Doctoral Fellow in European, Public and International Law – Redress for Colonial Harm Ghent University in Belgium

Ghent University, a leading institution in Belgium, invites applications for a fully funded doctoral fellowship in the Department of European, Public and International Law. The position is part of the FWO project 'Reckoning with Belgium’s colonial past: Towards a better understanding of interconnected (truth) initiatives and their contribution to redress.' The research will focus on initiatives by grassroots actors and institutions aimed at redress and repair for colonial harm, encompassing material, symbolic, institutional, and relational responses. The successful candidate will select and analyze a set of these initiatives, examining how actors articulate, negotiate, and pursue redress, the forms they prioritize, their legitimization strategies, and the tensions between different visions of repair.

The doctoral researcher will be based at the Human Rights Centre within the Faculty of Law and Criminology, joining a vibrant academic community specializing in human rights law. The Centre’s expertise spans international, regional, national, and comparative law, and its members actively engage in clinical projects and interventions with the European Court of Human Rights. The project is interdisciplinary, ideally suited for candidates with backgrounds in social sciences and legal studies, and familiarity with frameworks on historical justice, redress, epistemic authority, and change processes related to colonial harm. A grounded understanding of Belgium’s colonial history and its ongoing impact is essential.

The research will employ a mixed-method, actor-centered approach, including qualitative interviews, participant observation, document analysis, and network analysis. Participatory research practices are emphasized, with co-creation of outputs and dissemination strategies alongside research participants. The candidate will have substantial autonomy to shape their case study and methodological approach, supported by co-supervisors Professor Tine Destrooper and Dr. Cira Pallí-Asperó, and will collaborate with the Justice Visions team, Human Rights Centre, and Human Rights Research Network at Ghent University.

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 studied initiatives is mandatory. Candidates with experience in redress/repair for colonial harms, knowledge of Belgian colonial history, multidisciplinary training, and empirical research skills are preferred. The position offers a full-time contract for up to 48 months (initial 12 months, extendable upon positive evaluation), with a fellowship amount based on net salary and family status, tax-free, and accompanied by extensive staff benefits.

Applications must be submitted as a single PDF file via email to [email protected] by March 15, 2026. Required documents include a cover letter, CV, research statement, degree transcript, letter of recommendation, and writing sample. The recruitment process is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging candidates from minority and under-represented groups to apply. The evaluation includes a written assignment and interview, with the anticipated start date of September 1, 2026.

For further information or inquiries, contact [email protected]. Apply via this link.