Postdoc position in (Urban) Planning History and Construction History (4 years) - Universiteit Gent - Gand

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 8,000 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 80 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.

This vacancy fits within the framework of the EOS research project “Construction History, Above and Beyond. What History Can Do for Construction History”, directed by professors Michiel Dehaene (UGent), Dave De ruysscher (VUB, Tilburg University), Rika Devos (ULB), Johan Lagae (UGent), Stephanie Van de Voorde (VUB) and Ine Wouters (VUB). In total, 3 PhD positions and 4 postdoc positions are included in this project (the fourth postdoc mandate will be opened later in 2023). An overview of the full project and all mandates involved can be consulted on: www.vub.be/arch/project/eos.

The EOS research project will set up a dialogue (in terms of sources, methodologies, concepts and cognitive interests) between Construction History and three other fields of history, namely Colonial History, Legal History and Planning History. As such, the project sets out to strengthen the historical dimension of Construction History, while simultaneously demonstrating its relevance and potential to other fields and disciplines. The project overall concentrates on selected aspects in 19th and 20th -century building knowledge and building practice in Belgium and its former colony, with particular attention for tacit knowledge, in order to voice crucial yet underrated actors, sources and types of knowledge.

The individual trajectory of each postdoc researcher is embedded in this larger team, operating in the 3 universities (ULB, UGent and VUB). Intensive exchange and shared outcomes among team members are crucial for the success of the project. The postdoc positions are each situated in one of the 3 fields of dialogue: (1) colonial history – construction history; (2) legal history – construction history and (3) planning history – construction history.

This specific vacancy is issued by Ghent University (UGent) and engages in the dialogue between (urban) planning history and construction history. It is co-supervised by profs. Michiel Dehaene (UGent) and Ine Wouters (VUB).

The dialogue between urban planning history and construction history will focus on the specific demands produced by the process of metropolitan transformation in the 20th century, both in the formation and expansion of the urban agglomerations of Brussels, Antwerp and Liège during the interbellum period and the Trentes Glorieuses. This sub-team studies the construction industry’s response to the specific demands of remodeling the urban geography and its building stock and the ensuing relationships between contractors, architects and emerging developers. It analyses both the local interaction of these actors as well as their organization in professional networks.

The post-doc research project within this dialogue between planning and construction history will study the complex response to aspects of maintenance, repair and refurbishment of housing within already urbanized landscapes. The research retraces specific development-contracting firms as well as niche and secondary players delivering highly specific services. The track documents three areas of activity in particular: (1) the subdivision of the existing housing stock in smaller units; (2) the role of local contractors in small-scale redevelopment and densification projects within a fragmented property market; (3) the development of technical expertise addressing specific forms of building failure and upgrading in light of new technical standards and patterns of use. While these practices are hard to document systematically, the intersection of a planning historical and construction historical lens is particularly pertinent. Through the scanning of technical studies on specific building failures and material deterioration, but also research on, for instance, acoustic performance of partitioning walls, attic renovation, retrofitting of utilities, or upgrading indoor comfort, this track builds a preliminary archive of cases and practices. A selection of cases is subsequently studied through the concrete dossiers that can be found in municipal archives as part of the application for building permits (which most of the time include both original building applications and applications for refurbishment, redevelopment, demolition etc.)

The successful candidate will be based alternatingly at UGent and VUB, to allow a dynamic interaction with the team members and a full insertion in both institutions.

YOUR TASKS

• You will contribute to and benefit from the open academic environment uniting 3 leading Belgian universities in the intensive collaboration on 1 project, of which the postdoc study is a constituent part.
• You will intensively collaborate with the supervisors and the other postdoc researchers in the project. You will develop your own contribution and make it visible within the broader context of the project
• Together with the supervisors you will guide a PhD researcher working in the same dialogue between Planning History and Construction History (2022-26).
• You will engage in educational activities at the involved departments at VUB and UGent. These activities may include the guidance of students in exercises, following up MA thesis, etc. following the needs of the departments and the skills of the researcher. The number of hours will not exceed the limits set by FWO.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• You are familiar with and have experience in historical research in planning and urbanism. You have a good understanding of urban development and planning dynamics.
• Affinity for construction history and architecture history is a plus.
• You hold a thesis-based doctorate in one of the following fields:

• PhD in Architecture;
• PhD in History;
• PhD in Architectural Engineering;

• PhD in Urbanism and Spatial Planning;

Or equivalent field

• Also PhD students defending their thesis later then the submission date for this vacancy are welcome. The PhD degree must be obtained in 2022.
• You have fluent passive knowledge of both Dutch and French. Attention: this is a binding requirement as it is necessary for archival research;
• You have a B2 level in English;
• You are passionate about archival research;
• You have good writing and editing skills, to be demonstrated by a sample of writing: your best research text and a chapter of the PhD (in Dutch, French or English);
• You enjoy working in teams and have good social skills
• You are keen to participate in international congresses.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• The postdoc position is funded by a 4-year EOS research project and is offered as research contract, following the standards of UGent (Ghent University).
• Your remuneration will be determined by salary scale PD1. 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, a bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits (in Dutch).
• The project additionally covers expenses related to research visits, participation in conferences, publications, etc. as well as running costs.

INTERESTED?

Apply online through the e-recruitment system before the application deadline (June 30th before 12h). We do not accept late applications or applications that are not submitted through the online system.

Your application must include the following documents:

• In the field ‘CV’: your Curriculum Vitae with list of publications
• In the field ‘Cover letter’: Cover letter (in English, max 500 words) mentioning also the contents of the application file
• In the field ‘Diploma’: a transcript of your MA Degree and PhD degree (if already in your possession)
• In the field “other documents”: your best research paper (preferably individual work), a chapter from your doctoral dissertation. If relevant you may add other publications and award certificates.

Note that the maximum file size for each field is 10 MB.

As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. dr. Michiel Dehaene ([email protected]) or Prof. dr. Ine Wouters ([email protected]).

Important: do NOT send your application by email, but apply online.

See also:

www.ugent.be/ea/architectuur/nl

www.vub.be/arch

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