The KU Leuven Centre for IT and IP Law (CiTiP) is a research unit of the Faculty of Law and Criminology, focused on the development of legal knowledge around the internet, new technologies, data, artificial intelligence, cyber security, etc. A small cluster around biotechnology, agriculture and intellectual property is currently under development. The whole group currently has more than 90 researchers working on numerous fundamental and applied projects and teaching in a Master of Intellectual Property and ICT Law.
Website unit
Project
CiTiP is looking for a junior researcher in the field of law, agriculture and technology, including regarding the regulation of new genetic techniques and precision agriculture in the EU and beyond. The aim is to study the regulation of new agricultural technologies critically and interdisciplinary, for example from the perspective of global economic history or agrarian anthropology. Possible analytical lenses could come from geopolitical analysis, international relations, postcolonial or decolonial studies, feminism or critical agrarian theory. The candidate can propose topics in the context of, among others, international food trade law, the Common Agricultural Policy, biodiversity law, biosafety law or plant variety rights.
The tasks of the researcher are twofold:
- On the one hand, the researcher prepares a doctoral thesis, according to the conditions of the Faculty. Within the duration of the present job offer and under the supervision of the supervisor, the researcher looks for funding to finance the full duration of the doctoral research. The researcher publishes his/her/their own work, possibly together with the supervisor, and presents that work at (inter)national conferences.
- On the other hand, the researcher helps with applying for research funding, and with the preparation and finalisation of publications with the supervisor. The researcher assists the supervisor with teaching tasks (including thesis supervision, exam correction) and with the broader agricultural projects that are ongoing within CiTiP.
Profile
- You are eager to learn and fascinated by the confrontation between agriculture and law.
- You can creatively analyse legal problems in this legal domain against a political, economic, historical and anthropological background.
- You have a Master's degree in Law. Additional degrees, credits or electives in the social sciences are a plus.
- You want to obtain a PhD in Law.
- You are prepared to work towards becoming someone who not only has an internal-legal command of the law, but can also analyse it externally-socio-legally. Qualitative or quantitative methodological skills already acquired are a plus.
- You are proficient in English (oral and written) for research. Proficiency in Dutch (oral and written) for teaching tasks and project work is an important added value. Further language skills, in particular French, German, Portuguese or Spanish, are a plus.
- You achieved excellent results during your studies, in particular for content-relevant subjects and essays.
- You are flexible and can work independently, as well as in a team.
- You want to get involved within CiTiP (including by setting up internal collaborations, participating in social activities, etc.).
Offer
- A stimulating and dynamic environment, characterised by a unique mix of independence, trust and support.
- The opportunity to write a PhD, provided further funding is secured.
- A full-time appointment of one year as a PhD scholarship holder with an attractive scholarship.
- As a PhD scholarship holder, you will also enjoy a number of staff benefits, such as a wide range of training and education options, an attractive leave scheme, insurance, a bicycle allowance, eco-cheques, preferential rates for sports and cultural facilities, etc.
- Access to all university facilities.
Interested?
During the first round of the application procedure we ask for:
• a cv (maximum 2 pages)
• a list of study marks for relevant educational degrees
• a motivation letter (maximum 1 page)
• a research proposal (maximum 2 pages)
If there are several good candidates, a second round with an interview will be organised.
For more information please contact Prof. Dr. Lodewijk Van Dycke, tel.: +32 16 32 12 82, mail: [email protected].
KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.
