Study in Warsaw (DC2)!
Doctoral Candidate position within the MSCA Doctoral Network TESTAMENT.
About the location
As Poland’s capital, Warsaw combines a rich historical heritage with a vibrant and modern lifestyle. The city is home to world-class archives, research centres and universities with active history departments, and it hosts a wide range of academic activities that support doctoral research.
Living in Warsaw means being part of a multicultural environment where English is widely spoken and international students are well integrated into academic and social life. The affordable cost of living and excellent public transport make everyday life convenient, while its many museums, monuments, and historical neighbourhoods provide endless sources of inspiration for a historian.
From intimate cafés perfect for reading and writing, to centuries-old landmarks and lively cultural festivals, Warsaw encourages both serious study and personal enjoyment. It’s not just a place to study – it’s a place to live, discover and grow.
Description of the project
This Doctoral Candidate (DC) will be employed at the Faculty of History of the University of Warsaw, a leading center for research on the history of Poland and Central Europe. The Faculty conducts both team-based and individual research, aiming to address important questions in the study of the past. It also fosters methodological reflection on the nature of historical research, the status of sources, and the history of historiography.
The DC will be supervised by prof. dr hab. Agnieszka Bartoszewicz (social history, University of Warsaw) and co-supervised by prof. dr. Adrian Schmidt-Recla (legal history, FSU Jena). In the course of this fellowship, the DC will work six months in Jena and three months at the Museum of Warsaw.
This DC will focus on the analysis of wills drawn up by Warsaw burghers between 1543 and 1604 and partly in Latin, partly in Old Polish, preserved in the Central Archives of Historical Records in Warsaw, in order to reconstruct the social and economic structure, as well as the family relationships that influence the testators’ decisions.
Particular attention will be paid to examining the position of the spouse, especially the widow, in the context of the law and the restrictions imposed both by the family and by the existing legal regulations. An important area of research will also be the role of children in wills and how testamentary practices reflect family relationships in Polish towns.
Responsibilities
In the framework of the MSCA Doctoral Network “TESTAMENT”, the Doctoral Candidate will have the following responsibilities:
- Researching testators and their families in early modern Warsaw (Old & New Warsaw, 1543–1604), 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 the University of Warsaw.
- Conducting a six-month research stay at the FSU Jena (which can be divided in several shorter terms).
- Conducting a three-month internship at the Museum of Warsaw, where the DC will be involved, inter alia, in organising an online exhibition on Warsaw last wills.
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 history 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.
- Passive or active command of Polish is an advantage.
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 includes approximately:
- Living allowance: 2 260–2 280 EUR (9 490–9 576 PLN)
- Mobility allowance: 710 EUR (2 980 PLN)
- Family allowance, if applicable: 660 EUR (2 770 PLN)
- *Gross amount includes compulsory deductions under national law, such as employer and employee social security contributions and direct taxes.
- Additional benefits are in accordance to University of Warsaw 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. Agnieszka Bartoszewicz: abartoszewicz@uw.edu.pl.
We invite you to submit a complete application by using the e-mail address provided below. Only applications that are submitted in this way are taken into account.
The application should include a motivation letter (including the topic of your master thesis project), a curriculum vitae (including contact details of at least two references) and a list of your bachelor and master courses and grades (and ranking, if available).
Deadline: Monday 20 April.
First round of interviews (online): Wednesday 6 May 2026.
Second round: at the location of employment (University of Warsaw), a few weeks later (the project will cover the cost of travel and accommodation).
Start date: 1 October 2026.
More information?
Do not hesitate to contact prof. Agnieszka Bartoszewicz: abartoszewicz@uw.edu.pl.
