PhD in Empirical Legal studies on Environmental Defenders, Courts, and Sustainable Transformations

1 - Working at the VUB

For more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and solidarity, and this is very much alive on our campuses among students and staff alike. 

At the VUB, you will find a diverse collection of personalities: innovators pur sang, but above all people who are 100% their authentic selves. With some 4,000 employees, we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer, in the private sector, in Brussels; an international city with which we are only too happy to connect and where (around) our 4 campuses are located. 

Add to this our principle of free research - in which self-reflection, a critical attitude and an open, creative mind around scientific and social issues are central - and you have a university that is fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research. In short: the VUB all over again. 

Moreover, the VUB is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of like-minded European universities, all ready to reinvent themselves.

2 - Position description

The Brussels School of Governance, Department Instituut voor Europese Studies, is looking for a PhD-student with a doctoral grant. 

More concretely your work package, for the preparation of a doctorate, contains: 

You will complete a PhD by using empirical legal methods. The PhD will be conducted within the framework of the project Biodiversa+ Defendbio, on Environmental defenders leveraging legal and governance tools for just sustainability transformations. This project will be executed by a consortium of five partners including the Brussels School of Governance. More concretely, you will prepare a research proposal dealing with the main topic of the work package corresponding to the Brussels School of Governance: The interplay between courts and environmental defenders in countries hosting the most important transboundary ecosystems in Latin America and the Caribbean. 

You will combine an interdisciplinary conceptual framework with legal research methods and quantitative and/or qualitative empirical research methods so that the PhD outcome contributes to new evidence-based knowledge. The key aspects to research are: 

1. Courts and Environmental Defenders: How courts in Latin American countries with key cross-border ecosystems support or obstruct environmental defenders' action.
2. Courts and the Indigenous-Nature Relationship: The role of national and international courts in recognizing the bond between environmental defenders, some of them indigenous and afro communities, and nature to uphold the right to a healthy environment.
3. Nature-Based Solutions: The potential of environmental defenders and courts to promote nature-based solutions to mitigate and/or adapt to serious environmental impacts in Latin America's vital cross-border ecosystems.

Methodology: To develop the project, the researcher should:

a. Define the research scope by identifying the key transboundary ecosystems at risk in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the main impacts at stake. 

b. Develop a robust conceptual framework, based on a systematic or at least scoping literature review in relevant areas such as nature-based solutions, access to (environmental) justice, transformative constitutionalism in Latin America, and responsible business conduct in fragile regions;
c. Systematic mapping of case law: Collect and analyse case law from these jurisdictions that address negative impacts on ecosystems that cross national borders.
d. Collection of data via interviews or focus groups is not foreseen for this work package. 

The project is carried out within the Centre for Environment, Economy and Energy (C3E) of the Brussels School of Governance (BSoG).

For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base. 

3 - Profile

What do we expect from you?

• You have obtained a master's degree in law or other relevant sciences (development studies, environmental sciences, law & ecological economics, economics, sociology etc.). 

• You have solid legal knowledge. Knowledge of environmental topics and of responsible corporate conduct is an advantage;
• You have strong data management experience, and you are willing to work with empirical (qualitative and/or quantitative) legal research methods and to further deepen your methodological skills;
• You are fully fluent in English and Spanish; Proficiency in Portuguese is an advantage;
• You are proficient with Microsoft Office, with demonstrated experience with Microsoft Excel. Proficiency with other relevant software (SPSS, Nvivo, Stata, R) is an advantage; 
• Collaborative Mindset: Willingness to share knowledge, support peers, contribute to group projects, flexibility to work on various aspects of the research project, and adapt to new methodologies and technologies. Ability to build positive relationships within the research team and with external collaborators.

• You have not performed any works in the execution of a mandate as an assistant, paid from operating resources, over a total (cumulated) period of more than 12 months.

The VUB wants to be a reflection of the society where everyone's talent is valued, regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability and neurodiversity.

4 - Offer

Are you going to be our new colleague?

You’ll be offered a full-time PhD-scholarship, for 12 months (extendable up to max. 48 months, on condition of the positive evaluation of the PhD activities), with planned starting date 01/04/2025. 

You’ll receive a grant linked to one of the scales set by the government.

IMPORTANT: The effective result of the doctorate scholarship is subject to the condition precedent of your enrolment as a doctorate student at the university.

Office space and equipment will be provided along with a budget for travelling and other research-related expenses.

At the VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.

As well as this, you will also enjoy various other benefits:

• Extensive homeworking options, a telework allowance of 50 euros per month OR an internet fee of 20 euros per month;
• An open and informal working environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract), closure between Christmas and New Year and 3 extra leave days;
• Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
• Full reimbursement of your home-to-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, and/or compensation if you come by bike; 
• A wide selection of meals in our campus restaurants at attractive prices;
• Excellent and affordable facilities for sport and exercise, a range of discounts via Benefits@Work (in  all kinds of shops, on flights, in petrol stations, amusement parks...) and Ecocheques; 
• Nursery near campus, discount on holiday camps; 
• The space to form your job content and to continuously learn through our VUB learning platforms and training courses;
• And finally: great colleagues with a healthy drive.

5 - Interested?

Is this the job you’ve been dreaming of?

Then apply, at the latest on 28/02/2025, via jobs.vub.be, and upload the following documents:

• Curriculum vitae listing all academic qualifications, relevant research experience and previous publications;
• One-page motivation letter explaining your interest in pursuing a PhD on the research topic;
• A 1500-word research proposal with the state of the art, the relevance of the research topic, a methodological outline with the proposed research methodology, data sources and how the research will be organised in the given time.
• A copy of a publication (master thesis, academic report or article);
• Contact details (e-mail and phone) of two referees;
• Your diploma (not applicable for VUB alumni).

Interviews will take place in the first week of March.

You can start on April 1st or as soon as possible thereafter.

Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Liliana Lizarazo-Rodriguez at +32 2 614 80 01 or on Clizaraz@vub.be.

Would you like to know what it’s like to work at the VUB? Go to jobs.vub.be, and find all there is to know about our campuses, benefits, strategic goals and your future colleagues.

Would you like more information about EUTOPIA? Go to eutopia-university.eu, and read more about the role of the VUB in the development of the EUTOPIA alliance.