PhD Scholarship Opportunity at the School of Law - Children’s Rights and Environmental Litigation in South Africa

23 Jun 2023

The Youth Climate Justice project will analyse the growing trend of child and youth climate activism, particularly how they are claiming and asserting their own rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The project analyses in particular whether legal action involving children and youth is transforming perceptions of children, and therefore the discipline of children’s rights.  It is funded by the European Research Council. It is highly ambitious and cutting edge, and the PhD researcher will join a team of international, interdisciplinary researchers. 

The project involves talking to children and youth around the world who are taking climate cases, as well as those taking community action. Legal analysis will be conducted; as well as analysis through other disciplines such as political science and psychology to interrogate questions relating to children’s climate justice. 

This PhD candidate will engage in legal analysis of climate cases and other relevant legal issues relating to children and climate justice. The candidate will in particular examine the context of South Africa, and have extensive experience of that jurisdiction. The candidate will however be likely to conduct research across numerous jurisdictions. 

PhD position: The student will be registered at the School of Law, University College Cork, Ireland. The studentship comprises an annual stipend for four years and full fees at the EU level (currently €5,770 per year). The current stipend is €19,000 per annum. The project is funded for 48 months, with a start date of November 2023. The language of the project is English. 

Principal Investigator: Prof Aoife Daly (UCC) 

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• To conduct high quality research under the supervision and direction of the Principal Investigator. 
• To work as part of an interdisciplinary team. 
• To work with other partners/collaborators in achieving the research goals of the project. 
• To present research progress and project outcomes at project meetings and national and international conferences. 
• To contribute and produce a literature review and research articles. 
• To conduct fieldwork in South Africa in relation to youth climate justice. 

Selection Criteria 

• Primary degree in law to at least 2.1 level, and ideally a Masters in law also to 2.1 level. 
• Extensive experience of the context of South Africa. 
• Highly motivated individual with extensive experience in legal research (and preferably legal practice also). 
• Have ability to analyse case law at domestic and international levels. 
• Have the ability to work effectively as part of a team to achieve results within the time frame of the project. 
• Experience of first-hand field research beneficial. 

• Candidates must meet UCC's Postgraduate English Language Entry Requirements  

To Apply:  

Unique reference number: YCJ2023 Send application (as a single PDF) to include a cover letter, a detailed CV, and THREE referees' names and contacts. 

Applications should be sent by email only to Prof Aoife Daly: aoife.daly@ucc.ie. Please cite the unique position reference YCJ2023 only in the subject of all emails related to the PhD. 

Applications will be accepted until July 23rd 2023 at 5pm GMT. 

Closing Date for Applications: July 23rd
College: College of Business and Law
Contract Type: Fixed Term Whole-Time
Job Type: Research
Salary: €19,000