[Job vacancy] PhD fellow – University of Ghent, Belgium

Job description

The research group Translation and Culture at Ghent University (https://research.flw.ugent.be/en/trace) seeks to recruit a PhD fellow (doctoral candidate) for its project on TRANSLATION AND FRANCOISM (2020-2024).

We offer a 4-year grant (2 + 2), on the condition of a positive evaluation after 2 years. The position is available from 1 May 2020, but the starting date is negotiable up to 1 September 2020 at the very latest.

Summary

Between 1939 and 1975 Francisco Franco’s administration held a tight control over public discourse in Spain. This project studies the role of translation during Francoism. A site of tension and censorship under Franco, translation throws light on cultural struggle and on the values, practices, and institutions that Francoism—or sectors of the regime—defended and opposed in various times and places. The project is currently looking for a research proposal about translation between Spanish and, preferably, (one of) the following languages: French, English, Dutch, German, Norwegian, Danish, or Swedish.

Topics available for research include, but are not limited to:

–a case study on the Francoist reception and translation of a film oeuvre;

–a case study on the Francoist reception and translation of (part of) a literary oeuvre;

–a case study on translation and journalism during Francoism;

–a case study on translation and political discourse during Francoism;

–a study that maps events, networks, and tendencies in one pivotal period of translation censorship (e.g., an important month or year in the Francoist censorship of translated film);

— a study that carries out a longitudinal study of an important agent of translation (e.g., a high-profile translator or an influential Francoist censor of literary or film translations).

 

As a doctoral fellow at Ghent University, you will

– collect and analyze data from relevant archives (especially the Archivo General de la Administración in Alcalá, Madrid);

– present your ongoing research at national and international conferences;

– write a doctoral dissertation within four years;

– prepare individual and joint publications;

– occasionally assist in teaching activities at the department.

Ghent University is a top 100 university and one of the major universities in Belgium. Located in a vibrant historic city, Ghent University is a multilingual working environment and offers great career opportunities.

Profile of the candidate

– You have a Master’s degree in an area relevant to the topic of the doctoral dissertation, e.g., Spanish Studies, Translation Studies, Language and Literature, Philology, Comparative Literature, etc. (degree obtained with good grades before the start of the project);

– You have written a Master’s thesis (good grade);

– You have native or near-native fluency in Spanish as well as in any other language(s) relevant to your research proposal;

– You are acquainted with academic literature on the framing potential of discourse;

– You are proactive in locating and obtaining documentation in archives abroad;

– You have strong analytical skills;

– You have academic skills in English;

– You have an ability to work independently on research as well as to work in a team;

– You have strong interpersonal and communication skills.

How to apply

Applications should be sent by e-mail to Jeroen Vandaele (JKM.vandaele@ugent.be) on 10 March 2020 at the latest. The e-mail subject line for applications should start with “TRAFRA application.” Applications should contain the following:

A SINGLE pdf-document with (preferably in this order):

– a cover letter (in English, Spanish, or Dutch);

– your CV (including an overview of your study results and the contact details of one academic person we may contact for a reference) (in English, Spanish, or Dutch); – evidence of (near-)native fluency in Spanish;

– evidence of fluency in the relevant other language(s);

– a copy of the required Master’s degree;

– a single-authored piece of academic writing (e.g., a Master’s thesis, a student paper, or an article), in Spanish and/or English, demonstrating your academic skills; (specific large documents that exceed e-mail capacity can be sent to JKM.vandaele@ugent.be via WeTransfer — https://wetransfer.com/);

– a short research proposal written in Spanish or English (2-4 pages) (research question, materials, relevance and potential of the materials, basic concepts, method, approximate timeframe, short bibliography).

A selection of candidates will be invited for an interview (at least partly in Spanish); interviews can be conducted through Skype for applicants living or working outside Belgium.

Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone with the relevant qualifications is encouraged to apply for this position.

If you wish to receive further information, regarding the project or practicalities, you can send an e-mail to the project’s supervisor prof. Jeroen Vandaele: JKM.vandaele@ugent.be . For such inquiries, please use the e-mail subject line “TRAFRA information.”