Postdoc Position, Ghent University and RMAH, Brussels, Photography

Postdoc Position, Ghent University and RMAH, Brussels

Ghent University, Royal Museums for Art & History Brussels, Sep 01, 2021
Application deadline: May 10, 2021

Ghent University and the Royal Museums of Art and History (RMAH) in Brussels are jointly hiring an art historian (PhD) specialized in the history or theory of photography.
In particular, this project focuses on (a) photography of architecture; (b) photographic reproductions of art works; and (c) art photography.

This full-time post-doctoral position is part of the fedtwin program that facilitates the collaboration between federal museums and universities in Belgium. The candidate will combine two part-time positions, working at Ghent University and RMAH as part of a project that focuses on the museum’s photography collection.

The position is for 5 years (start: 1 September, 2021), extendable with another 5 years dependent on a positive evaluation and available funding.

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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Consisting of about 120,000 items, the vast collection of photographs of the Brussels Royal Museums of Art and History has never been studied thoroughly. This project aims at the assessment, study and disclosure of this collection, focusing on three aspects: (a) photography of architecture and decorative arts including the collections of architecture photographers such as Sergysels, Le Berrurier, Ghémar, and Geruzet as well as the many views of world exhibitions; (b) photographic reproductions of art works made between the late nineteenth and the middle of the twentieth centuries; and (c) art photography including the collection of the photo club Ars Photographica, which was based at the museum, as well as many photographs by Belgian Pictorialists.

CONTEXT
This function is part of the FED-tWIN programme of the Federal Science Policy, which aims to promote sustainable cooperation between the ten Federal Scientific Institutions and the 11 Belgian universities through the funding of joint research profiles. The research profile Prf-2020-031 _ Photo Collection RMAH (The Photography Collection at the Royal Museum of Art and History, Brussels) is a joint initiative of the Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels and Ghent University. Dr. Werner Adriaenssens and Prof. Dr. Steven Jacobs are the supervisors.

ASSIGNMENT
Your Assignment at Ghent University:
– research (resulting in academic publications) in the fields of the history and/or theory of architecture photography, photographic reproductions of art, and Belgian pictorialism in relation to the photo collection of the Royal Museums of Art and History;
– supervising a few dissertations on topics tallying with the project;
– some educational tasks including teaching a research seminar on photography in the master program of Art History, Musicology, and Theater Studies tallying with the project, as well as giving some lectures on the history and/or theory of photography in several other courses in the bachelor and master programs of Art History;
– organizing an exhibition and an accompanying symposium on specific topics of this project in collaboration with the Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels;
– the acquisition and management of research funds.

Your Assignment at the Royal Museums of Art and History:
– study of the photography collection of the Royal Museums of Art and History, particularly architecture photography, art reproductions, art photographs: inventory, description, study of the history of the collection, analysis of the physical condition;
– valorization and disclosure of the photo collection (e.g. exhibitions, loans); collaboration with other collections and departments in the museum;
– organizing an exhibition and an accompanying symposium on specific topics of this project in collaboration with Ghent University.

PROFILE
– You are holding a PhD in art history or a related discipline and you have an expertise in theory and/or history of photography;
– the PhD graduation was maximum 12 years prior to the application deadline for this position;
– you have experience with working in archives;
– expertise in the fields of architecture photography, art photography and/or art reproductions are recommended;
– knowledge of Dutch, French, and English are highly recommended in relation to the relevant sources;
– knowledge of the history of the technology of photography and photo conservation are highly recommended;
– teaching experience is highly recommended;
– you are able to work independently as well as part of a team.

CONDITIONS OF ADMISSION
– You are the holder of a dissertation diploma or a diploma or certificate recognized as equivalent (article V.20 Codex Higher Education) in the history of art or a similar field.  The doctorate must have been defended no more than 12 years ago (counting from the day of submitting the application).
– When assessing a foreign (non-EU) diploma, a certificate of equivalence may still have to be applied for at NARIC; we advise you – if applicable – to start the recognition procedure at NARIC as soon as possible. You must be in possession of this recognition no later than the date of appointment.
– You have at least 2 years postgraduate experience at the date of appointment. The period of 2 years is determined on the basis of the date mentioned on the diploma.

INFORMATION ON THE POSITION
It concerns a full-time position with a joint employment at the Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels and Ghent University:
– 50% at the Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels as a work leader (salary scale SW2), a contract of indefinite duration;
– 50% at Ghent University, including 40% as postdoctoral scientific researcher (salary scale PD1 to 4), a contract of indefinite duration, and 10% as assistant professor for 5 years, extendable dependent on a positive evaluation and available funding;
– a gross monthly salary of at least € 2.312,63 (50%) at the Royal Museums of Art and History and at least (€ 2.121,02 ) (50%) at Ghent University, plus vacation allowance and end-of-year bonus;
– place of employment: Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels and Ghent University in Ghent;
– 38-hour week, variable schedule (Royal Museums of Art and History and Ghent University).

Applying for only one of the half-time positions at one of the institutions is not possible. The selected candidate is subjected to the regulations of both institutions.

APPLYING
You can only apply online via UGENT e-recruitment until the deadline for registration. We do not accept late applications or applications that are not delivered via the online application.
Please add the following documents (pdf format) to your application: CV, motivation letter, diploma, other documents (optinal, e.g. reference letters, grades, …). Please note that each field has a maximum limitation of 10 MB.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For additional information on the project and the position, you can contact the supervisors:
Prof. Dr. Steven Jacobs, Department of Art History, Musicology, and Theater Studies, Ghent University:  Steven.Jacobs@UGent.be
Dr. Werner Adriaenssens, Royal Museums of Art and History, Brussels: w.adriaenssens@kmkg-mrah.be

For additional information on the application procedure, you can contact the department of Recruitment and Selection of Ghent University (aanstellingenzap@UGent.be).

For more information, see https://career012.successfactors.eu/career?company=C0000956575P&career_job_req_id=18532&career_ns=job_listing&navBarLevel=JOB_SEARCH