Essex Law School seeks a talented researcher to join a British Academy APEX Award-funded project on reparations for the Cauca River in Colombia.
The role involves analysing national and international legal reparative frameworks and the rights of nature to strengthen the reparations process. You will examine the Special Jurisdiction for Peace’s landmark recognition of the Cauca River as a war victim, and assess the applicability of existing reparative models to natural entities.Collaboration with colleagues in Law and Life Sciences will be central to translating ecological findings into legal recommendations.
Responsibilities include supporting research and public engagement, engaging with knowledge exchange, planning and delivering a workshop in Colombia and liaising with project partners and stakeholders.We welcome applicants with expertise in international law, environmental law, transitional justice, or related fields.
This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute to pioneering interdisciplinary work on legal reparations and the rights of nature.
Essex Law School is a vibrant and intellectually dynamic community, renowned for its critical and interdisciplinary approach to legal research. We are particularly recognised for our pioneering work in human rights and transitional justice. With a strong commitment to addressing global challenges through impactful scholarship, Essex Law School offers an exceptional environment for researchers seeking to advance cutting-edge ideas with real-world influence.
Duties of the Role
1. To support delivery of the research objectives defined by the British Academy APEX Award
2. To conduct legal research concerning legal reparative frameworks and rights of nature, analysing current developments and producing regular research reports
3. To meet regularly with the principal investigator to discuss findings, align objectives and discuss future steps
4. To understand, interpret and integrate scientific data with the legal analysis in order to co-produce an expert legal report, a peer-reviewed publication, a white paper, and communications to international institutions.
5. To communicate and collaborate with scientists, ensuring a multidisciplinary approach to the production of research
6. To liaise with partners, collaborators, and help organize workshops and outreach events
Skills and qualifications required
Postgraduate Research Assistant – Legal Reparations & Rights of Nature (Cauca River Project)
Qualifications & Education
7. Academic background in Law or Human Rights (essential), which may be demonstrated at undergraduate or Master’s level.
8. A Master’s degree in Law or a field related to the project (essential)
Knowledge & Expertise
9. Strong knowledge of international law, transitional justice, and rights of nature (essential).
10. Familiarity with legal reparative frameworks in national and international contexts (desirable).
11. Awareness of interdisciplinary research methods and qualitative research (desirable).
Skills & Experience
12. Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research resulting in high-quality outputs (essential).
13. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English (essential).
14. Ability to work effectively in Spanish, both written and spoken (essential).
15. Ability to work both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team (essential).
16. Experience in organising academic workshops, conferences, or similar events (desirable).
17. Experience liaising and collaborating with a range of stakeholders, including international partners (desirable).
Other Requirements
18. Willingness and ability to travel internationally, including to Colombia, for project-related activities (essential).
19. Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in research and academic practice (essential).
20. Flexibility to work within the requirements of a fixed-term, grant-funded project (essential).
This is a Fixed term contract for 12 months due to temporary funding.
At the University of Essex, internationalism and diversity is central to who we are and what we do. We are committed to being a cosmopolitan, internationally oriented university that is welcoming to staff and students from all countries, faiths and backgrounds, where you can find the world in one place.
To support this commitment we have our, a staff-led network that promotes and celebrates the rich cultural diversity among Essex staff, and our Colchester campus based, which hosts regular services, meetings and events organised by our chaplains and faith representatives.