KU Leuven invites applications for a Tenure-Track Professor in Cultural and Societal Storytelling to join the Faculty of Arts. The successful candidate will conduct innovative research on narrative forms in word and/or image and their societal impact, with particular emphasis on inclusion and sustainability. This role is embedded in the Literary Studies & Cultural Studies Research Unit, a vibrant research hub spanning antiquity to the present with approximately 150 researchers.
You will develop an ambitious and internationally visible research programme, building collaborations across KU Leuven’s interdisciplinary networks including the One Health Institute, Health Humanities Centre, and Leuven Interdisciplinary Language Institute. You are expected to publish at the highest academic level, secure competitive research funding, supervise PhD candidates, and contribute actively to public engagement related to narrative research and cultural debate.
Teaching responsibilities include providing bachelor-level courses in Language & Literature at KU Leuven Kulak (Kortrijk) and developing accessible and inclusive master-level courses on storytelling in Leuven. Initial teaching duties total 10 ECTS annually, including: Storytelling in Society, Narrative Analysis, and Literary & Cultural Theory. You will supervise bachelor’s and master’s theses and contribute to curriculum development that reflects KU Leuven’s vision of research-based, student-centred, socially responsive teaching.
Service expectations include regular on-campus presence in Kortrijk, participation in faculty activities and public-facing events, programme representation at recruitment and outreach activities, and contributions to academic societies and journals.
Applicants must hold a PhD in Literary Studies, Cultural Studies, or a related Humanities discipline, with strong expertise in narratology, intermediality/multimodality, and the societal dimensions of storytelling. A validated international publication record, experience in interdisciplinary collaboration, and excellent teaching skills are required. Knowledge of English is essential; training will be provided to achieve the Dutch proficiency required for administrative participation and future teaching.
KU Leuven offers an intellectually stimulating and internationally oriented environment with extensive support for new professors. Appointment begins 1 September 2026. Successful tenure-track evaluation leads to permanent appointment as Associate Professor (hoofddocent).