Postdoctoral researcher in Legal History M/F

Employeur

The University of Bordeaux is a large, dynamic institution, committed to responsibility and attentive to the well-being of its staff. Joining the university means working in a privileged environment within a diverse and open professional community, benefiting from support and inclusion programs, training, and internal mobility opportunities. It is an opportunity to take part in an academic, scientific, and human adventure and to engage in addressing the challenges of the 21st century.

Join the Institut de recherche Montesquieu (IRM)! This research center mainly brings together legal historians and political scientists, seeking to situate their research within the broader social sciences. In addition to law and political science, IRM researchers draw on the resources of history, sociology, literature, anthropology, and area studies to understand past and contemporary legal and political phenomena.

As part of the ISTHisFrench project, funded by the European Research Council, we are seeking a postdoctoral researcher in legal history for a 30-month fixed-term contract.

Votre mission

The aim of this research project, led by Professor Xavier Prévost, is to place Renaissance Legal humanism in its European context in order to understand the construction of legal nationalisms hidden behind the expression “French method of teaching law” (mos gallicus jura docendi).

The recruited researcher will work in close collaboration with the principal investigator and the engineer in digital humanities. The initial task will be to populate a historiographical database, followed by the drafting of two articles on the links between Legal humanism and French legal nationalism.

Your missions will include:

1. Analysis of historiography on Legal humanism

• You will help identify all research works related to Renaissance Legal humanism.

• You will populate the historiographical database by reading research works on Legal humanism, mainly those written in German and English, and possibly also in Dutch or other languages depending on your language skills.

• You will participate in the historiographical mapping of Legal humanism through the exploitation of the database.

2. Study of the links between Legal humanism and French legal nationalism

• You will identify relevant topics for studying the links between Legal humanism and French legal nationalism, based on the results obtained from the historiographical database.

• You will analyze Renaissance sources identified as relevant to write a research article on the connections between Legal humanism and French legal nationalism.

• You will collaborate with the principal investigator to co-author an article on these links, drawing on the results from the database.

3. Contribution to collective research activities

• You will participate in organizing scientific events (conferences, workshops, seminars, etc.) and project communication activities.

• You will represent the project at scientific events in France and abroad.

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Vos atouts / Vos talents

You hold a PhD in legal history, early modern history, or Renaissance literature. You read German and English fluently and ideally have a good knowledge of Dutch and Latin. You have a solid understanding of Renaissance intellectual history and are comfortable with digital tools, having preferably worked with a scientific database. Autonomous while able to work in a team, you are also able to take initiative to successfully carry out your projects.

Additional information

• Location : Pessac – accessible via Tram B (stop “Montaigne Montesquieu”), bus, bike.

• 30-month fixed-term contract, starting 15 June 2026

• Gross monthly salary: €3,037

Job benefits:

• 50 days of annual leave from the first year

• 75% coverage of public transport in Gironde

• Contribution to health insurance: €15/month

• Subsidized meals

• Leisure, sports, and cultural offers for all staff

• Sustainable commuting allowance for home–work travel

• Orientation program and training opportunities

Recruitment process:
After the announcement period, shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview with the manager(s) and recruitment officer.
To be considered, your application must include a CV and a cover letter.

Tip: Your cover letter is read carefully and provides complementary information to your CV!