PhD Position in Law

at the Department of Law. Closing date: 3 November 2023.

The Department of Law is one of the largest departments at Stockholm University with about 200 employees and 5,500 students. More than 120 teachers are in different subject areas engaged full time to teach and to carry out the research on which the teaching is founded. As a doctoral candidate at Juridicum, you will be part of a dynamic environment with high prestige research and of strong international character.

Subject area
Law studies.

Focus area
This position is part of the interdisciplinary graduate school “Perspectives on climate change in coastal seas”. It is focused on the function of the coastal zone in climate feedbacks and the role of law in protecting coastal ecosystems and addressing climate change. The graduate school is directed to those interested in pursuing a PhD in marine, environmental, social and legal sciences. You will be part of a network of students and researchers studying the Baltic Sea coastal areas in these disciplines at Stockholm University. Read more here.

The project in law should contribute to new knowledge on the role of law in governance of marine coastal ecosystems and climate change. The research should examine international law, but may also include national and/or EU law and the links between them, as well as comparative studies of countries or regions. You are expected to collaborate across disciplines and apply an interdisciplinary approach in your research.

Qualification requirements
In order to meet the general entry requirements to doctoral studies, the applicant must have completed a second-cycle degree, completed courses equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits, of which 60 credits must be in the second cycle, or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere. 

In order to meet the specific entry requirements, the general syllabus for doctoral studies in the field of Law stipulates that applicants must have completed an LL.M, a Swedish Law Degree or equivalent. Eligibility can also be granted to applicants who, through professional experience or other training, are deemed to have acquired competence equal to that which is necessary to conduct studies at post- graduate level, both in terms of scientific skills and legal literacy relevant to the research area. 

Eligibility requires that the applicant has very good command of Swedish and good knowledge of English, or that the applicant has a very good command of English.

The possibility of employment as a doctoral student or access to doctoral studies is largely based on the applicant´s deemed capability to carry out studies at doctoral level.

The qualification requirements must be met by the deadline for applications.

Selection
The selection among the eligible candidates will be based on their deemed capacity and capability to carry out studies at doctoral level. This will be assessed based on the following criteria, stipulated by the Faculty of Law.

The applicants' general knowledge and

• the originality of the project
• the theoretical framework and the question at issue in relation to previous research, the legibility of the method and its relevance in relation to the question at issue
• the addition of new knowledge and its relevance in relation to the theme of the interdisciplinary graduate school and
• the viability of the project.

When assessing applicants, the following will be considered: the applicant´s documented subject knowledge and its relevance to the research; the ability to express oneself in speech and writing in Swedish and/or English; the capacity for analytical thinking; creativity; self-initiative and independence; interpersonal skills; and participation in professional experiences and other similar activities that are relevant to the education. The general competence of each applicant will also be assessed through previous studies and grades, the quality of their previous individual work (essays and other writings), references, relevant experience, interviews, as well as the applicant´s written motivation for the position.

Admission Regulations for Doctoral Studies are available at the website for PhD studies at Stockholm University. 

Specific instructions for the Department of Law: PhD studies programme.

Terms of employment
Only a person who will be or has already been admitted to a third-cycle programme may be appointed as a doctoral student.

The term of the initial contract may not exceed one year. The employment may be extended for a maximum of two years at a time. However, the total period of employment may not exceed the equivalent of four years of full-time study.

Doctoral students should primarily devote themselves to their own education, but may engage in teaching or administration corresponding to a maximum of 20 % of a full-time position

Please note that admission decision cannot be appealed.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
For more information about the Doctoral Program, please contact the Director of Studies, Jaan Paju, jaan.paju@juridicum.su.se.

For more information om about the interdisciplinary graduate school, please contact assistant senior lecturer Anna Christiernsson, anna.christiernsson@juridicum.su.se.

For more information about environmental law research at Stockholm University, please contact head of subject and professor Jonas Ebbesson, jonas.ebbesson@juridicum.su.se.

Further information about the employment and the application process can be obtained from the PhD program administrator Daniel Larsson, daniel.larsson@juridicum.su.se.

Further information about the employments and other acceptable financing than employment can be obtained from the Head of Department, Professor Gustaf Sjöberg, gustaf.sjoberg@juridicum.su.se.

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, saco@saco.su.se, Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/OFR), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, alejandra@st.su.se, seko@seko.su.se (SEKO), and PhD student representative, doktorandombud@sus.su.se.

Application
Apply for the position through Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application:

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Information about your current occupation
• Your language skills
• The Contact details for 2–3 references

In addition, please include the following documents:

• Cover letter
• CV – degrees and other completed education, work experience and a list of previous degree projects/theses
• Research proposal describing the intended project – setting out the research questions, theoretical framework, method and material, how the project is intended to be conducted and contribute to new knowledge of relevance for the theme of the graduate school, and a literature review that indicates the scientific added value of the intended project
• Degree certificates and grades confirming that you meet the general and specific entry requirements (no more than 6 files)
• Letters of Recommendation (no more than 3 files)
• Degree projects/theses (no more than 3 files)

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.

You are welcome to apply!

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