Ghent University, a leading institution in Belgium, invites applications for a fully funded doctoral fellowship in the Department of European, Public and International Law, based at the Human Rights Centre within the Faculty of Law and Criminology. This position is part of the ERC project “Innovation and documentation. Reconstructing the paradigm of transitional justice from the ground up,” focusing on grassroots documentation initiatives of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in the Palestinian context.

The Human Rights Centre is renowned for its expertise in human rights law, engaging in both academic research and practical interventions, including clinical projects and submissions to the European Court of Human Rights. The research environment is highly collaborative, with opportunities to work alongside senior experts, young researchers, and the Justice Visions team. The broader project aims to theorize the role of documentation in transitional justice, especially in contexts of ongoing conflict, settler colonialism, and genocide, where traditional state-centered models are inadequate. The research foregrounds truth-telling, collective memory, and resistance against erasure, connecting local Palestinian efforts to transnational justice networks.

The selected PhD candidate will have substantial room to shape their own research focus, provided it aligns with the project’s logic and enables cross-case analysis. The project employs a mixed-method, actor-oriented approach, integrating open-source intelligence, survivor testimony, oral history, and narrative methods. The candidate will lead their case study, collaborate closely with senior researchers, and contribute to collective research design, ethics, and data management planning. The position is not an individual PhD project but part of a set research agenda, emphasizing mutual learning and co-creation.

Supervision will be provided by Professor Tine Destrooper and Dr. Brigitte Herremans, with additional support from the Justice Visions team and the Human Rights Research Network. The candidate is expected to participate in team meetings, doctoral school training, and activities of the Human Rights Centre and Faculty. Empirical data collection in Palestine and on-site presence in Ghent are crucial due to the collaborative nature of the project.

Eligibility requires a MA, MSc, or LLM in social and political sciences, law, anthropology, or a related discipline, obtained by September 1, 2026. Fluency in English and the language relevant to the case study is mandatory. Candidates with interdisciplinary backgrounds, familiarity with transitional justice, knowledge of the Palestinian context, and experience with legal and socio-legal research methods are preferred. The ability to work independently and as part of an international team, strong academic writing and presentation skills, and willingness to relocate to Belgium are essential. Ghent University is committed to diversity and encourages applications from minority and under-represented groups.

The fellowship offers a full-time contract for up to 48 months (initial 12 months, extendable upon positive evaluation), with a net salary determined by family status and seniority, tax-free, and comprehensive staff benefits including training, holiday leave, bicycle allowance, and eco vouchers. The anticipated start date is September 1, 2026.

Applications must be submitted as a single PDF to [email protected] by March 15, 2026, including a cover letter, CV, research statement, degree transcript, academic recommendation, and writing sample. The selection process involves a written assignment and interview, with video conferencing available for international applicants. For further information, contact [email protected].