PhD Studentship opportunities in Anthropology and International Law

Dublin City University - Centring Care in International Law (CAREINTLAW) / School of Law and Government

Fees: Covered up to the non-EU rate

Two fully funded doctoral scholarships are available for full-time PhD study at the Dublin City University School of Law and Government, starting in September 2026. Successful candidates will be based in Dublin for the duration of the programme, except where research activities (such as fieldwork) require travel.

About the Project

These PhD positions form part of an ERC-funded research project led by Professor Catherine O’Rourke. CAREINTLAW is a five-year project examining how care is understood and practised in international law.

The project approaches care as a set of practices aimed at meeting people’s needs and sustaining relationships. Drawing on feminist care ethics, CAREINTLAW seeks to identify where care already exists within international law, and how it might be strengthened or reimagined. Combining legal analysis, ethnographic research, and creative approaches to legal thinking, the project aims to open up new ways of understanding and practising international law.

PhD researchers will develop their own projects within this broader framework.

PhD Research Streams

You do not need to fit perfectly into a predefined profile. We are open to different approaches, and applicants are encouraged to propose projects that connect with the theme of care in international law in ways that reflect their interests and strengths.

Stream 1: International Law (Doctrinal and Theoretical)

This will suit applicants interested in legal analysis and theory. The project explores how care is reflected in particular areas of international law, or how feminist care ethics can inform legal thinking.

Applicants might:

• Work with legal texts, cases, or institutions
• Engage with theory (including, but not limited to, feminist care ethics)
• Develop a research question grounded in international law

Stream 2: Ethnography of International Law

This is suited to applicants interested in how international law operates in practice. Projects may involve studying institutions, organisations, or communities connected to international law.

Applicants might:

• Use, or be interested in learning, ethnographic or qualitative methods
• Explore how care is practised, experienced, or constrained in real-world settings
• Develop an empirically grounded research project

Previous ethnographic experience is preferred but not required. Support and guidance will be provided, and funding is available for reasonable fieldwork expenses.

Support and Research Environment

Successful candidates will join a supportive and collaborative ERC-funded research environment. You will receive close supervision, opportunities for skills development, and encouragement to shape your own research direction.

Informal inquiries may be directed to:

Professor Catherine O’Rourke, email: catherine.orourke@dcu.ie

How to Apply

Please submit:

• Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages)
• Research Proposal (maximum 5 pages, excluding references), outlining:
  • Scholarly background
  • Research objectives and focus
  • Proposed methodology (including any relevant experience)
  • Indicative timeframe and structure

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview online (mid-May). Successful applicants may be required to demonstrate English language proficiency.

Submission

Please send your completed application to: careintlaw@dcu.ie

Application deadline: 11 May 2026, 17:00 (Ireland)