Postdoctoral Researcher – Value Collisions Project (GN)

About the COLLISIONS project

Values - and, in particular, value clashes - are very salient in highly politicised areas, such as war and security, climate change, or migration and displacement, posing key, interlocking challenges to the international community, including in relation to the manner in which human rights, environmental safeguards, and humanitarian protections are interpreted and (de)prioritized. Values and value collisions influence political and legal processes, can determine election outcomes, and reshape governance systems. They polarise public opinion and may give rise to democratic backlash. This is reflected in different governance mechanisms, including judicial decision-making, on which this project focuses.

Research within the COLLISIONS project will examine the manner in which values are identified, defined and hierarchized in international law through adjudication, looking at how international courts and UN Treaty bodies establish which (and whose) values matter and why, which role values play juridically, and how conflicts between them are approached and resolved in legal reasoning. It will, in this way, complement ongoing research within the Centre for Fundamental Rights and contribute to building a more responsive and resilient value-based international order. This research project is funded by the Wübben Foundation.

Your tasks:

The position is designed to enable an early career legal scholar to develop a research profile focusing on the complex normative dynamics between competing values (as defined above) in one of the following areas: (1) armed conflict or (2) climate change. In particular, working closely with the Principal Investigator, Professor Violeta Moreno Lax, the postholder is expected to:

• Develop and deliver, in close collaboration with Professor Moreno Lax, a workplan for individual and collective research outputs to meet the project’s aims for the duration of the contract;
• Engage in advanced legal research at a post-doctoral level on value conflicts and their resolution in judicial reasoning in international law by analysing the jurisprudence of the International Court of Justice, along with one or several regional human rights courts, and/or one or several UN Treaty bodies;
• Support the organisation of and participate in the research events, outreach and dissemination activities related to the project;
• Participate in and present research at internal and external workshops, conferences, and other events;
• Actively contribute to the academic life of the Centre for Fundamental Rights;
• Contribute teaching for the International law course for MIA students;
• Develop and deliver a course based on the candidate’s expertise, featuring research conducted within the project, and taking into account the needs of the Hertie School.

Your profile:

• Excellent academic track record and a (at least imminently expected) doctorate in law, politics or cognate disciplines, with a strong demonstrated interest in research of human rights theories, law, policy, and/or institutions;
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of the judicial reasoning of international courts, especially regional human rights courts, and UN Treaty bodies in one of the following areas: (1) armed conflict or (2) climate change;
• Excellent legal research skills and a proven ability to manage your own independent research;
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary and international team and engage in collaborative research;
• Previous scholarly publications, commensurate with experience;
• Teaching experience, particularly in the field of international law;
• Very good presentation and communication skills, and ability to communicate findings to diverse audiences;
• Excellent communication skills in English.

We offer:

• 30 days paid holidays per year and up to 20 days workation possible
• Flexible Working Hours
• Good Traffic Connections
• International and diverse work environment
• Mobile working possible
• Commuter Ticket

Please submit your application portfolio (a CV, a cover letter describing your research plan, interest in the project and fit with the call, two writing samples, and the names and contact information of two academic references) by using the Apply button below.

Please send us your complete and relevant application documents in a PDF file by 21 June 2026. Interviews are planned to take place between 06 - 07 July.

Please contact Violeta Moreno-Lax, Professor of International Law | Director Centre for Fundamental Rights, for further information about the position.