PhD Researcher in Sustainable Global Economic Law

We are inviting candidates for a PhD project in the area of Sustainable Global Economic Law. In light of gasping inequalities around the globe as well as the intensifying ecological crisis, this project seeks to engage with the role of international law in these phenomena. International law is often understood to be a tool of restraint and of ordering for taming the otherwise reckless force of the economy. However, international law is equally important in producing and maintaining an extractive and unequal economy. Against the background of this tension, the project engages with the question of what Sustainable Global Economic Law currently is and what it can become.

Do you enjoy:

• Doing research and writing on international law and its intersections with ecology, decoloniality, and globalization
• Being part of a vibrant research community

• Participating in academic exchanges about international legal developments regarding contemporary environmental, social, and economic concerns
• Challenging, reflecting on and speculating about the role of law for sustainable futures

What does this job entail?

As a PhD researcher, you are expected to conduct innovative research leading to the completion and publication of a PhD dissertation within four years. You will design a teaching and supervision plan, from which you will develop your own research proposal. These tasks entail coordinating and agreeing with your supervisors on the content, planning and supervision of the trajectory. You will engage autonomously in the collection of data (eg document analysis, archival work, interviews) and present intermediate research results in internal discussions and potentially at workshops and conferences. Your teaching responsibilities could additionally include supervising Master’s theses in international law.

Your profile:

• You have a master’s degree in law or a related discipline in the social sciences or humanities;
• You are interested in conducting research on a topic related to the broader theme of the project and are committed to completing a doctoral dissertation in a period of four years;
• You have experience with conducting academic research and academic writing in English;
• You have experience or are interested in contextual approaches to law and the combination of legal-doctrinal study with methods from adjacent disciplines (eg history, philosophy, political economy, international relations, political science, science and technology, media studies, etc.).
• You have a strong interest in pursuing a career in research;
• You are willing to contribute to activities related to the project such as the organising of academic events or outreach and communication of research results to activists, relevant communities of practitioners and policy makers;
• You have excellent organizational skills and are able to work independently;
• You have excellent interpersonal skills and enjoy working with others.

What can we offer you?

Your research will be carried out within the Amsterdam Center for International Law (ACIL ). ACIL is the Center of Excellence for Public International Law of the University of Amsterdam whose research activities aim at a critical understanding of international law in society, its progressive development, and its effective rule.

Your research will further be situated in, and aligned with, the Sustainable Global Economic Law (SGEL ) research project, in which ACIL—together with two other research groups: Amsterdam Center for European Law and Governance (ACELG) and Amsterdam Center for Transformative Private Law (ACT)—is an active participant. At the core of SGEL research is a concern for the urgent intertwined challenges of climate change and high levels of inequality that are both shaped by how the global economy is structured. You will have the opportunity to participate in the Amsterdam Law School’s PhD training programme and be part of its PhD community.

We offer an employment contract for one year with a probationary period of two months, preferably starting on 1 September 2024. The appointment will be extended for another three years upon favourable evaluation, i.e until 31 August 2028. The employment contract is for 38 hours a week. Your salary ranges from €2.770 (in year 1) to €3.539 (in year 4) gross per month on the basis of a full working week of 38 hours. This sum does not include the 8% holiday allowance and the 8.3% year-end allowance. The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU) is applicable.

Besides an attractive salary and an inspiring international work environment, our fringe benefits include:

• 232 leave hours per year (at fulltime employment); 
• A variety of training opportunities, such as time management courses and an online platform with more than 100 different courses; 
• 7 weeks of paid birth leave and partially paid parental leave; 
• the opportunity for hybrid working and support for your home office; 
• a pension with ABP, the pension fund for employees in the government and education sectors, to which UvA contributes two thirds 

About us

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 42,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds.

Amsterdam Law School
Committed, responsible and open-minded. This is how we at the Amsterdam Law School view the role of law in a constantly changing (international) society. With over 5,000 students and 550 staff, we are one of the larger law faculties in the Netherlands. We educate legal professionals who know how to apply the law effectively with the aim of actually contributing to solutions for society. We respond to social developments through innovative and pioneering research. In this way, we always keep in touch with society.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about the position, please contact by email:

Job application

If you feel the profile fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application consisting of the documents listed below. Please apply online via the link below. We will accept applications until 15 April 2024. Please note that it is only possible to upload two documents, therefore please combine the required files in two (PDF-)documents.

File 1:

• Motivational letter
• A CV of no more than two pages
• Project outline of no more than 2 000 words, excluding references
• Writing sample of a recently written, single authored manuscript (e.g., your master’s thesis or other work written during your degree) in English

File 2:

• Copies of the LL.B. and LL.M. degrees or equivalent, providing information about the programme's length, content, passed courses and grades

If you choose to upload your documents differently, you run the risk that the files are rejected for being too big or that we miss part of your application.

We plan to conduct the interviews in late April.

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritize diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.

No agencies please.