Postdoctoral position in EU law or international human rights law - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Lund University is a full-scale and research-intensive university, and the only Swedish university to be part of the strong international networks League of European Research Universities (LERU) and Universitas 21 (U21). Lund University has partner universities in close to 70 countries and attracts more international students than any other higher education institution in Sweden.

The Faculty of Law is characterised by internationalisation, the intertwining of education and research, interdisciplinarity, as well as close and boundary-crossing collaboration with wider society. The Faculty’s research environment and PhD-education are markedly international and, alongside the professional law degree, the Faculty offers several international Master’s programmes. Lund University and the Faculty of Law offer an inclusive work environment that fosters development within the broader dynamic research and innovation area of the Öresund region.

Subject 

EU law or international human rights law.

Subject description

This postdoctoral position is connected to two larger research projects funded by Formas and by the Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation, focusing on the sustainability screening envisaged by the EU Taxonomy Regulation and its Delegated Acts, under the framework of the European Green Deal. The EU Taxonomy Regulation has introduced screening criteria to identify economic activities which are environmentally and socially sustainable. The projects examine, from an international legal perspective, the way in which economic activities will be identified as ‘sustainable’ for the implementation of the European Green Deal. At a time of increased legal challenges against states for climate inaction, it is vital that these screening criteria are compatible with existing (international and EU) legal standards, to prevent delays resulting from future litigation. Such delays would derail EU action plans for climate change and the economic recovery.

The two research projects aim to clarify, among other things, the legal scope of the environmental and social screening criteria developed under the EU Taxonomy. The postdoctoral project will be related to this aim, with a specific focus on the social dimension of sustainability screening and/or non-financial materiality reporting. Research projects that focus on one or both of these two aspects are particularly encouraged. The two projects are led by Associate Professor Daria Davitti and Assistant Professor Britta Sjöstedt respectively and the postdoctoral researcher will collaborate closely with them and with other researchers involved in the projects. Besides carrying out an independent research project, the postdoctoral researcher shall also engage in other research-related activities connected to the two projects.

Duties

Mainly research but work duties include teaching for up to a maximum of 20 percent of working hours and external engagement.

Teaching staff employed as postdoctoral researchers are offered the opportunity to undertake further training in teaching and learning in higher education of at least three weeks within the scope of their employment.

The researchers and teachers at the Faculty are expected to contribute to a dynamic research environment as well as to other Faculty activities, and to perform work primarily in the workplace provided by the Faculty.

Qualifications

A person shall be qualified for appointment as a postdoctoral fellow who has been awarded a doctor’s degree in legal science or a degree deemed equivalent to a doctor’s degree in legal science. Evidence substantiating that these qualifications requirements have been met must have been received at the latest three working days after application deadline’s expiration. An applicant who has completed a doctoral degree no more than three years before the application deadline’s expiration is primarily eligible. Where special grounds exist, the doctoral degree can have been completed earlier.

Special grounds include leave of absence due to illness, parental leave, positions as elected representative in trade union organisations, mandatory service in connection with total defence preparations, or comparable circumstances, and practical training or other services/tasks of relevance for the advertised position.

For a postdoctoral researcher at Lund University, the general qualification requirements concern being suitable for and having the ability in general that is needed to satisfactorily carry out the duties of the appointment in question.

Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria for the current post are a good ability to develop and carry out high-quality research and teaching skills. The primary focus of the assessment shall be on research expertise.

Emphasis will be paid to the submitted plan of the research project.

Emphasis will be paid to the applicant’s relevant subject knowledge of EU law or international human rights law.

Since the projects are carried out in English, a very good oral and written proficiency in English is a requirement.

Application process

The application shall include:

• personal letter, in English or Swedish (or in another Nordic language)
• a brief curriculum vitae (CV), in English or Swedish (or in another Nordic language)
• copy of the doctoral degree certificate
• certificates from other experiences and competencies relevant for the employment position
• a plan of the research project (including plan of publications) the candidate wants to pursue as a postdoc (max. 5 pages), in English
• list of the PhD thesis and two other academic texts the candidate wishes to submit for assessment
• the PhD thesis and two other academic texts
• short description of teaching qualifications, in English or Swedish (or in another Nordic language)

Please note that documents submitted or drawn up as a result of this vacant employment position (such as applications, expert opinions and minutes) as a general rule are public. The documents may thus (with the exception of documents that are classified as confidential) be read upon request.

Duration

Fixed-term employment of three years.

Conditions

The position is based on a collective agreement between the social partners (trade unions and employer's organisation), dated 19 November 2021.