Study in Kraków (DC6)!
Doctoral Candidate position within the MSCA Doctoral Network TESTAMENT.
About the location
Pursue your PhD in one of Europe’s most inspiring academic settings — at the Jagiellonian University in the heart of Kraków. Founded in 1364, Jagiellonian University is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe. For centuries, it has been a place where tradition meets innovation — where groundbreaking research is conducted within historic walls, and where brilliant minds from around the world come together to shape the future.
Choosing doctoral studies at Jagiellonian University means becoming part of a vibrant international research community. But studying in Kraków is more than academic excellence. It is about living in a city that inspires creativity and reflection. With its stunning medieval architecture, lively cultural scene, charming cafés, and green spaces along the Vistula River, Kraków offers an exceptional quality of life.
The historic Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, provides a breathtaking backdrop to your daily academic journey. A PhD at Jagiellonian University is not only an investment in your academic career — it is an opportunity to grow intellectually and personally in a city where history, culture, and innovation coexist harmoniously. Join a tradition of excellence. Discover new perspectives. Shape the future — in Kraków.
Description of the project
This DC will be based at Jagiellonian University in Kraków, at the Laboratory of Edition of Primary Sources. The Laboratory, which is a department of the Faculty of Law and Administration, is one of the legal-historical units of the Faculty. The main area of the research are studies on the legal sources from the past, especially late Middle Ages and early modern period, which are supported by the database “IURA. Sources of Law from the Past” (https://iura.uj.edu.pl).
The DC will be supervised by dr. hab. Maciej Mikuła, prof. of JU (legal history, JU Kraków) and co-supervised by prof. dr. Chanelle Delameillieure (social history, KU Leuven). In the course of this fellowship, the DC will work six months in Leuven, two months at the Jagiellonian University Archive and one month at the Archive of Science of the Polish Academy of Science and Art.
This Doctoral Candidate (DC) will focus on the law of last wills of professors of the University of Krakow in the early modern period. The choice of topic allows us to look at a very diverse social group in terms of origin – most often Catholic clergy coming from the bourgeoisie, nobility, sometimes also peasants.
The set of research questions can be divided into two groups, dealing with the main types of sources: wills and court records documenting trials on the grounds of testamentary inheritance from university professors. The coexistence of multiple legal orders, to varying extents providing for testamentary freedom, reveals, as through a lens, the richness of legal regulation in Krakow in the early modern era.
In addition to answering questions of legal history, the analysis of professors' wills will provide data on the assets, intellectual culture, family ties and careers of professors.
Responsibilities
In the framework of the MSCA Doctoral Network “TESTAMENT”, the Doctoral Candidate will have the following responsibilities:
- Researching last wills of professors of JU and court records concerning testamentary inheritance, revealing the complexity of overlapping legal orders and testamentary freedom in early modern Krakow while also shedding light on professors’ assets, intellectual culture, family ties, and careers, and preparing a doctoral dissertation on this topic.
- Actively participating in the activities of the TESTAMENT-network (summer and winter schools, monthly online meetings, concluding conference).
- Presenting the research at at least one international conference.
- Writing at least one peer-reviewed scientific article.
- Actively participating in the activities of the Research Unit and of the Doctoral School of Social Science at JU Kraków.
- Conducting a six-month research stay at the KU Leuven (which can be divided in several shorter terms).
- Conducting a two-month internship at the Archive of Jagiellonian University (where the candidate will acquire the skills to describe archival collections and the ability to work with the database Corpus Academicum Cracoviense, which is essential to the Ph.D. work) and a one-month internship at the Archive of Science (where the student will acquire the essential skills for describing the metadata of archival collections).
Profile
We are looking for a candidate who meets the following requirements:
- You are creative and ambitious, hard-working, and persistent.
- You have a master’s degree in law or you will have it by August 2026.
- You have good communicative skills, and the attitude to partake successfully in the work of a research team.
- You have a good command of the English language (spoken and written).
- You have a good passive command of Latin.
- A good passive command of Polish is an asset.
Eligibility criteria
- Supported researchers must be doctoral candidates, i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment.
- Recruited researchers can be of any nationality and must comply with the following mobility rule: they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary (Poland) for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays and time spent by the researcher as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered.
Offer
A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. In addition, we offer you:
- Full-time employment for three years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after 1 year.
- The gross amount of the doctoral salary (including tax and insurances – employee contract) will be:
- Living Allowance: approximately 8745–9500 PLN (ca. 2080–2260 EUR)
- Mobility Allowance: 710 EUR (2984 PLN)
- Family Allowance (if applicable): 660 EUR (2774 PLN)
- Additional benefits are in accordance to JU Kraków regulations.
- High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher.
Application process
Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact prof. Maciej Mikuła: testament.project@uj.edu.pl.
We invite you to submit a complete application by using the e-mail address: testament.project@uj.edu.pl.
The application should include:
- a curriculum vitae;
- Personal data form for the person applying for employment;
- copy of MA diploma (if available);
- information about the Candidate's scientific, teaching and organisational achievements (information about education, research and professional experience; a list of scientific achievements – publications, participation in conferences, courses, training and workshops, scholarships, awards, and other achievements);
- a statement confirming that the Jagiellonian University will be the primary place of employment;
- a statement pursuant to Article 113 of the Act on Higher Education and Science;
- a statement confirming knowledge and acceptance of the rules governing intellectual property management and commercialisation at the Jagiellonian University;
- a motivation letter (including the topic of your master thesis project);
- contact details of at least two references;
- a list of your bachelor and master courses and grades (and ranking, if available);
- a confirmation of language skills (English, Latin, other languages).
The declaration forms (Nos. 5–7) and the personal questionnaire template (No. 2) can be downloaded from: https://cso.uj.edu.pl/en_GB/dokumkandyd
Promising candidates will be contacted by email. Deadline for applications is Monday 20 April. After a first selection, candidates will be invited for a first round of interviews (online) on Wednesday 6 May 2026. A second round at the location of employment (JU Kraków) will be organized a few weeks later (the project will cover the cost of travel and accommodation). The successful Doctoral Candidate will be employed from 1 October 2026.
Deadline: Monday 20 April.
First round of interviews (online): Wednesday 6 May 2026.
Second round: at the location of employment (JU Kraków), a few weeks later (the project will cover the cost of travel and accommodation).
Start date: 1 October 2026.
More information?
Please also have a look at the page.
Do not hesitate to contact dr. hab. Maciej Mikuła: testament.project@uj.edu.pl.
Where to apply
Via e-mail: testament.project@uj.edu.pl
