilingual Communication, Interpreting, Translation, or Language and Literature, specialising in Spanish. You must have met the degree requirements by the date of appointment. 
• You have a strong academic record, supported by academic results and an excellent Master’s thesis. 
• You specialise in the study of Spanish, with concrete research ideas for preparing a PhD in one of the following areas, each applied to Spanish: 
  
  • language technology 
  • foreign language teaching 
  • discourse analysis in digital contexts 
  • communicative and technological dynamics in migration contexts 
  • intermedial and intercultural mediation in audiovisual contexts 
• You will be residing in Belgium during the period September 2026–February 2027 
• You meet the requirements to submit an application to the FWO: https://www.fwo.be/en/support-programmes/all-calls/phd/phd-fellowship-fundamental-research

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• We offer a full-time position as a doctoral fellow with a starting grant of 6 months. 
• Your contract will start on 09/01/2026 at the earliest. 
• The fellowship amount is 100% of the net salary of an AAP member in equal family circumstances. The individual fellowship amount is determined by Team Personnel Administration based on family status and seniority. A grant that meets the conditions and criteria of the regulations for doctoral fellowships is considered free of personal income tax. Click here for more information about our salary scales 
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits.

INTERESTED?

Send your cv, copy of your diploma (if already in your possession), a motivation letter and a research proposal (max. 3 A4) to patrick.goethals@ugent.be. Deadline: 30 June. We communicate the decision by 14 July. 
As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.
For more information about this vacancy, please contact prof. Patrick Goethals patrick.goethals@ugent.be.