Ghent University invites applications for a full-time doctoral fellowship in the Department of European, Public and International Law, as part of the interdisciplinary UNPACK project. The UNPACK project, 'Unpacking the asylum procedure in its intersecting linguistic, sociocultural, psychological and legal dimensions', is a pioneering iBOF-funded collaboration among Flemish universities and the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS). The project aims to investigate fairness in asylum procedures by integrating insights from law, linguistics, anthropology, and psychology, focusing on the lived experiences of applicants, officials, interpreters, and lawyers.

As a doctoral fellow, you will conduct legal and ethnographic research on the interpretation and application of asylum laws and regulations by various stakeholders. You will develop your research focus in close dialogue with supervisors, co-researchers, and the asylum administration. The position is embedded within the Migration Law Research Group (MigrLaw), CESSMIR (Centre for the Social Study of Migration and Refugees), the Human Rights Centre, and the Human Rights Research Network (HRRN), offering a dynamic and stimulating interdisciplinary environment.

The fellowship is initially for 12 months, with possible extension up to 48 months following a positive evaluation. The salary is 100% of the net AAP member salary, determined by family status and seniority, and is tax-free. Ghent University provides additional staff benefits, including training opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave, bicycle allowance, and eco vouchers.

Applicants must hold an internationally recognised Master’s degree or equivalent in Law. High proficiency in Dutch or French and considerable fluency in the other language are required, along with fluency in academic English. Candidates should demonstrate affinity with refugees and/or asylum procedures, possess excellent analytical, writing, and presentation skills, and have a diversity-sensitive attitude and good intercultural communication skills. Experience with asylum laws and policies, qualitative research methods (especially ethnographic data collection), human rights, languages relevant to refugee communities, and working with vulnerable populations are considered assets. Experience with academic research from an interdisciplinary perspective is preferred.

To apply, send your application as a single PDF to [email protected] with the subject line and file name: 'Surname – First name – PhD in Law'. Include your CV, study results, motivation letter (max. 2 pages), diploma copy, and a summary (1-pager) of your master dissertation or a recent academic publication. The deadline is 15 March 2026, 23:59 CET. Late applications will not be accepted. Selected candidates will be informed by 3 April and invited to in-person interviews in Ghent on 20-21 April or 4-5 May 2026. For further information, contact Prof. Ellen Desmet at [email protected].

Ghent University is committed to equal opportunities and diversity, encouraging all qualified candidates to apply. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to frontier research on migration, asylum, and human rights within a collaborative and supportive academic environment.