Graduate teaching & research assistant in the law of obligations

Let’s shape the future - University of Antwerp

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20 000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape.

The Faculty of Law has the following full-time vacancy: graduate teaching & research assistant in the field of the law of obligations.

Position

As a graduate teaching & research assistant, you are part of the academic assistant staff (Dutch: Assisterend Academisch Personeel, AAP). You spend at least 50% of your working time preparing a PhD thesis. In addition, you play an assisting role in teaching, research and service activities.

PhD research

• You work actively on the preparation and defence of a PhD thesis in the field of the law of obligations. The PhD project is in line with the research lines of the Research group Personal Rights & Property Rights.
• You organise your own PhD research and report on your progress regularly.
• You participate in the doctoral study programme at the Antwerp Doctoral School to support your PhD pathway.

Education

• You provide support with teaching and teach high-quality academic classes yourself.
  • You will provide, among other things, legal skills education in the bachelor of laws.
  • You provide educational support for some course units, for example:
    • Verbintenissenrecht (bachelor of laws, 6 ECTS)
    • Grondige Studie Verbintenissenrecht (master of laws, 9 ECTS)
  • Your teaching role evolves along with the study programmes.
  • You supervise students and their Bachelor and Master dissertations and you assist in the evaluation of these dissertations.

Research

• You assist in ongoing research projects and the activities of the research group Personal rights and property rights.
• You present at academic conferences and aim to publish them in scientific journals.
• You contribute to attracting (intern)national research funding.

Services

• You play an active role in the academic and societal service provision of the Faculty of Law and the UAntwerp. You assist in student recruitment and alumni activities, supervise examinations and serve on boards and committees.

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 PhD proposal (in Dutch or English) that is in line with the content of the research programme of the research group Personal Rights & Property Rights. This proposal of maximum 5 pages includes the following headings: ‘state of the art’, ‘research objectives’, ‘methodology’ and ‘bibliography’.
• The prior conditions are conditions of admissibility.
• You can demonstrate excellent study results, especially in the area of the law of obligations. You substantiate this with a detailed overview of your study results (see 'Want to apply?').
• You have an adequate knowledge of Dutch (language for educational support and research (support) and the UAntwerp’s administrative language) and of English (for research (support)). If Dutch/English is not the language of one of your higher education degrees, you are able to express yourself fluently and spontaneously in Dutch and English on complex (academic) subjects both orally and in writing.
• Knowledge of French and/or German is an asset.
• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
• Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision.
• You are able to plan and organise your own work well (taking priorities into account).
• You are self-reliant and stress-resistant.
• You are motivated to work actively on your further professional development.
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.

What we offer

• We offer an appointment as a graduate teaching & research assistant for a period of two years. Following a positive evaluation, the appointment can be renewed twice up to a maximum period of six years.
• Your gross monthly salary is calculated according to the pay scale for an assistant (academic assistant staff, AAP).
• You will receive ecocheques, internet-connectivity allowance and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
• The planned start date is 15 September 2026 or as soon as possible after that date.
• You will do most of your work at the City Campus in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here and discover all the other benefits.

Want to apply?

• You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform until Monday 9 March 2026 (CET). Applications submitted after this deadline will be declared inadmissible. Click on 'apply', complete the online application form and don’t forget to include the following document(s):
  1. a motivation letter
  2. your research proposal (see above, condition of admissibility)
  3. a detailed account of your study results
  4. your (academic) CV
• The selection committee will review all the applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure. Please make a note of the following date: 25/03/2026 (interview).
• If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerpen.be. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact prof. dr. Britt Weyts, britt.weyts@uantwerpen.be.