Researcher ERC Curiae Virides: Transnational Ecological Litigation

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.

The Brussels School of Governance, Department Brussels School of Governance, is looking for a predoctoral researcher.

More concretely your work package contains:

You will be a part of the CURIAE VIRIDES project, funded by the European Research Council (ERC Str. Grant 909496). The project utilizes an interdisciplinary conceptual framework, positioned at the intersections of sustainable development law, (ecological) economics, and (ecological) litigation within the context of global value chains. It integrates legal research methods with both qualitative and quantitative empirical research aiming at:

• Examining how ecological conflicts arising from Global Value Chain (GVC) activities reach courts;

• Identifying the relevant actors and stakeholders involved in transnational ecological conflicts and analyzing their mobilization strategies to seek resolution for these conflicts;

• Investigating the ‘greening’ of human rights litigation;

• Assessing the institutional capacity of courts to comprehend complex environmental and economic issues;

• Exploring the impact of litigation on ecological governance gaps and on providing remedies for victims of ecological harm.

You will support the CURIAE VIRIDES project and be involved in research activities such as:

• Data collection and processing;

• Participation in qualitative empirical research (semi-structured interviews);

• Data management and support in finalizing the main dataset of the project and the literature review;

• Support in drafting (joint) working papers, conference papers, and journal articles;

• Assistance in project management and communication.

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.

What do we expect from you?

• You have attained a MA in law or social sciences (development studies, economics, law & economics, sociology, etc.), environmental sciences, or another relevant discipline, with an important component of Law.

• Needed experience:

• You have solid legal knowledge, particularly knowledge of case law analysis;

• You have strong data management experience and are willing to work with empirical (qualitative and quantitative) legal research;

• You are fully fluent in English;

• You are proficient with Microsoft Office, with demonstrated experience with Microsoft Excel. Other relevant software (Nvivo, Stata, R) is an advantage. 

• Proficiency in other languages;

• Soft intercultural skills (work experience in countries outside Europe, intercultural communication);

• Open mind and creativity with respect to interdisciplinary research approaches;

• Demonstrated (qualitative and quantitative empirical) methodological skills.

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.

Are you going to be our new colleague?

You’ll be offered a contract, for an assignment of 1 FTE, for 12 months (extendable, on condition of the positive evaluation of the research activities), with planned starting date 01/03/2024.

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

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.

Is this the job you’ve been dreaming of?

Then apply, at the latest on 10/01/2024 (Please apply as soon as possible as we will interview candidates on an ongoing basis), via jobs.vub.be, and upload the following documents in English:

• your CV stating academic qualifications, relevant research experience and previous publications;

• your one-page motivation letter;

• contact details (e-mail and phone) of two referees; 

• your diploma (not applicable for VUB alumni).

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

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.