We are looking for a PhD researcher who will carry out research on a topic in the field of criminal law and/or criminology (including forensics, legal psychology, victimology and other relevant domains). You will write a PhD thesis in English or Dutch.

PhD researchers participate in the Maastricht University Graduate School of Law. You will also form part of the Maastricht Institute for Criminal Sciences (MICS). At least 80% of the position will be dedicated to research and not more than 20% to teaching activities.

The following candidates can apply:

• Graduates with a relevant Master degree and excellent grades. Motivated and determined researchers possessing first-rate analytical and writing skills. Final-year (master) students are (likewise) encouraged to apply if they have proven research skills.
• Candidates who have already started their PhD research, but are not employed as resident PhD researchers.
• Candidates with a strong command of Dutch and English at an academic level (or at least a willingness to learn Dutch);
• Candidates who are able to work both independently as well as in a team.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

We offer a 1.0 fte contract for a period of 4 years, starting preferably as per 1 September 2022 or as soon as possible thereafter. Continuation after the first year is dependent upon a positive evaluation.

The full-time gross monthly salary amounts to € 2.443,00 in the first year according to salary scale PhD (‘promovendus’), increasing to € 3.122,00 in the fourth year; on top of this there will be an 8% holiday and an 8,3% year-end allowance.

You have to be willing to move to (the vicinity of) Maastricht. If you do not already live in Maastricht (or its direct surroundings), you will be eligible for an allowance for moving costs. If you do not already live in Maastricht (or its direct surroundings), you might be eligible for an allowance for alternative housing. Other secondary conditions include a pension scheme and partially paid parental leave.

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > About UM > Working at UM.

Maastricht University

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 22,000 students and about 5,000 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

Faculty of Law

The Faculty of Law has a strong and distinct international profile both in education and research. Our faculty is an inspiring and lively place where enthusiastic and inquisitive researchers attempt to find answers to the important legal issues of today. Researchers are able to flourish in the faculty’s vibrant academic community. They develop their own research projects, within the contours set by the faculty’s research programme (https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/about-um/faculties/law/research/research-programme).

Research is focused on the study of the role of law in an increasingly globalised society. Research involves studying both institutional and substantive developments in the process of Europeanisation and globalisation that transcends national legal (b)orders. This takes place by means of comparative research and the transnational dimension of the law in a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary context. To this end, various research methods are applied whereby more traditional methods are combined with empirical research methods.

The Faculty of Law has six departments (Private Law, Public Law, International and European Law, Criminal Law, Tax Law and Foundation and Methods of Law) and hosts eight research institutes, while many researchers of the faculty also participate in interdisciplinary interfaculty institutes (https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/about-um/faculties/law/research).

Department of Criminal Law and Criminology

The department of Criminal Law and Criminology offers, inter alia, courses in the field of criminal law and criminal procedure, as part of our LL.B. and LL.M. programmes. Members of the department analyse crime, criminal law and criminal procedure from an interdisciplinary and legal perspective. The department is embedded in the Faculty of Law that offers an international classroom with students from over 20 different nationalities. The members of the department are also liaised with the MICS-research program (Maastricht Institute for Criminal Sciences - Research - Maastricht University).