The Past Speaks

Solvay Brussels School of Economics & Management
Free University of Brussels (Université Libre de Bruxelles)
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Business History (2 + 1 years)

Salary: Fellowship up to ca. 30,000-36,000 EUR, depending on level of expertise and
fiscal regulations.  Employer will provide assistance with the administrative steps to be undertaken prior to arrival at the ULB and the various formalities to be completed once in Belgium (residence permit, accommodation, health insurance, tax and social security…

Expected start date: October 1st, 2018

Application deadline: February 8th, 2018

A Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Business History is vacant at the Solvay
Brussels School of Economics and Management (SBS-EM) of the Free University of
Brussels (Université Libre de Bruxelles – ULB).

The Kurgan-van Hentenryk (hereafter KvH) Chair in Business History aims at
advancing and diffusing research on the history of the knowledge economy. The
purpose of the chair is threefold. First, it is designed to perform research in the field of
business history. The Chair’s research focus lies on the comparative analysis of the
origins, development, and consequences of the science and technology-based industry
which has emerged as a global phenomenon from the 1970s onwards. Second, in terms
of research diffusion, the KvH Chair intends to give students from the Solvay Brussels
School in Economy and Management (SBS-EM), as well as students from other
faculties at ULB, the learning tools and the latest insights in business history research
on the topics mentioned above. Third, as a commitment to the communication of
research, the Chair ambitions to initiate a wide range of scientific activities
(conferences, workshops, etc.) as a means to foster the public development of business
history and enhance the interest of scholars, experts, and business actors for this field.

The postdoctoral researcher will hold the title of Kurgan-van Hentenryk

Postdoctoral Fellow in Business History. The fellowship is awarded for two years’
residence and research at SBS-EM, with a possible extension of a third year. The
fellowship is open to scholars who, within the last three years, have received a Ph.D.
in history, economics, or a discipline related to the field of business history. Please
note that the applicant should not have been affiliated to a Belgian university
more than 12 months within the last three years (1 October 2015 – 30 September
2018).

The first purpose of the fellowship is to enable scholars to engage in the activities that
correspond to the mission statement of the KvH Chair in Business History. In terms of
research output, the fellow is encouraged to submit at least two articles in leading
international scholarly journals during his or her term as KvH Postdoctoral Fellow. A
second purpose is to provide an opportunity for the fellow to participate in the
activities of the SBS-EM. The fellow is required to lead a business history research
2 seminar under the direction of the academic coordinator of the KvH Chair. Finally, the
fellow is expected to actively and widely disseminate the latest research findings in
business history and to organize an annual Workshop in Business History.

For more information, please contact Kenneth.Bertrams@ulb.ac.be
In addition to being associated with the project, the fellow will be a member of the
International Centre for Innovation, Technology, and Education Studies (iCite) of the
SBS-EM and have access to the resources and activities of iCite, as well as the wider
hosting Faculty. The successful candidate will normally be expected to have his or her
residence and work place in Brussels, and to be an active member of the research
community at the Free University of Brussels (ULB).
Requirements
 A PhD in history or economics, with a substantial background in business
history (dissertation must be successfully defended by the start of contract).
 Good English language skills.
Administrative Project Manager: Ikram Sefiani (Ikram.Sefiani@solvay.edu)
Telephone: +32.2.650.48.66; Fax: +32.2.650.65.96
Av. F.D. Roosevelt, 50 – CP 145/01
1050 Brussels, Belgium
Academic Coordinator: Prof. Kenneth Bertrams (Kenneth.Bertrams@ulb.ac.be)
Telephone: +32.2.650.39.56
Av. F.D. Roosevelt, 50 – CP 133/01
1050 Brussels, Belgium