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.

PhD project 2 is an in-depth study of craquelure patterns, both natural and artificial, using relevant examples, mock-ups, high resolution imaging, visual and chemical analyses. The aim is to define what characteristics and patterns are particularly distinctive and why. A special focus will be on significant anomalies that betray artificial ageing. As the creation of mockups and the interpretation of craquelure patterns requires not only art historical expertise but also in-depth conservation and restoration expertise, the Ph.D. candidate will be jointly supervised by the principal investigator and by Prof. dr. Ella Hendriks (University of Amsterdam).

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 for publication with a peer-reviewed journal;
• Collect, analyze and create different types of data and source materials relevant to the ARTDETECT research project and include these in the project database;
• Attend regular in-person team meetings;
• Disseminate your research through participation in international workshops and conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Assist in event planning and organization
• Assist in promoting the visibility of the project

Job profile

• You hold a thesis-based master’s degree in a relevant field (Conservation and Restoration or Technical Art History);
• You have the ability to develop an original research project and to find and select relevant literature and case studies,
• You have experience in creating mock-ups
• You have an excellent command of written and spoken Dutch and English;
• You are a dynamic and enthusiastic team player
• Familiarity with digital craquelure analysis is a plus, but not mandatory

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.)