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23/04/2020

Postdoc in Early Modern Chinese and Japanese Maritime History, with a Focus on Historical Geography

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  • ORGANISATION/COMPANY
    KU Leuven
  • RESEARCH FIELD
    Geography › Historical geography
    History › Other
  • RESEARCHER PROFILE
    Recognised Researcher (R2)
    Established Researcher (R3)
    Leading Researcher (R4)
  • APPLICATION DEADLINE
    07/06/2020 23:00 - Europe/Brussels
  • LOCATION
    Belgium › Leuven
  • TYPE OF CONTRACT
    Temporary
  • JOB STATUS
    Part-time
  • HOURS PER WEEK
    30
  • OFFER STARTING DATE
    01/10/2020
  • EU RESEARCH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME
    H2020 / ERC
  • REFERENCE NUMBER
    ERC-2018-AdG 833143
  • IS THE JOB RELATED TO STAFF POSITION WITHIN A RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE?
    Yes

Duties

Research in the field of early modern Chinese and Japanese maritime history with a focus on historical geography and cartography, 16th to 18th centuries.

You will examine trade routes and the existing maritime knowledge on the Asia-Pacific region in China and Japan by comparatively analysing maps and navigation charts, geographical records, the biographies of the map drawers, and the ‘global’ circulation of these maps. Research requires the examination of 1) the level of cartographic-geographical knowledge in both countries, 2) the reconstruction of informal trading routes, including the roles of ‘hinterlands’ in (South-)East Asia, 3) the extent to which local map drawers were possibly culturally and socially influenced by the newly established trans-Pacific route, and 4) the cultural-intellectual and social impact of the trans-Pacific connection on local Chinese and, above all, Japanese geographical consciousness and concepts.

Further duties: Contribution to the project database, publication of articles and chapters in peer-reviewed journals and books, and active participation in the team’s international activities.

Additional Information

Selection process

Applications must include a cv, a publication list, 2 reference letters, and a brief research plan (½ to 1 page) in which the applicant introduces his/her research and demonstrates how his/her work will contribute to and can be integrated into the TRANSPACIFIC project.

Additional comments

The vacancy will also be advertised on the KU Leuven job site.

Requirements

Required Research Experiences

  • RESEARCH FIELD
    History
  • YEARS OF RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
    4 - 10
  • RESEARCH FIELD
    Geography › Historical geography
  • YEARS OF RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
    4 - 10

Offer Requirements

  • REQUIRED LANGUAGES
    CHINESE: Excellent
    JAPANESE: Good
    ENGLISH: Excellent
    FRENCH: Basic
    SPANISH: Basic

Skills/Qualifications

PhD degree in History with a focus on early modern Chinese or Japanese maritime history or in Sinology or East Asian Studies with a focus on maritime and world history, best with a relation to historical geography. In addition, an excellent command of English and traditional Chinese as well as a solid knowledge of Japanese is required. Knowledge in other European languages are desirable.

The successful candidate should be open for new methodological approaches including the combination of textual, cartographic, visual, and archaeological sources.

Specific Requirements

Collection of proxy data related to sea routes in order to analyse the known main climatological and oceanic indicators (as they can be derived from literature, e.g. wind and ocean streams in a cyclic year structure) and descriptions or records of disasters (storms, ocean currents, reefs, pirate attacks, etc.) and their impacts on sailing routes, time schedules, the selection of specific harbours, and the crews risk management.

Good experience in excel and data analyst tools is required.

Please add a brief research plan (1/2 to 1 page) and 2 reference letters to your application. The research plan should demonstrate how your work contributes to and can be integrated into the TRANSPACIFIC project.

Work location(s)
1 position(s) available at
KU Leuven
Belgium
Leuven
3000
Blijde Inkomststraat 21 bus 3301

EURAXESS offer ID: 517007

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