PhD Student

Job description

As a PhD student at Ghent University, you will join the ERC-Consolidator Grant project ‘' A New Connoisseurship: Smart ways to detect forgeries (ARTDETECT 2024-2028) (https://research.ugent.be/web/result/project/9c25c11e-9c48-49b9-ae44-5b57f8a0f364/details/en)', under the leadership of the principal investigator, Professor Anna Tummers. The project is focused on developing novel approaches to detect forgeries. The team will consist of seven members who will collaborate closely.

Apart from recent forgeries, the ARTDETECT team will also explore early modern forgeries and the possibilities of using smart tools for the detection of these. PhD project 1 is focused on European painted forgeries created in the 15th–17th century. It consists of in-depth analyses of circa six (suspected) early modern forgeries and circa twelve reference works with the aim of understanding these in their art historical context and to identify significant anomalies in collaboration with the team’s research conservator and other relevant specialists. This PhD project will be supervised by the principal investigator and co-supervisors Prof. Geert Van der Snickt and Prof. Koen Janssens.

Within the context of the ARTDETECT project, the successful candidate will:

• Write a PhD dissertation for a degree in Art History;
• Submit at least 2 articles as main author for publication in a peer-reviewed journal;
• Collect and analyze different types of data and source materials relevant to the ARTDETECT research project, where needed in collaboration with relevant specialists, and include these in the project database;
• Attend regular in-person team meetings;
• Disseminate your research results (in as far as these are not confidential) through participation in international workshops and conferences;
• Assist in event planning and organization
• Assist in promoting the visibility of the project

Job profile

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• You hold a thesis-based master’s degree in a relevant field (Art History or Technical Art History);
• You have the ability to develop an original research project, find and select relevant case studies
• You have command of the relevant languages, especially early modern Dutch, German and Italian, to undertake cutting-edge research in early modern art history (15th-17th centuries);
• You have undertaken innovative art historical research on early modern European paintings (15th-17th centuries);
• You have an excellent command of written and spoken Dutch and English;
• You are a dynamic and enthusiastic team player, able to think across disciplinary boundaries and effectively collaborate with a variety of specialists

Our offer

We offer you a contract for 4 years as doctoral student in Art History (first year conditional, if positive evaluated, added 3 years)

• Your contract will start on 01/07/2024 at the earliest
• Your remuneration will be determined by salary scale WM1 to WM4. 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 (in Dutch).

How to apply

To apply, submit the following materials in a single pdf file to Prof. Anna Tummers (Anna.Tummers@UGent.be):

• a Cover letter outlining your experience and interest in undertaking doctoral studies at Ghent;
• your CV and an overview of your study results:
• a transcript of your studies at undergraduate and MA level;
• names, positions, and email address of two referees (do not include reference letters.)