Are you?

• A curious and creative legal researcher with a background international law and an interest, preferably experience, in the intersection between science and international law in the climate context?
• Interested in interdisciplinary research and collaboration?
• An engaged team player interested in contributing to and helping organize a research project that involves collaboration across disciplines and the creation of an inter-University interdisciplinary network?
• Interested in teaching in a diverse academic context?

Then the position of Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Amsterdam is perfect for you.

What does this job entail?
You will be conducting innovative research and actively contributing to a research project entitled Translating climate science for international law, led by dr. Nataša Nedeski. The project is embedded within the Amsterdam Center for International Law (ACIL).

Briefly: The entry of scientific findings and arguments into international law on climate change is necessary and inevitable. A wealth of scientific evidence is available on the causes, impacts, adaptation to and mitigation of climate change. Such scientific findings are needed not only to better grasp the causes and extent of the problem as well as possible solutions, but also for giving concrete substance to legal norms and concepts.

Knowledge stemming from (climate) science is vital to understand, interpret and apply fundamental legal notions such as causation, risk, precaution, proof, highest possible ambition and significant or irreversible harm. As such, (climate) science can play a key role in giving concrete content to international obligations and establishing causal links between the (in)action of States contributing to climate change and climate impacts.

The aim of this project is to enhance our understanding of how (climate) science has been used, and can be used, in the development, interpretation and application of international legal rights, obligations and procedures (including litigation) that are relevant to climate change. It examines how scientific knowledge that helps us understand climate change – including its causes, impacts, future risks and mitigation – and which is traditionally produced outside of the legal discipline, can be incorporated into, or used by, international law.

Besides your individual research, you will actively contribute to the organization of events and to the formal creation, coordination and strengthening of a network of climate scientists and international law scholars that seek to collaboratively tackle some of the questions at the intersection of (climate) science and international law. Depending on the fit with your profile, you will contribute as co-author to one or more collaborative paper projects.

Finally, as part of your role, you will contribute to teaching innovative courses in public international law and thesis supervision (up to 30% of your position).

The successful candidate is a curious and creative researcher with a completed dissertation in public international law on a topic relating to climate change, international environmental law and/or the intersection between science and international law.

In addition, you have:

• A PhD in Law.
• Excellent command of English.
• Depending on your profile, knowledge of and/or interest in the intersection between science and (international) law.
• A proven track-record of excellent research and active contribution to research communities.
• An interest in interdisciplinary research and collaboration.
• A background in or knowledge of other (science) disciplines relevant to the project is considered an advantage.
• Teaching experience in public international law is considered an advantage.
• Excellent command of Dutch in speaking and writing is considered an advantage

We offer an employment contract for two years with a probationary period of two months. The start of employment should be as soon as possible thereafter depending on the availability of the successful candidate. The employment contract is for 30,4 hours a week (0,8 fte).

Your salary, depending on your relevant experience on commencement of the employment contract, ranges between €3.226 to €5.090 gross per month on the basis of a full working week of 38 hours (1,0 fte). This sum does not include the 8% holiday allowance and the 8.3% year-end allowance. The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU) is applicable.

Besides an attractive salary and an inspiring international work environment, our fringe benefits include:

• 232 leave hours per year (at fulltime employment) and extra leave days between Christmas and 1 January;
• A variety of training opportunities, such as time management courses and an online platform with more than 100 different courses;
• 7 weeks of paid birth leave and partially paid parental leave;
• the opportunity for hybrid working and support for your home office;
• a pension with ABP, the pension fund for employees in the government and education sectors, to which UvA contributes two thirds

Amsterdam Law School

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 42,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds.

Amsterdam Law School
Committed, responsible and open-minded. This is how we at the Amsterdam Law School view the role of law in a constantly changing (international) society. With over 5,000 students and 550 staff, we are one of the larger law faculties in the Netherlands. We educate legal professionals who know how to apply the law effectively with the aim of actually contributing to solutions for society. We respond to social developments through innovative and pioneering research. In this way, we always keep in touch with society.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.