the late phase of Catholic confessionalisation and early modern state building in the Habsburg Monarchy and in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth between 1650 and 1800. The project uses one of the most widespread local institutions in East Central Europe — the Roman Catholic parish — as its comparative framework. It explores patterns of communal supervision over parishes, the political instruments employed, and both the internal and external networks of communities across six Catholic dioceses of differing historical backgrounds in the region. The project examines the history of the conflicts and negotiations about communal participation in parish affairs, especially in the administration and management of parish property and assets, in the supervision of the parish priest’s pastoral work and adherence to norms, and in the organisation of local religious life. Through this analytical framework, the project aims to identify a distinct East Central European model of parish politics, in which local communities were able to influence manorial, governmental, and ecclesiastical decisions through mutual interactions and negotiations. By uncovering this largely unexplored dimension of popular politics in East Central Europe, the research provides a “bottom-up” perspective on late Catholic confessionalisation and early modern state building. The inquiry extends not only to local Catholic congregations but also to ethnic, confessional, and social groups that have so far received limited scholarly attention — such as Roma communities, Muslim and Jewish minorities, and non-noble women.
We seek applicants with strong interest in the research field, and familiarity with the historical context of East Central Europe. The project particularly welcomes applicants interested in comparative, transregional, and interdisciplinary approaches. The postdoctoral researcher will be expected to take into consideration the cultural and social history of parish politics, the development of the communal church, and communal influence on early modern Catholic confessionalization and state-building in the following specific area:
Diocese of Vienna and the Viennese Officialate of the Diocese of Passau
The Diocese of Vienna (elevated to an archdiocese in 1722) and the Viennese Officialate of the Diocese of Passau together covered most of Lower Austria until the Josephine ecclesiastical reforms of the 1780s, which substantially reshaped diocesan and parish structures. The coexistence of these two ecclesiastical jurisdictions within the political centre of the Habsburg Monarchy offers an exceptional opportunity to examine parish politics, lay participation, confraternities, and local welfare from a comparative perspective. The successful candidate will investigate the role of parish communities and local confraternities in shaping late Catholic confessionalisation and poor relief in the (Arch)Diocese of Vienna and the Viennese Officialate of the Diocese of Passau. Particular attention will be paid to the interaction between parish institutions, lay religious associations, local communities, and ecclesiastical and secular authorities in one of the most urbanised regions of the Habsburg Monarchy.
Where to apply
E-mail: mihalik.bela.vilmos@abtk.hu
Requirements
Research Field: History
Education Level: PhD or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
Eligibility Criteria
- A passion for history, strong academic qualities and a PhD degree in History, or in related discipline with demonstrated historical research capacity and excellent results.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in research teams.
- Knowledge of – or affinity with – the history of the Catholic Church and East Central European social history especially during the 17th and 18th centuries.
- Experience in archival research in various geographic locations.
- Experience in working with research questions that relate to the rationale of the project.
- Excellent language skills in German, and knowledge of Latin is considered an advantage.
- Excellent English communication skills.
- Peer-reviewed publications (or submitted/accepted manuscripts).
Duties and responsibilities
- Postdoctoral research within the ERC Consolidator Grant PARISH.
- Conduct a thorough literature study and in-depth archival research.
- Prepare academic publications, peer-reviewed journal articles in particular.
- Contribute to the collective monograph synthesizing the findings of the project.
- Contribute to project aims such as academic event organisation, public dissemination of research results, and publications.
Languages: GERMAN
Languages: LATIN
Languages: ENGLISH
Research Field: History » Social history
Additional Information
Benefits
- The position will be filled for a fixed-term period of max. four and a half years (54 months) until the planned end of the project (31 March 2031). The planned (earliest) starting date is October 1, 2026, or as mutually agreed. A trial period of the first six months applies to all our new employees.
- The salary will be based on both the job requirements and the employee's personal performance in accordance with the internal regulations of Research Centre for the Humanities, Budapest. The expected gross monthly salary is approximately 2500 EUR, depending on experience and the applicable contractual arrangement.
- The posts include a generous annual research and travel allowance for further research trips and workshops/conferences.
Selection process
How to apply?
Applicants need to submit:
- an up-to-date CV and list of publications
- Short letters of reference from three scholars
- Preliminary research proposal (max. 4 pages) consisting of
- a description of previous research experience (such as PhD thesis);
- a research idea/vision where you tell why the project’s themes or approach interest you and how you would like to focus your own research in this context; please also specify the type of sources you would like to base your research on;
- motivation for the task with a statement on working as part of a research team.
- relevant certificates (e.g. copy of the doctorate certificate)
- one recent English-language paper, chapter, or manuscript that best represents your research
Please send your complete application package as one single pdf file to Béla Vilmos Mihalik, principal investigator of the ERC PARISH project (mihalik.bela.vilmos@abtk.hu) and Lídia Kustár, research assistant (kustar.lidia@abtk.hu).
The applications will be processed starting 31 August 2026. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. After pre-selection based on the application file, possible candidates will be invited for an online interview. Interviews are planned from 7 September 2026 onwards.
For further information on the position please contact the research assistant Lídia Kustár at kustar.lidia@abtk.hu
Additional comments
Privacy
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Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: Research Centre for Humanities, Eötvös Loránd University
Country: Europe
Contact
City: Budapest
Website: https://www.abtk.hu/en/positions/postdoctoral-positions-in-the-parish-project
Street: Tóth Kálmán u. 4.
Postal Code: 1097
E-Mail: mihalik.bela.vilmos@abtk.hu
kustar.lidia@abtk.hu
