Phd Students / Research Assistants
for the ERC-funded project on “The Paths of International Law: Stability and Change in the International Legal Order”.
PERIOD OF CONTRACT: 1 October 2018, for 1 year, with possibility of extension for a further two years
ACTIVITY RATE: 100 % , (50% For The Research Project/50% For The Thesis Work)
DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: 15-01-2018
General description of the position
ERC-funded project on “The Paths of International Law: Stability and Change in the International Legal Order”
International law erects high hurdles for change – typically unanimity or a uniformity of practice of states – and this high threshold has provoked much criticism for hindering the pursuit of justice, the provision of public goods, and the democratic revision of political choices. Yet in different areas, such as international criminal law or the law of international organizations, international law has in recent times undergone more rapid change than the traditional picture would allow, and often in informal ways that do not fit classical categories. However, this greater dynamism has found little sustained attention in scholarship so far. The PATHS project seeks to fill this gap and understand when and how international law changes, how this change is registered among participants in legal discourses and how the pathways of change differ across issue areas and sites of international legal practice.
Mission and activities
The appointed doctoral students will work closely with the project’s Principal Investigator Nico Krisch, Professor of International Law, as well as with a postdoctoral researcher.
Specifically, the doctoral students will be required to:
- Conduct research, including:
- Collaborate in refining the project design and methodology and further developing the theoretical frame,
- Conduct a case study on change processes one or two issue areas of international law.
- Prepare and participate in joint publications;
- Collaborate in the preparation and administration of workshops;
- Present the project and related research at conferences;
- Meet project interim goals and strictly adhere to project timelines;
- Engage in wider research and scholarly activities of interest to the research team, including provision of advice and support to graduate students working on related topics;
- Carry out administrative and coordination duties associated with the project, including interim reporting to funders.
Candidate's profile
- An outstanding master’s degree in law or international relations (sociology or history will also be considered);
- Strong knowledge of international law; deeper knowledge in at least one of the issue areas relevant to the project (the laws of war (ius ad bellum & ius in bello), international economic law (trade and investment), international environmental law & law of the sea, international human rights law) is an asset;
- Strong interest in research;
- For law students, familiarity with the discipline of international relations;
- Verifiable skills with respect to qualitative research methods are an asset;
- Strong organizational skills and ability to work autonomously or as part of a team;
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in an international team and accommodate diverse views;
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English (further language skills are an asset).
In order to be considered for the position, you must be either:
1) Already registered as a PhD student at the Graduate Institute. In this case:
- Apply for the Research Assistant position online, including a letter of motivation, CV, publication list (if available), transcripts, a writing sample and two letters of recommendation
2) Interested in the project and motivated to apply for admission to a PhD programme at the Graduate Institute. In this case you are strongly encouraged to:
- Apply to the PhD programme at the Graduate Institute before the application deadline on 15 January 2018.
- At the same time, apply for the Research Assistant position online, including a letter of motivation, CV, publication list (if available), transcripts, a writing sample and two letters of recommendation
For more information please click "Further Official Information" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
https://erecruit.graduateinstitute.ch/recrutement/?page=advertisement_display&id=154