PhD Position: Anthropological Study on Interreligious dialogue in Morocco

Religious sciences » Non-Christian religions

Religious sciences » Other

Religious sciences » Theology

Organisation/Company KU LEUVEN Research Field Anthropology » Cultural anthropology Anthropology » Ethnology Anthropology » Social anthropology Cultural studies » Islamic studies Cultural studies » Jewish studies Religious sciences » Non-Christian religions Religious sciences » Other Religious sciences » Theology Religious sciences » Comparative religion Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 16 Oct 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country Belgium Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Feb 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number BAP-2026-562 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Interreligious dialogue (IRD) is often presented as a means of fostering mutual understanding, tolerance, and social cohesion. This project critically examines how dialogue is shaped by broader relations of power, history, and governance, while questioning the dominant European and Christian assumptions that often underpin contemporary understandings of religious diversity and coexistence. Through qualitative and ethnographic research in Southern Morocco, you will investigate how Jewish-Muslim encounters, religious diversity, and practices of coexistence are experienced and negotiated in schools, heritage sites, and community initiatives. Particular attention will be paid to Islamic ethical traditions, shared Amazigh heritage, and contemporary efforts to promote interreligious dialogue and pluralism. By bringing Moroccan experiences into conversation with parallel research in Flanders, the project aims to develop a more plural and globally informed understanding of dialogue, highlighting how different religious, cultural, and historical traditions shape the ways people engage with religious difference in everyday life You will be part of an interdisciplinary and comparative research team combining expertise in theology, anthropology, religious studies, and education. The project is a collaboration between the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology of the Faculty of Social Sciences at KU Leuven, under the supervision of Prof. Nadia Fadil and Prof. Marianne Moyeart and the external supervision of Professor Farid El Asri of the Université Internationale de Rabat.

Your responsibilities

• You will prepare and conduct qualitative and ethnographic research on interreligious dialogue, Jewish-Muslim relations, and religious diversity in Morocco.
• You will carry out extended fieldwork in Morocco and in the Southern region of the country
• You will conduct ethnographic research in Jewish heritage sites, pilgrimage contexts, cultural initiatives, and educational settings.
• You will analyze how participants experience and negotiate dominant narratives concerning dialogue, tolerance and coexistence.
• You will publish scientific articles and work towards a PhD dissertation.
• You will present your research findings at national and international conferences.
• You will complete the doctoral programme of KU Leuven, embedded both in the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology and the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies and with a co-supervision at the Université Internationale de Rabat.
• You will work together with the other researchers in the research project to complete academic, logistical and administrative responsibilities tied to the project
• You will be available for teaching assistance or other tasks for 10% of your time throughout the duration of your contract

In order to be considered for this position we expect the following qualifications:

• You hold a Master degree in Anthropology, Middle Eastern Studies, Islamic Studies, Religious Studies, Qualitative Sociology or a related discipline.
• You have a strong experience with qualitative and ethnographic research.
• You have an interest in religious diversity, interreligious dialogue, Islam, Jewish-Muslim relations, heritage studies, or postcolonial approaches.
• You have a familiarity with the Moroccan context.
• Your oral and written communication skills in English are excellent.
• You master at least one of the following languages: French and/or Moroccan Arabic (Darija) or Standard Arabic. The knowledge of Amazigh (Tashelhit) is a plus.
• You are able and willing to spend extended periods conducting fieldwork in Morocco of 6 months each time.
• You can navigate sensitive and polemical social and political fields with nuance and diplomacy with an eye for social justice.

Benefits / Compensation

• A fully funded and full-time PhD scholarship for one year, renewable up to four years upon positive evaluation