PhD student Law of Persons

Background
Having an impact on the switch to a more sustainable and resilient society, from a legal perspective, in the region and far beyond, is what we aim for. To achieve this, we combine our research in the research group CORe (Centre for Government and Law). We focus mainly on the relations between citizens and the government with a special emphasis on resilience and sustainability. We opt for high-quality research in selected core areas and believe in the added value of multidisciplinarity. More information about our research activities and our team, which includes about 15 professors, 40 PhD students and an enthusiastic support staff, can be found on CORe's website.
This specific research is conducted in close cooperation with the research group ‘Persoon en Vermogen’ at UAntwerpen.
Besides high-quality research, we of course also consider high-quality and innovative education very important. In an academic bachelor's and master's degree programme in Law, in collaboration with KU Leuven and Maastricht University, we train students to become creative and problem-solving legal professionals. We do this through assignment- and problem-based learning and always with an open view on society.
Both our workplaces and classrooms can be found on the UHasselt city campus, in the renovated Old Prison near Dusartplein. This site is easily accessible by public transport.

Job content
Research activities
You conduct an English-language doctoral research project on "Civil law protection and autonomy of adults with a disability: striking the right balance." More specifically, you investigate how Belgian legislation can be (better) aligned with the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability, for example, by abandoning the concept of legal incapacity. This research is part of a project funded by the Research Foundation - Flanders and carried out as a joint PhD within the Centre for Government and Law of UHasselt (www.uhasselt.be/core) and the research group Personal Rights and Property Rights of UAntwerp (https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/research-groups/personal-rights-and-property-rights/).
You also publish in (inter)national peer-reviewed scientific journals and books and actively participate in (inter)national conferences relating to your field of research. You are willing to undertake research stays abroad.
Teaching assignment
You have a limited teaching assignment related to the field of law, more precisely as tutor who supervises tutorial group meetings at UHasselt. You will also supervise bachelor’s and master’s theses at UHasselt.

Profile

• You obtained a Master of Laws degree (or equivalent)
  Final-year students are (likewise) encouraged to apply.
• You obtained very good or excellent study results.
• You have demonstrable experience or a demonstrable strong interest in the law of persons.
• You are highly motivated for conducting research.
• You have excellent written and oral communication skills.
• You are a good team player and swiftly able to establish contacts with experts in your field of research.
• You are willing to take part in a ‘professionalisation of teaching’ trajectory.
• Very good knowledge of English is required. For international applicants knowledge of Dutch and/or French is an asset.

Offer
You will be appointed and paid as PhD student.
PhD scholarship for a period of 2 years (renewable for an additional 2-years period on the basis of a positive interim evaluation). Preferred starting date: 1 September 2024.

Selection procedure
You can only apply online up to and including 01 May 2024.
The selection procedure consists of a preselection based on application file and an interview.
Candidates should upload one written piece of work (master’s thesis, bachelor’s thesis, a published legal-scientific article, a legal essay, …) in Dutch, French or English.

Further information
Prof. dr. Tim WUYTS, +32-11-268669, tim.wuyts@uhasselt.be

For questions about the selection procedure, please email jobs@uhasselt.be.