PhD Position in Redress for Colonial Injustice, Law and Social Sciences, Ghent University Ghent University in Belgium

Ghent University is offering a fully funded PhD position focused on redress for colonial injustice in Belgium, based at the Justice Visions team within the Human Rights Centre, Faculty of Law and Criminology. The project is part of the FWO-funded initiative "Reckoning with Belgium’s colonial past: Towards a better understanding of interconnected (truth) initiatives and their contribution to redress." The research will examine the complex ecosystem of initiatives—material, symbolic, institutional, and relational—aimed at addressing colonial harm in Belgium. Candidates will analyze how various actors, including grassroots organizations, civil society, and institutions, pursue and negotiate redress, and how these efforts interact and shape broader social change.

The ideal candidate will have an MA, MSc, or LLM in law, social or political sciences, anthropology, or a related discipline, with an interdisciplinary background preferred. Familiarity with debates on historical injustice, redress, repair, and epistemic authority is essential, as is a grounded understanding of Belgium’s colonial history and its ongoing impact. Experience with empirical research methods (qualitative interviews, participant observation, document and network analysis) is expected. The project values participatory research practices and encourages applications from candidates with lived experience or activism related to colonialism, especially those from vulnerable or minority groups.

The position is fully funded for up to four years (12 months initial, renewable for 36 months upon satisfactory progress). The PhD researcher will be supervised by Prof. Dr. Tine Destrooper and Dr. Cira Pallí-Asperó, with opportunities to collaborate with the Justice Visions team and the Human Rights Research Network. The researcher will have flexibility to shape their case study and research design within the project’s framework, and will be expected to participate in team meetings, doctoral training, and related academic activities. On-site presence at Ghent University is required.

Applications are due by March 15, 2026. For full details and application instructions, visit the official Ghent University vacancy page. For questions, contact [email protected].