PhD candidate in Criminal Law on the protection of vulnerable populations against mental harm

Are you passionate about the potential of the Dutch criminal law to protect vulnerable populations against the infliction of mental harm? This PhD position offers the opportunity to explore important questions at the intersection of criminal law, human rights, and comparative law. You'll contribute to shaping legal and policy responses to mental harm while engaging with key issues of justice, freedom, and vulnerability. Join a dynamic research team at TLS, where you'll conduct impactful research, gain interdisciplinary insights, and help advance criminal law.You will become part of the department of criminal law at TLS and are expected to contribute the educational program of TLS. 

Your position 
The proposed PhD project focuses on the criminalization of mental harm, particularly as it affects vulnerable populations such as LGBTQ+ individuals, ethnic and religious minorities, and those impacted by gender-based violence. The criminalization of mental harm poses unique challenges for criminal law, relating to its invisibility, the difficulty of proving it, and the potential tension with fundamental freedoms such as freedom of expression and religion. This project aims to explore how criminal law can address these issues effectively while safeguarding fundamental rights.

As a PhD researcher, you will:

• Conduct independent academic research on mental harm in criminal law, contributing to the scholarly understanding of this complex and evolving issue.
• Examine the role of vulnerability theory in shaping legal responses to mental harm and assess its implications for marginalized groups.
• Explore the intersection of criminal law and human rights, analysing how protections against mental harm can coexist with freedoms like expression and religion.
• Develop a legal framework for addressing mental harm, with a focus on Dutch law and comparative insights from other jurisdictions.
• Engage in interdisciplinary research, incorporating perspectives from psychology, sociology, and other fields to understand the broader impacts of mental harm.
• Contribute to ongoing policy debates on criminalizing mental harm, providing innovative ideas to inform legal reform.

Your daily work will involve a combination of legal doctrinal research, theoretical analysis, and comparative law. Depending on your interests and experience, you may also incorporate interdisciplinary insights to strengthen your research. The PhD thesis is expected to be written in English, enabling it to contribute to international academic discussions on criminal law and mental harm.

In the longer term, this project aims to develop practical and theoretical contributions to the evolving discussions on how criminal law can adequately protect mental wellbeing while respecting fundamental freedoms. Your research will contribute to the academic and societal debate and may inspire meaningful legal and policy reforms.

You will be part of the department of criminal law at TLS, collaborating with a dynamic research team and contributing to the department’s educational programs.

Tilburg University is curious about how you can contribute to our research, education, impact, and the team you will be part of. Below, we outline the qualifications we consider important for this position.

We are looking for candidates who:

• Hold a relevant master’s degree in law, preferably with a focus on criminal law, human rights law, or a related field, completed with excellent grades. (Master students are welcome to apply, as long as they will complete their masters program before September 1st 2025). 
• Have a very good understanding of Dutch substantive criminal law, demonstrated through academic coursework, prior research or educational experience. 
• Have a high proficiency (CEFR C2) in Dutch and English, enabling effective communication and documentation in both languages; proficiency (C1 or higher) in a third language is a strong plus.
• Show explicit interest in and motivation for conducting innovative academic research in the field of criminal law and vulnerability theory.
• Possess strong analytical, writing, and communication skills, demonstrated through previous academic work or professional experience.
• Have solid experience in teaching or a strong interest in developing teaching skills, as the position also involves contributing to the educational programs of the department.
• Are able to contribute to an open, inclusive, and supportive organizational culture.

To maintain a vibrant university community, all staff members are expected to carry out their work in the Netherlands, and teaching is conducted in person.

International PhD’s with scholarships below the IND income standard (€1,564) are unfortunately not eligible for this vacancy. 

