The Faculty of Law and Criminology at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is inviting applications for two full-time, fully funded PhD positions under the EU-funded Odysseus project TEMPORALAW. These four-year doctoral opportunities focus on climate change, international human rights law, and the role of time in legal reasoning and climate litigation. Led by Professor Corina Heri, the TEMPORALAW project (2026–2031) explores how courts and legal systems engage with temporal dimensions specifically how law addresses the past, present, and future in climate-related human rights cases. About the TEMPORALAW Research Project In recent years, climate litigation has expanded significantly across domestic and international courts. Many of these cases rely on human rights and constitutional law arguments to challenge state and corporate responses to climate change. The TEMPORALAW project investigates a central yet underexplored question: how does time shape legal reasoning in climate litigation? The project takes a critical, comparative, and socio-legal approach to examine how courts such as: The European Court of Human Rights The Inter-American Court of Human Rights The International Court of Justice interpret climate-related obligations through a temporal lens. By focusing on how law engages with both historical responsibility and future risk, TEMPORALAW seeks to identify the assumptions embedded in current legal frameworks. It also aims to develop alternative approaches that are more temporally inclusive and better suited to the realities of climate change. The project is jointly supported by the Faculty of Law and Criminology and the Department of Water and Climate (HYDR) at VUB, enabling an interdisciplinary approach that bridges legal analysis and climate science. PhD Research Focus Areas The two PhD researchers will contribute to this broader framework while developing independent doctoral research projects. Each position has a distinct thematic focus: PhD Position 1: Legal Responsibility for the Past This PhD track focuses on how international and human rights law addresses historical responsibility in climate change. Key areas of investigation include: Legal implications of historical greenhouse gas emissions The role of past injustices and structural inequalities in climate harm The intersection of human rights law, international responsibility law, and climate treaties This research will critically examine how legal systems assign accountability for past actions that contribute to present-day climate impacts. PhD Position 2: Legal Approaches to the Future This PhD track explores how law engages with future climate risks and long-term environmental harm. Key areas of investigation include: Legal recognition of future generations’ rights Due diligence obligations in climate governance Judicial approaches to uncertain and long-term environmental risks This research will assess how courts and legal institutions can better incorporate future-oriented reasoning in climate litigation. Role and Responsibilities of PhD Researchers Successful candidates will become integral members of the Brussels-based TEMPORALAW research team. Alongside developing their own doctoral dissertations, they will also contribute to collective project activities. Core responsibilities include: Collaborating on the development of the project’s conceptual and theoretical framework Participating in joint academic publications with postdoctoral researchers and team members Assisting in organizing academic events, workshops, and dissemination activities Conducting independent PhD research, culminating in a monograph or article-based dissertation Co-supervising, in later stages of the PhD, a legal clinic involving Master’s students Engaging in academic life at both VUB’s Faculty of Law and Criminology and HYDR This structure ensures a balance between independent scholarship and collaborative, interdisciplinary research. Candidate Profile and Requirements Applicants are expected to hold, by the start of the PhD, a Master’s degree in law or an equivalent qualification. Preferred specializations include: Human rights law Public international law Climate law or related fields Additional desired qualifications include: Strong understanding of the relationship between law and climate change Interest in combining theoretical legal analysis with practical application Familiarity with socio-legal methods or critical legal perspectives (an advantage but not required) Excellent written and spoken English skills Ability to work independently as well as within a collaborative research team Applicants must also meet eligibility requirements regarding prior employment limits and residency conditions for VUB doctoral researchers. What the Position Offers Each PhD position is fully funded for four years under standardized FWO bursary conditions. Initial appointments are for 12 months, with extensions up to 48 months based on positive evaluation. Additional benefits include: Competitive doctoral salary 35 days of annual leave Public transport reimbursement Telework allowance Hospitalization insurance Flexible start date (ideally September 2026, with flexibility available) The positions offer the opportunity to work within a dynamic and internationally oriented research environment focused on cutting-edge issues in climate law and human rights. Application Process Interested candidates must submit their application by 20 May 2026 via email to corina.heri@vub.be, using the subject line: “TEMPORALAW PhD application.” Applications must include a single PDF document containing: A one-page motivation letter specifying the preferred PhD track A curriculum vitae, including referee contact details and Master’s thesis title (if applicable) A writing sample (published or unpublished) A Master’s diploma or most recent academic transcript Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews in June, with final selections expected later that month. Location The TEMPORALAW project is based at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Brussels, Belgium, offering access to a vibrant academic and policy environment at the heart of Europe. Apply Now The TEMPORALAW PhD positions at VUB represent a unique opportunity for early-career researchers interested in climate change, human rights law, and international legal theory. By examining how law engages with the past and future of climate responsibility, the project aims to reshape how courts and institutions understand time in climate justice. VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE HERE TO APPLY For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering the opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.