The successful candidate will be appointed as an Early Stage Researcher (Ph.D. researcher) within the Disability Advocacy Research in Europe (DARE) Network. DARE is a Marie SkƗodowska Curie Innovative Training Network project, funded by the European Union. DARE is co-ordinated by the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at the National University of Ireland, Galway, with the collaboration of 7 partner institutions: the Institute for Social and Political Sciences (Portugal), Maastricht University (Netherlands), University of Leeds (UK), the European Disability Forum, the European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities, the University of Iceland and Swiss Paraplegic Research.

The primary aim of DARE is to equip a new generation of researchers to respond to global challenges facing persons with disabilities and policy makers. Its goal is to give legitimacy, through research, to the lived experience of persons with disabilities, as a basis for law reform. Fifteen Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) will be recruited across the network and will explore and develop recommendations for disability law and policy reform in light of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. DARE is an interdisciplinary research project – all ESRs will receive training in at least two disciplines related to disability rights – and all ESR projects are designed to be interdisciplinary in scope. All of the researchers will also have the opportunity to gain invaluable and funded work experience with leading civil society and public service organisations.

For more information, see www.nuigalway.ie/centre-disability-law-policy/research/projects/current/dare/ (DARE website)

In the framework of DARE, the Faculty of Law of Maastricht University is recruiting an ESR / PhD researcher for a period of three years.

The position concerns: ESR 15 - Collective Voice in the Global Arena: Interactions with the United Nations

Academic supervisors: Prof. Fons Coomans (Maastricht University), Prof. Jerome Bickenbach (Swiss Paraplegic Research / University of Lucerne)

Non-academic co-supervisor: Catalina Devandas Augilar (United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities)

• A relevant Master’s degree or equivalent in law, the humanities or social sciences;
• A demonstrable affinity with the topic;
• High scholarly abilities, as testified by previous academic record, particularly by the quality at masters-level thesis;
• Strong analytical capacity;
• Good organisational skills;
• Affinity with work in an interdisciplinary and highly international environment;
• Willingness to relocate to (the vicinity of) Maastricht;
• In light of the mobility requirements set by the European Commission for this project, at the time of recruitment by the host organisation, you may NOT have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to taking up the position. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account.

Example: Dutch nationals can be eligible for recruitment at a University located in the Netherlands if they have resided or carried out their main activity outside of the Netherlands for more than 24 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment.

• Candidates must fulfil the definition of an Early Stage Researcher (ESR) set by the European Commission: ESRs shall, at the time of recruitment by the host organisation, be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research career and not yet have been awarded a doctoral degree. Full-time equivalent research experience is measured from the date when a researcher obtained the degree which would formally entitle him or her to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher is recruited. Part-time research experience will be counted pro-rata.

Fixed-term contract: 3 years.

We offer a 3 year full-time PhD contract. The first year will be a probation period, after a positive assessment the position will be extended for another 2 years. You will be employed by Maastricht University at the Faculty of Law.

The full-time gross monthly salary amounts to € 2.325,00  in the first year according to salary scale PhD (‘promovendus’), increasing to € 2.835,00 in the third year; on top of this there will be an 8% holiday and an 8,3% year-end allowance. Non-Dutch applicants could be eligible for a favourable tax treatment (30% rule).

The salary and terms of employment for this position will correspond to the provisions set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) and to the provisions of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information visit the website: http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM employees.

We offer a dynamic and challenging job in an internationally-oriented organisation where individuals can receive an advanced education and scholars conduct exciting research.

You will participate in the 5 network wide research training sessions offered in the framework of the DARE ITN project.

You will be provided with shared office space and a PC.

Maastricht University is committed to nurturing an inclusive culture and a welcoming atmosphere. This inclusiveness strategy has resulted in a very diverse representation of nationalities and cultures. We strongly believe that diversity (including, but not limited to nationality, age and gender) of the staff and student population will increase the quality of UM education and research. Fostering diversity and inclusivity creates an academic community where individual talents thrive, and values and differences are cherished. We strongly encourage you to apply if you are qualified for this position.

Contract type: Temporary. We offer a 3 year full-time PhD contract.

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 16,300 students and 4,300 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/

The objectives of this research project are:

To explore how European Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) have already interacted effectively with key UN bodies - the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of persons with Disabilities. Applicants may also propose to study interaction of European DPOs with other UN bodies. To assess the critical success factors that account for success in such interaction and to define what is success. To make practical recommendations to ensure successful engagement and interaction. To explore how or whether such interaction leads to practical changes in domestic jurisdictions.

The project is inter-disciplinary. The law dimension will analyse the role of DPOs in the UN reporting cycle and in the development of jurisprudence and UN CRPD policy. The social science dimension will explore what advocacy lessons can be learned.  Public policy analysis will help to understand the different factors which shape national and international human rights policy.

Applicants should indicate in their research proposal how they envisage completing this research project. Subject to the limits of this brief description, applicants have complete freedom to propose how to complete this research project, including which research methodologies to use.

This project will include two four month secondments at Swiss Paraplegic Research / University of Lucerne and the office of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Geneva, during the second year of the contract (September 2020-August 2021).  

Duties:

• Complete a research proposal for the research project to contain research objectives, description of research, methodology, proposed completion timeframe, originality of contribution and societal impact;
• Submit a manuscript which meets the requirements to be awarded a Ph.D. by Maastricht University within the time frame of the contract;
• In addition ESRs must develop a Personal Career Development Plan; complete annual summaries of research findings; develop an Impact Action Plan; disseminate and communicate the research findings to relevant stakeholders; and prepare regular research updates for the DARE website and social media accounts.