Tilburg University offers excellent benefits in a pleasant working environment: 

• A position based on 1.0 fte (40 hours per week), of which 80% is dedicated to research and 20% is dedicated to teaching.
• A salary of €2.901 gross per month for full-time employment, based on UFO profile PhD student and salary scale P. Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system based on relevant work experience. 
• This is a vacancy for a PhD in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 8 sub b CLA DU. You will initially be given a temporary contract for the duration of 18 months.
• Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. 
• Over 8 weeks of vacation leave. 
• Reimbursement for sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, and public transport. 
• A monthly internet allowance of €25.
• An options model in which you exchange benefits for things such as additional leave, more pension, a bicycle or personal training at our Sports Center. 
• A moving allowance (subject to conditions). 
• Employees from abroad may be eligible for a tax-free allowance for extraterritorial expenses equal to 30% of taxable salary. 
• A pension with ABP; the largest Dutch pension fund.
• Training in personal development, career development, leadership, education, and research. Or a language course at our Language Center. 
• A work culture in which we embrace differences, everyone is welcome and given equal opportunities. 
• A vibrant campus in green surroundings that is easily accessible by public transport. 

For more information, see our website and the CLA Dutch Universities. 

Tilburg University is an academic, inclusive, and engaged community. Together with nearly 3,000 employees, we are committed to broad prosperity, sustainably, and inclusion. For current and future generations. We develop and share knowledge for the requirements of people and our society. This is how we contribute to solving complex social issues and help society move forward.

We educate our 19,500 students of 110 nationalities to become responsible leaders with knowledge, skills, and character. With our education and research for broad prosperity, we exceedingly focus on themes such as mental and preventive care, an inclusive labour market, the energy transition, and digitalization.

Tilburg Law School
Since its founding in 1963, Tilburg Law School has become one of the leading law schools in Europe. Through top research and the provision of high-quality university education, the School contributes to society. Tilburg Law School is organized into five Departments: Public Law and Governance; Law, Technology, Markets and Society; Private, Business and Labour Law; the Fiscal Institute Tilburg; and Criminal Law. The mission of the School is to understand and improve the role of law and public administration in addressing the social problems of today and tomorrow. Through research and education, our scholars contribute to that mission. 

More than 4,000 students pursue a Bachelor's, pre-Master's or Master's degree at Tilburg Law School. Through this education, we train students in law, public administration, and data science. The Tilburg Educational Profile (TEP) is unique in the Netherlands. Central to it are three core concepts: knowledge, skill and character. A university education provides students with the latest substantive knowledge and trains them to be critical thinkers and resilient professionals. In addition, the School is committed to innovative educational concepts and, partly in response to the coronavirus crisis, has invested heavily in the quality of online education and in innovative didactic tools to make and keep students inquisitive. 

Tilburg Law School's research is highly regarded nationally and internationally. The Tilburg Law School Departments work closely together in their research in four signature research programs: 1) Global Law and Governance; 2) Law and Security; 3) Connecting Organizations; and 4) Regulating Socio-Technical Change. 

About the Department of Criminal Law
The Department of Criminal Law has a multidisciplinary composition in which both criminal (procedural) law and social science approaches to crime and victimization have a place, and it provides education and research in the field of criminal law, criminology, victimology, and forensic psychiatry. Currently, the Department has about 40 permanent staff members. Particular value is placed on collaboration, both within the Department and with colleagues within Tilburg Law School and other Schools. The Department has an informal culture, where equality and providing an inspiring and safe working environment are paramount. Providing excellent education and conducting challenging research are seen as two main tasks that can only be accomplished together. 

Would you like to know more before applying? Feel free to contact Dr. Joeri Bemelmans at j.h.b.bemelmans@tilburguniversity.edu.

We kindly invite you to apply by March 31st 2025 (23:59 CEST). This can only be done online. Please add the following documents to your application:

• Resume
• Cover letter (addressed to Dr. Joeri Bemelmans)
• Research Proposal: please use the format on this website.
• Copy of your master diploma (or a provisional grades list if you have not obtained your diploma yet)
• Example of written work, e.g. master thesis.

Letter selection is scheduled in April, you will receive notification from us shortly thereafter. Selection interviews will take place on May 6th.

The selection committee consists of: 

1. Dr. Inge Graef
2. Dr. Dorris de Vocht
3. Dr. Joeri Bemelmans
4. Dr. Alice Dejean de la Bâtie
5. Dr. Sjors Ligthart

You will ideally start working for Tilburg University on 1st September 2025. 

This vacancy has been published simultaneously internally and externally. In case of equal suitability, our preference is for an internal candidate.