Job - Postdoctoral researcher Behavioural Approaches to Contract and Tort: Relevance for Policymaking (m/f) 1.0

The objective of this research programme is to analyze specific areas of law affecting contracts and torts, making use of insights from behavioural sciences. The starting point for the analysis is that in regulating the contracting process and by imposing liability in tort, the design of private law is based on a number of presumptions concerning the behaviour of individuals and organizations.  The insights from behavioural sciences raise a number of interesting issues for the analysis of law in action and policy-making relating to contracts and torts. They can be summarized in the two broad research questions: What is the contribution of behavioural approaches to the analysis of legal rules disciplining contract and tort? How do legal rules incorporate insights from behavioural sciences? As regards the object of research, the programme focuses on three particular domains: 1) Individual behaviour in exchanging resources and engaging in harmful activities; 2) Enforcement; 3) Behaviour of aggregations of individuals.  Within these three domains, the projects within the programme will focus on specific research questions. Starting from a traditional legal background, the programme contrasts the content of private law rules (and its underlying presumptions) with hypotheses based on assumptions used in behavioural sciences.  In doing so, it aims at synthesising socio-legal studies, psychology of law, and Law and Economics.  

Job Description

• participation in the teaching activities of the Rotterdam Institute of Law and Economics
• supervision of PhD researchers
• publication of academic articles on your work in at least two refereed journals in the field of Behavioural Approaches to Contract and Tort
• organisation of an international conference

You should have the following:

• doctorate diploma showing proficiency Economic Analysis of Law;
• a keen interest – and possibly experience – in private law and in multidisciplinary   social science research in general;
• publications in international journals;
• excellent skills and knowledge of Law and Economics research;
• management skills;
• ambition, energy, and flexibility;
• ability to produce work of excellent quality while under pressure;
• fluency in both spoken and written English.

As a PostDoc, you will join the growing international team of the Rotterdam Institute of Law and Economics of Erasmus School of Law, that participates actively in the development of international research and teaching at Erasmus School of Law.

The initial contract will be for one year. If you have given sufficient proof of your abilities, the temporary contract will be renewed for a further two years. The work conditions are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO NU). The salary is subject to training and experience and corresponds to Scale 11 CAO NU, with a minimum of € 3.195,- and a maximum of € 4.374,-  gross per month on a 38 hour per week contract.

Working at the Erasmus University Rotterdam means working in a professional environment, where personal development is encouraged through an active career and mobility policy. The Erasmus University Rotterdam highly appreciates flexibility: we have a 38-hour workweek, flexible working hours, possibilities to work part-time and maternal/paternal leave, an end-of-year bonus (8.3%) and a holiday allowance (8%). Moreover, the University has a flexible pension scheme, possibilities to participate in a terms of employment option model, company savings program and life insurance schemes and advantageous group insurances. Employees are welcome to use our facilities, such as the sports centre and the library.

An assessment will be part of the selection procedure.

Additional information can be obtained at http://www.rile.nl and http://www.behaviouralapproaches.eu as well as from Prof. Michael Faure (phone + 31–10-4082193; e-mail faure@law.eur.nl or Prof. Willem van Boom (phone +31-10-4082603; email vanboom@law.eur.nl.