Post-doctor in environmental law with a focus on marine environmental law

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

Environmental law with a focus on marine environmental law

Subject description

The discipline of environmental law encompasses those parts of legal system (international, regional and national) that aim to regulate the environment and pursue ecologically sustainable development in a broad sense. This includes, inter alia, protection of (parts of) ecosystems (ocean, water, air, land, species, biodiversity etc.), the production, use and disposal of chemicals, goods, waste management and transport, mitigation and adaption measures in the context of climate change, as well as a host of procedural and institutional issues that directly affect the effectiveness of environmental law. Further, the topic includes issues concerning the efficiency and adequacy of the legislation in relation to the purpose of environmental protection, including control, sanctions and instruments for voluntary action, the balancing between the need for environmental protection and competing interests, access to justice and the design of legal proceedings.

The post-doctoral position is situated within the project titled “Sustainable Carbon Capture Transportation and Storage: Liability and Governance in Light of International and EU Law.” It addresses the emerging practise of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions through innovative carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. With a special focus on the sub-seabed storage of CO2, this project explores the legal frameworks and governance structures necessary to manage risks and long-term environmental liability of carbon storage in the sub-seabed. Identified risks include, for example, leakages during transportation and injection phases as well as migration and releases from sub-seabed geological formations, and risks associated with site closures and post-closure management.

The project is in the field of environmental law, more particularly marine environmental law, and therefore also involves issues of international law and EU law.

Duties

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

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.

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

The larger research project is led by Senior Lecturer Olena Bokareva at Lund University and Associate Senior Lecturer Gabriela Argüello at the University of Gothenburg.

The tasks of the postdoctoral fellow include, inter alia, carrying out an independent research project that includes:

• Conduct comprehensive legal research on the current international, EU, and national legal frameworks governing the environmental risks of CCS in the marine environment
• Identify and propose prevention, risk mitigation strategies and compensation schemes in CCS’s operational and post-operational phases
• Assess the environmental risks of sub-seabed CO2 storage and develop regulatory alternatives to manage these risks
• Collaborate with the project team and other researchers involved in the project to organize workshops and seminars to disseminate research outcomes

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. Certificate that the qualifications requirements are fulfilled must have been received at the latest, three days after the application deadline. The applicant who has completed the doctoral degree no more than three years before the application deadline is primarily eligible. If 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 post doctor 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 teaching skills. The primary focus of the assessment shall be on research expertise.

Particular emphasis will also be placed on the applicant's subject knowledge in environmental law, with a particular focus on marine environmental law, international law and EU law.

Emphasis will also be placed on the research plan submitted for the research project.

As the projects are conducted in English, very good oral and written skills in the English language are required.

Application process

The application shall include:

• Personal letter, in English or Swedish (or other Nordic language)
• Abrief curriculum vitae (CV) in English or Swedish (or other Nordic language), max 2 pages
• Copy of the doctoral degree certificate
• Complete list of publications
• Certificates from other experiences and compentences relevant for the employment position
• Aplan of the research project (including a plan of publications) the candidate wants to pursue as a post-doctoral researcher (max. 5 pages). The plan must be written 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 other 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, two years. The appointment can be extended if special grounds exist.

Conditions

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