Join our team as PhD researcher for Georgia, Sweden or Norway! 

The RIGHTS-TO-UNITE project recruits three PhD researchers, each for four years to start in January 2025, on a tax-free stipend of 25000 annually. There is one opportunity for someone able to work at academic levels in Georgian and English, one for someone able to work at academic levels in Swedish and English, and one for someone able to work at academic levels in Norwegian and English. The deadline for this repeat call is Thursday 31 October 2024 5 pm Irish time. Earlier applications are accepted, and recommended if you need a visa to come to Dublin. 

Our PhD Researchers 

PhD researchers are at the heart of the RIGHTS TO UNITE project – overall there are six PhD researchers, two postdoctoral researchers, one project manager, and one additional research assistant for one year, during the height of qualitative work. PhD researchers are required to travel for conducting library based and qualitative research in their “target country”. You will also have the opportunity to define your own PhD research project. Please email us under RIGHTSTOUNITEapply@ucd.ie if you have any questions on the application process. We are happy to discuss your early drafts for research proposals. 

The RIGHTS TO UNITE Project

This project overall develops a new theory of European integration based on integration through rights. The first fifteen month of this 5-year project are spent theorising conditions for EU derived rights to integrate the emerging European Society in the EU and its neighbourhood, while months 16 to 48 are dedicated to deploying qualitative research to question the theory and identify to what extent EU derived rights are part
of Europe’s living law – in the EU and beyond, with the last year dedicated to finalising project monographs (including PhD theses). The project focuses on small states, four EU Member States (Czechia, Greece,
Ireland, and Sweden) and four states in the EU neighbourhood (Georgia, Northern Ireland as part of the UK, North Macedonia and Norway). It explores a varied set of EU derived rights, ranging from economic/liberal rights to social rights and digital rights. It also considers rights of different character, including those that can be enforced in courts, that need to be implemented in national legislation, that are part of not formally binding instruments such as general declarations, or that are created and /or enforced through at a societal level, for example as collective agreements. The Project is led by Dagmar Schiek, Full Professor of EU Law and Labour Law. She will be primary supervisor for PhD researchers, whose Research Supervisory Panels will be composed of 3 members at least and integrate international project partners.

The PhD researchers’ direct contribution to the project programme

PhD researchers identify the extent to which EU derived rights are already discussed in academia in the six target countries beyond Ireland and Northern Ireland, explores how experts in the field relate or don’t relate to EU derived rights and finally engage in qualitative research through citizens’ meetings (an innovative and media-supported version of focus groups) envisaging the same question in relation to the average population. All this entails some travel for conducting library based and qualitative research in the target country for which the PhD researcher is qualified. PhD researchers are expected to contribute to the Project’s working papers as co-authors. They will have the opportunity to contribute to more informal outputs such as blog posts, conferences, and workshops, and establish their own profile as part of the project team.

Your independent PhD research

Building on this contribution to the research project as a whole, PhD researchers will be able to conduct their own independent research as well. As regards the theme for the PhD, first, we wish to stress that PhD
researchers are given the opportunity and expected to devise their own project within the thematic frame of RIGHTS TO UNITE within the first few months of their PhD journey. These themes could be country specific,
breaking down the entire project idea or parts thereof for one country. They could also be transversal, expanding on sets of rights, and/or rights of different quality. The bullet points below are meant to give some ideas of what is possible in this project. There is scope for expanding the list itself, as well as for specifying themes. PhD researchers should ensure that they can use some of the empirical material emerging from the work for the project. To achieve this, it might be a good idea to use comparative methods for transversal themes, so that some of the specific material can be presented – but this is not compulsory.

TRANSVERSAL THEMES:

• Integration through rights? The digital dimension One project may engage with development of digital rights in the EU, using experiences in one or two Member States as case study, placing the theme in the context of integration through rights. It is also possible to research experience in EU member states and neighbouring states

• Integration through rights in Europe – beyond a claims culture? One project may engage with the critique that the EU creates “Eurolegalism” and a claims culture, which according to this critique, ultimately will disintegrate societies. This project may explore the practical usage of rights beyond litigation, also evaluating so-called soft law instruments such as the social pillar of rights and the European Declaration of Digital Rights.

• Economic rights in the EU Treaties and its neighbourhood – will they generate interaction beyond a cosmopolitan elite? One project might consider in how far EU derived rights are becoming an integral part of national law, and as such also contribute to integrating or disintegrating societies within Member States or neighbouring states.

