Three Fully Funded PhD Positions in Transitional Justice, Human Rights, and Documentation at Ghent University Ghent University in Belgium

Ghent University’s Human Rights Centre and Justice Visions team are offering three fully funded PhD positions in the Faculty of Law and Criminology, Department of European, Public and International Law. These positions focus on transitional justice, documentation, and human rights, with specific projects on Palestine, the Philippines, and redress for colonial harm in Belgium. The research is interdisciplinary, combining law, social sciences, anthropology, and empirical methods, and is situated within a vibrant academic environment committed to diversity and inclusion.

The projects are:

• Transitional justice, documentation, and Palestine: Investigating grassroots documentation initiatives in the context of ongoing conflict, settler colonialism, and genocide, and their role in resisting erasure and advancing justice.
• Transitional justice, documentation, and the Philippines: Focusing on documentation of human rights violations, particularly in contexts such as extra-judicial killings, and the role of grassroots actors in shaping transitional justice responses.
• Redress for colonial harm in Belgium: Examining initiatives by grassroots actors and institutions aimed at redress and repair for colonial harm, including material, symbolic, and institutional responses, and their interaction with broader movements for historical justice.

All positions are based at Ghent University, Belgium, with strong collaborative and interdisciplinary research teams. Supervisors include Prof. Tine Destrooper, Dr. Brigitte Herremans, Prof. Benedict Olgado, and Dr. Cira Pallí-Asperó. The research environment encourages participatory and actor-oriented approaches, with opportunities for empirical fieldwork and engagement with affected communities.

Eligibility: Applicants must have a MA, MSc, or LLM in law, social/political sciences, anthropology, or a related field, with demonstrated interest or experience in human rights and transitional justice. Fluency in English and the relevant local language is required. Candidates from minority or vulnerable groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Funding: These are fully funded, full-time positions (100%), initially for 12 months with a 36-month extension upon satisfactory progress. The funding covers salary and research expenses as per Ghent University standards.

Application deadline: March 15, 2026 (23:59 CET).

How to apply: Review the detailed vacancy descriptions at the provided Ghent University links. Prepare your application materials and submit before the deadline. For questions, contact [email protected].

Keywords: transitional justice, human rights, documentation, Palestine, Philippines, colonial harm, redress, law, social sciences, anthropology, empirical methods.