Fully Funded PhD Scholarship in Digital Humanities and Cultural Resistance Studies at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) 2026 ·Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) 2026

Apply for the fully funded PhD scholarship at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in Digital Humanities and Cultural Resistance Studies. Applications close 21 September 2026.

Are you passionate about digital humanities, media studies, cultural memory, and social justice? Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is inviting applications for a fully funded PhD scholarship exploring the cultural study of resistance through innovative digital humanities methodologies.

Hosted jointly by the ECHO: Media, Culture & Politics and CLIC: Centre for Literary & Intermedial Crossings research groups, the doctoral position forms part of the newly established Brussels Centre for Interdisciplinary Resistance Studies (Inter-RESIST). The successful candidate will conduct interdisciplinary research examining how resistance is represented, communicated, and transformed across history, media, and cultures.

The appointment is initially for 12 months, with the possibility of extension up to 48 months, subject to satisfactory progress. The successful applicant is expected to begin on 1 November 2026.

Applications close on 21 September 2026.

About Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)

For more than five decades, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) has been recognised for its commitment to academic freedom, equality, diversity, and critical inquiry. Located in the heart of Brussels, the university is one of Belgium’s leading research institutions and the largest Dutch-speaking private-sector employer in the city.

VUB is also a proud member of the EUTOPIA European University Alliance, fostering international collaboration, interdisciplinary research, and innovative education across Europe.

The university offers an inclusive academic environment where researchers are encouraged to challenge conventional thinking while addressing pressing societal issues.

About the Inter-RESIST Research Centre

The PhD forms part of the newly established Brussels Centre for Interdisciplinary Resistance Studies (Inter-RESIST), an interdisciplinary initiative bringing together scholars from:

• Media and Communication Studies
• Literary Studies
• Sociology
• History
• Political Science
• Translation Studies
• Digital Humanities

The centre investigates the many forms of civilian resistance to oppression, dehumanisation, and political violence across historical and contemporary contexts.

Research topics include resistance against:

• The Holocaust
• Post-war racism targeting migrants and their descendants
• The genocide against Palestinians and its historical antecedents
• Other forms of social, cultural, and political oppression

The project explores how acts of resistance are remembered, documented, translated, and reimagined across generations and media platforms.

Research Focus

The doctoral project investigates how resistance evolves across different historical periods, geographical locations, and communication media.

Using digital humanities methodologies, the successful candidate will analyse both textual and visual cultural materials to understand how narratives of resistance circulate and influence collective memory.

Key themes include:

• Everyday resistance
• Constructive resistance
• Reverse discourse
• Networked dissent
• Cultural memory
• Political imagination
• Solidarity movements
• Digital activism
• Media representations of resistance

The research combines computational analysis with traditional humanities scholarship to produce innovative interdisciplinary insights.

Potential Research Materials

The project allows flexibility in selecting research corpora.

Possible materials include:

• Underground literature
• Clandestine publications
• Diaries and memoirs
• Personal testimonies
• Graffiti and street poetry
• Documentary films
• Visual archives
• Literary works
• Artistic responses to conflict
• Social media activism
• Digital campaigns

The successful researcher will explore how these materials document resistance while shaping broader cultural and political narratives.

Digital Humanities Methodologies

Applicants should have an interest in applying digital tools to humanities research.

Methodologies may include:

• Computational content analysis
• Digital text analysis
• Visual analysis
• Discourse analysis
• Cultural transfer methodologies
• Digital archiving
• Multimodal research approaches

The interdisciplinary nature of the project offers opportunities to combine computational methods with qualitative cultural analysis.

Key Responsibilities

The successful PhD researcher will:

• Conduct original doctoral research
• Prepare a doctoral dissertation
• Contribute to interdisciplinary research activities
• Collaborate with researchers across multiple disciplines
• Support applications for external research funding
• Participate in Inter-RESIST workshops and meetings
• Contribute to the activities of both ECHO and CLIC research groups
• Publish academic outputs
• Present research findings at conferences
• Engage in collaborative international research

The PhD candidate will be supervised jointly by Professor Arvi Sepp and Professor Kevin Smets, working closely with Professor Yazan Badran and the wider Inter-RESIST team.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants should possess:

Essential Qualifications

• A Master’s degree in:
  • Digital Humanities
  • Communication Studies
  • Literary Studies
  • Translation Studies
  • Cultural Studies
  • Social Sciences
  • Or a closely related discipline
• Excellent professional proficiency in at least two of the following languages:
  • English
  • Dutch
  • French
• Experience with digital humanities methodologies
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Strong interest in interdisciplinary research

Desirable Qualifications

Additional strengths include:

• Research experience related to one or more Inter-RESIST themes
• Knowledge of additional languages such as:
  • German
  • Arabic
  • Hebrew
  • Russian
• Experience with computational humanities research
• Familiarity with media studies or literary studies approaches

Scholarship Duration

The successful applicant will receive:

• Initial 12-month doctoral scholarship
• Extension up to 48 months following positive evaluations
• Full-time doctoral appointment
• Government-funded doctoral grant
• Planned start date of 1 November 2026

The scholarship is subject to successful enrolment as a doctoral student at VUB.

Benefits

In addition to the doctoral funding, VUB offers an extensive package of employee benefits.

These include:

• Flexible home-working arrangements
• Telework allowance of €50 per month or internet allowance of €20 per month
• 35 days of annual leave
• University closure between Christmas and New Year
• Three additional leave days
• Free hospitalisation insurance
• Full reimbursement of public transport commuting costs
• Bicycle commuting compensation
• Affordable campus restaurants
• Sports and wellness facilities
• Discounts through Benefits@Work
• Eco-cheques
• Childcare facilities near campus
• Professional development opportunities
• Access to training platforms and lifelong learning resources

These benefits contribute to a supportive working environment that values work-life balance and career development.

Required Application Documents

Applicants must submit:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Motivation letter
• Writing sample (such as an academic article or research paper)
• Degree certificate (except for VUB graduates)

Applications must be submitted through the VUB online recruitment portal.

Selection Process

The recruitment process consists of two stages:

Stage 1

• Initial evaluation of submitted application materials

Stage 2

• Interview with shortlisted candidates

Application Deadline

Closing Date: 21 September 2026

Interested applicants are encouraged to prepare their application documents well in advance, particularly the writing sample and motivation letter, as competition for doctoral scholarships at VUB is expected to be highly competitive.

Why Apply?

This PhD scholarship provides an exceptional opportunity to conduct cutting-edge interdisciplinary research at one of Europe’s leading universities while contributing to a growing international field examining resistance, memory, media, and digital cultures.

Researchers interested in digital humanities, cultural studies, communication, literature, political memory, and social justice will benefit from working within a collaborative research environment that combines innovative computational methods with critical humanities scholarship.

With generous funding, excellent employee benefits, and access to the international EUTOPIA research network, this scholarship offers an outstanding platform for launching an academic career in interdisciplinary humanities research.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organisation offering this consultancy. For questions regarding eligibility, consultancy requirements, or the application process, applicants should contact the organization directly through the official application platform.

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