We offer a doctoral scholarship for a period of two years. Following a positive evaluation, the scholarship can be renewed once for another two-year period.
The planned start date is 15 September 2026 or as soon as possible after that date.
Interested? All information is available here:
Only applications done via the University of Antwerp job platform are considered (see link).
The application deadline is 2 March 2025.
Position
You work actively on the preparation and defence of a doctoral thesis in the context of the Personal Rights and Property Rights research group, under the supervision of prof. dr. Frederik Swennen and prof. dr. Elise Goossens. Your doctoral thesis should relate to the broad domain of private family law and preferably have a link to one of the following research topics:
Gender(s) and family(ies)
Similarities and differences between private family law and private economic law or between private family law and other (e.g., public law) rules governing the family, for example in relation to the (socio-economic) profile of the users of those rules ("dual system of family law")
Family diversity in inheritance law
Pluralistic private family law and public order in light of (European) fundamental rights, particularly with regard to the protection of non-conventional families such as queer families or singles.
You may also propose another theme in the broad field of private family law. Your methodology may also be socio-legal, interdisciplinary (e.g. law & literature, the arts,…), or transdisciplinary.
You publish scientific articles related to the research project.
You will carry out teaching and research support tasks and service duties (e.g. examination supervision, sitting on committees or councils) within the Faculty of Law, and the Personal Rights and Property Rights research group.
Profile
You hold a law degree or a master's degree in law or you will have obtained it by the time you start work.
You submit a concise English research proposal for the research you will be developing (see above). This focused proposal of 2 pages includes the following headings: problem statement, central research question, methodology and core bibliography. You pay attention to the international or comparative dimension of your subject. The proposal should allow you to successfully complete the PhD in 4 years.
The prior conditions are conditions of admissibility.
You can demonstrate excellent study results, in particular in the broad area of private family law. You substantiate this with a detailed overview of your study results.
You have an adequate command of Dutch or English to be able to provide teaching (support). This means that one of these languages is either one of your higher education qualifications, or that you can express yourself fluently and spontaneously on complex (academic) subjects both orally and in writing. Preferably you master Dutch nonetheless (teaching and administrative language), at least as a basic user; you understand phrases and regularly occurring expressions and you can communicate in simple terms. If you do not yet master Dutch, you make arrangements in your goal-setting interview to still acquire sufficient adequate knowledge (i.e. at least as a basic user) of Dutch in the short term. These agreements are evaluated as part of the evaluation with a view to renewal of your appointment.
Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp's educational vision.
Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
You are willing to apply for (additional) research funding.
You are able to plan and organise your own work well (taking priorities into account).
You are self-reliant and stress-resistant.
You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
You are motivated to work actively on your further professional development.
You have a particular interest in scientific research in the field of family law or private law regarding families.
You combine a deep knowledge of the law with a research interest in the broader social context.
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