Corina Heri

The TEMPORALAW project at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) offers a unique PhD opportunity within the Faculty of Law and Criminology, focusing on rights-based climate litigation and the legal concept of temporality. The project investigates how domestic and international climate cases, especially those based on human and constitutional rights, engage with the factor of time. Led by Professor Corina Heri, TEMPORALAW brings together critical, comparative, and socio-legal approaches to examine temporal assumptions in human rights law and adjacent legal fields, with a particular emphasis on climate-related engagement by major international courts. Over five years (2026–2031), the project aims to make explicit the temporal limitations in current legal frameworks and propose alternative concepts and argumentation strategies. The research team, affiliated with both the Faculty of Law and Criminology and the Department of Water and Climate (HYDR), is well-positioned to generate science-informed legal insights. Two PhD researchers will focus on distinct aspects: one on 'the past' in rights-based climate litigation (examining legal implications of past actions, decisions, and inequities), and the other on 'the future' (adjudicating future risks and guaranteeing rights for present and future generations). As a PhD team member, you will collaborate in developing the project’s conceptual framework, contribute to publications and project activities, conduct independent research (monograph or article-based PhD), co-supervise a legal clinic group of MA students in later years, and participate in academic life at VUB. The position is based at the Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene). Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in law (preferably human rights law, public international law, climate law, or related fields) and possess strong English-language skills. Experience with socio-legal theory and methods is an asset. Candidates should be open to both team-based and independent research. Non-EEA nationals must meet permit and residence requirements. VUB values diversity and inclusion, welcoming applicants regardless of background. The offer includes a full-time PhD scholarship for 12 months, extendable up to 48 months upon positive evaluation. The grant is linked to government scales, and additional benefits include telework allowance, cost-free hospitalisation insurance, full reimbursement of public transport commute, affordable campus meals, sports facilities, nursery discounts, and access to learning platforms. The planned starting date is 01/09/2026. To apply, submit your application by 29/05/2026 via jobs.vub.be, uploading a single PDF file with 'TEMPORALAW PhD application' in the subject. The file should include a motivation letter (max. 1 page, indicating your preferred PhD topic), CV (with two referees and Master thesis title), and Master diploma or latest transcript (not required for VUB alumni). The selection process involves application review and interviews in June. For questions about the job content, contact Professor Corina Heri at [email protected]. For more information about VUB and its role in the EUTOPIA alliance, visit jobs.vub.be and eutopia-university.eu.

The TEMPORALAW project at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) offers a unique PhD opportunity within the Faculty of Law and Criminology, focusing on rights-based climate litigation and the temporal dimensions of law. The project, led by Professor Corina Heri, investigates how climate litigation cases engage with the factor of time, particularly through human and constitutional rights. Over five years (2026–2031), TEMPORALAW will explore temporal assumptions in human rights law and adjacent legal fields, using critical, comparative, and socio-legal approaches. The research centers on climate-related engagement by the European Court of Human Rights, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and the International Court of Justice. PhD candidates will join a Brussels-based research team, collaborating on the project’s conceptual framework and contributing to publications, events, and research dissemination. Each PhD position has a distinct focus: one examines ‘the past’ in climate litigation, analyzing legal implications of past actions, normative decisions, and inequities; the other investigates ‘the future,’ considering legal constructs for adjudicating future risks and guaranteeing rights for present and future generations. Both positions involve independent research, co-supervision of a legal clinic group of MA students, and active participation in academic life at VUB’s Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene). Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in law (preferably human rights law, public international law, climate law, or related fields) and demonstrate strong English-language skills. Experience with socio-legal theory and methods is advantageous. Candidates should be knowledgeable about the interface between law and climate change and open to both team-based and independent research. Non-EEA nationals must meet permit and residence requirements. The position is open to applicants who have not worked as an assistant paid from operating resources for more than 12 months. The offer includes a full-time PhD scholarship for 12 months, extendable up to 48 months upon positive evaluation. The grant is linked to government scales, and additional benefits include telework allowance, cost-free hospitalisation insurance, full reimbursement of public transport commute, affordable campus meals, sports facilities, nursery discounts, and access to learning platforms. The planned starting date is 01/09/2026, and the effective result of the scholarship is subject to enrolment as a doctorate student at VUB. To apply, submit your application by 29/05/2026 via jobs.vub.be. Upload a single PDF file with ‘TEMPORALAW PhD application’ in the subject, including a motivation letter (max. 1 page, indicating your preferred PhD topic), CV with contact details of two referees and Master thesis title, and your Master diploma or latest transcript (not required for VUB alumni). The selection process involves an initial screening and interviews in June. For questions about the job content, contact Professor Corina Heri at [email protected]. VUB is committed to diversity, equality, and inclusion, offering an open and supportive workplace. The university is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of European universities dedicated to innovation and reinvention. For more information about VUB and EUTOPIA, visit the provided links.