• EU-derived rights as part of the fabric of national law – comparative perspectives on citizens’ usage One project might consider in how far EU derived rights are becoming an integral part of national law, and as such also contribute to integrating or disintegrating societies within Member States or neighbouring states.

COUNTRY-SPECIFIC THEMES

• Implementing economic, social and/or digital rights in (Georgia ) – integration through rights in the accession process? PhD projects may take a transversal approach within a country and analyse the impact of all rights under investigation. This could also be adapted to EU Member States or Norway
• An enduring EU rights culture in Norway / Sweden /  or Georgia? Analysing practical usage of citizens’ rights Conversely projects could home in on a specific aspect, using one country as case study for wider themes explored in the project.

• EU derived rights without legal obligation in Georgia /Sweden or Norway. One PhD project may explore whether and in how far EU derived rights may become practically relevant without strict legal obligation. This theme might be best pursued in neighbouring states, as obligations derived from association agreements may be weaker than EU law. However, a project might also use soft law instruments in an EU Member State.

A PhD concept goes beyond a bullet point. To become viable, for each theme a literature review will have to be conducted to identify a gap in research to be filled by the project, and a research plan including theoretical frame, methodology and methods devised. This is usually what happens in the first year of a PhD programme, and next to the project work time for this step will be available. For the application we only require a short (half page) idea on how the PhD research can engage with the project.

Doing a PhD at the UCD Sutherland School of Law

As PhD candidates at UCD Law School, successful applicants will be enrolled in a structured program, and will receive extensive bespoke training in research methods, the possibility to enrol in substantive training,
and opportunities for professional development as an early career academic, including opportunities for teaching as appropriate. The successful candidate will benefit from the advantages of conducting a PhD in an ambitious ERC project, with an international supervisory board and continuous feedback throughout their program. The scholarships will provide tuition fees and a yearly stipend tax-free of €25,000, as well as funding for research expenses and travel for multiple conferences throughout the PhD. The scholarships are tenable for a maximum of four years, renewable each year subject to satisfactory progress. The scholarships are available to full time students commencing their doctoral studies in the School of Law in January 2025 the latest.

REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants should hold a master’s degree, or an equivalent degree, in law, political science, sociology or other disciplines related to the study of European integration. Applicants without such degree but displaying
alternative qualifications and verifiable academic excellence can be considered in exceptional circumstances. Students should have been awarded their degree and be able to provide proof by January 2025, or any earlier starting date.

RIGHTS TO UNITE is especially looking for PhD researchers sufficiently familiar with the language and culture of the target countries, for this repeat call Georgia, Sweden or Norway. They need to be able to
conduct qualitative research in these countries, including evaluating literature in the country’s language and conducting expert interviews and focus groups using that language. We advertise one PhD researcher stipend for each of these. Please state clearly in your application for which language and culture you qualify. Prior experience in sociological or socio-legal methods is not essential but may be an advantage. UCD is committed to creating an environment where diversity is celebrated and everyone is treated fairly regardless of gender, age, race, disability, ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, civil status, family status, or membership of the travelling community.

How to apply:

Please complete an on-line University Graduate application  available here  by the deadline. You can apply for the PhD in Law (B142) or the PhD in European Law and Governance (B144), to start in January 2025. By the way, the online system does not accept more than 40 words in any of the boxes. If you need more, attach a word file instead. Please also send a cover letter highlighting your language skills relevant for the project and explaining why you wish to undertake a PhD, and in particular, why you wish to undertake a PhD as part of this project at the UCD School of Law. This letter should be no more than 2 sides of A4 single-spaced and can be sent to RIGHTSTOUNITEapply@ucd.ie

In addition to the cover letter, you must submit the following documents:

1. A research proposal: Max 1 page explaining the thesis and how it fits within RIGHTS TO UNITE
2. A sample of your academic writing in English (usually about 4-5.000 words, with an absolute maximum of 10.000 words)
3. Two academic references: Please note that it is your responsibility to contact your referees to ensure that references are received before the closing date/time for this scholarship.
4. All academic transcripts [preferably in English, translations are permissible]
5. Applicants whose first language is not English must submit satisfactory evidence of competence in written and spoken English, i.e. overall IELTS 7.5 (including a minimum of 7 in all bands) or a score of 109 overall in the TOEFL iBT, 27/30 in reading and writing and 23/30 in speaking and listening. The test results must be less than 2 years old. No test is required if you have studied one of your degrees through English.

If you have queries on the scholarships, please contact RIGHTSTOUNITEapply@ucd.ie