PhD in Empirical Legal Research on Responsible Corporate Conduct in Global Value Chains (GVCs)

1 - Working at the VUB

For more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and solidarity, and this is very much alive on our campuses among students and staff alike. 

At the VUB, you will find a diverse collection of personalities: innovators pur sang, but above all people who are 100% their authentic selves. With some 4,000 employees, we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer, in the private sector, in Brussels; an international city with which we are only too happy to connect and where (around) our 4 campuses are located. 

Add to this our principle of free research - in which self-reflection, a critical attitude and an open, creative mind around scientific and social issues are central - and you have a university that is fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research. In short: the VUB all over again. 

Moreover, the VUB is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of like-minded European universities, all ready to reinvent themselves.

2 - Position description

The Brussels School of Governance, Department Instituut voor Europese Studies, is looking for a PhD-student with a doctoral grant. 

More concretely your work package, for the preparation of a doctorate, contains: 

You will complete a PhD by using empirical legal methods. The general theme proposed is responsible corporate conduct in the context of environmental impacts attributed to GVCs activities. You will combine an interdisciplinary conceptual framework with legal research methods and quantitative and/or qualitative empirical research methods so that the PhD outcome contributes to new evidence-based knowledge. 

More concretely, you will prepare a research proposal dealing with one or more of the following (or related) topics and questions:   

• How can states or regional organisations (e.g. the EU) regulate corporate conduct to address transnational environmental impacts arising from GVCs?;
• What is the effectiveness of remedy mechanisms for persons affected by adverse environmental impacts caused by GVC activities?;
• How do development and investment banks, market rating agencies or state external services, among other actors, nudge or hinder corporate accountability for adverse transnational environmental impacts?;
• What is the type of liabilities of corporations and/or investors when serious transnational environmental and climate impacts are attributed to GVC activities?;
• How do courts contribute to or hinder responsible corporate conduct in global environmental matters?

The project is carried out within the Centre for Environment, Economy and Energy (C3E) of the Brussels School of Governance (BSoG). 

For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base. 

3 - Profile

What do we expect from you?

• You have obtained a master's degree in law or social sciences (development studies, economics, law & economics, ecological economics, business administration, political science etc.), or another relevant discipline, with an important legal component. 

• You have solid legal knowledge. Knowledge of value chain governance and responsible corporate conduct is an advantage;
• You have strong data management experience, and you are willing to work with empirical (qualitative and quantitative) legal research methods and to further deepen your methodological skills;
• You are fully fluent in English; Proficiency in other languages is an advantage;
• You are proficient with Microsoft Office, with demonstrated experience with Microsoft Excel. Proficiency with other relevant software (SPSS, Nvivo, Stata, R) is an advantage;
• You are open-minded and creative, and keen on pursuing interdisciplinary research approaches. 

• You have not performed any works in the execution of a mandate as an assistant, paid from operating resources, over a total (cumulated) period of more than 12 months.

The VUB wants to be a reflection of the society where everyone's talent is valued, regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability and neurodiversity.

4 - Offer

Are you going to be our new colleague?

You’ll be offered a full-time PhD-scholarship, for 12 months (extendable up to max. 48 months, on condition of the positive evaluation of the PhD activities), with planned starting date 01/10/2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

You’ll receive a grant linked to one of the scales set by the government.

IMPORTANT: The effective result of the doctorate scholarship is subject to the condition precedent of your enrolment as a doctorate student at the university.

At the VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.

As well as this, you will also enjoy various other benefits:

• Extensive homeworking options, a telework allowance of 50 euros per month OR an internet fee of 20 euros per month;
• An open and informal working environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract), closure between Christmas and New Year and 3 extra leave days;
• Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
• Full reimbursement of your home-to-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, and/or compensation if you come by bike; 
• A wide selection of meals in our campus restaurants at attractive prices;
• Excellent and affordable facilities for sport and exercise, a range of discounts via Benefits@Work (in  all kinds of shops, on flights, in petrol stations, amusement parks...) and Ecocheques; 
• Nursery near campus, discount on holiday camps; 
• The space to form your job content and to continuously learn through our VUB learning platforms and training courses;
• And finally: great colleagues with a healthy drive.

5 - Interested?

Is this the job you’ve been dreaming of?

Then apply, at the latest on 01/05/2024, via jobs.vub.be, and upload the following documents:

• A one-page motivation letter explaining your interest in pursuing a PhD on the chosen topic
• Your CV stating academic qualifications, relevant research experience and previous publications
• A copy of a publication (master thesis, academic report or article) 
• Your diploma (not applicable for VUB alumni).
• Contact details (e-mail and phone) of two referees
• A 2000-word research proposal with
  • the state of art
  • the relevance of the research topic
  • a methodogical outline combining legal research methodology with empirical (quantitative or qualitative) methodologies
  • data sources
  • how the research will be organised in the given time

Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Liliana Lizarazo-Rodriguez at Clizaraz@vub.be or on +32 2 614 80 01.

Would you like to know what it’s like to work at the VUB? Go to jobs.vub.be, and find all there is to know about our campuses, benefits, strategic goals and your future colleagues.

Would you like more information about EUTOPIA? Go to eutopia-university.eu, and read more about the role of the VUB in the development of the EUTOPIA alliance.