Netherlands Institute of Human Rights of the Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance, Utrecht University (The Netherlands)
Postdoc/Senior Researcher 'Human rights, democracy and rule of law in EU external relations'
Deadline for application: 4 January 2015
 

The Netherlands Institute of Human Rights of the Faculty of Law (SIM), Economics and Governance of Utrecht University is appointing a Postdoctoral/Senior Research Fellow for the project entitled ‘Fostering Human Rights Among European (External and Internal) Policies (FRAME)’, funded by the European Union. Frame is a large-scale collaborative research project conducted by nineteen research institutes from around the world. Research within the FRAME project aims to inform EU policy-making.

Job description
The researcher will examine the content and interpretation of the concepts of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in various third countries, and compare this with EU-held convictions. In addition, the researcher will study EU human rights dialogues.
 
Tasks
• Undertaking research and writing reports within the FRAME project
• Coordinating research work with both European and non-European partners
• Publishing individually and in collaboration with other researchers
• Participating in workshops and conferences according to project specifications
• Contributing to disseminating information in an accurate and timely manner
 
Qualifications
You should have a strong background in EU external relations and human rights, democracy and/or rule of law. For the post of post-doctoral researcher you should hold a PhD (or be very near completing one). For the post of senior researcher you should have relevant practical experience in the field of EU external relations, as well as a proven ability to write substantial papers.
A multidisciplinary background (preferably in law and political science or international relations) is an asset. Experience with comparative research is also an asset.
 
You should have the ability to analyze and interpret complex, conceptual and specialist matters to suit different audiences with varying levels of understanding and ability. Full proficiency in English as the main working language is required. Spanish, Chinese, or Arabic proficiency will be an asset. Finally, we expect an excellent ability to work both independently and in close cooperation with the other team members.

Offer
You will be based at the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM), part of the Institute of International and European Law at Utrecht University in the Netherlands for the period of 1 February 2015 to1 May 2016.

The salary will be between € 3.259 and € 3.491 gross per month, based on a full time employment, (scale 11 of the cao NU). The salary is supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8,3% per year. In addition we offer: a pension scheme, a partially paid parental leave, flexible employment conditions. Conditions are based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities.

For more information regarding the post, please contact Dr Alexandra Timmer at a.s.h.timmer@uu.nl.

Apply
Application is online. Please attach your CV, letter of motivation, two references and a copy of two recently published samples of your work (journal articles, book chapters etc.).

Deadline
Please respond by 4 January 2015. Interviews will take place in the week of 12 January 2015.  The successful applicant will be kindly requested to attend a FRAME workshop in Utrecht on 22 January.