Searching in the dark to be expected. Struggles likely. Impactful work ensured. As a researcher at our institutes you will have a diverse set of responsibilities. You will put scientific knowledge into action. You will be working in a vibrant environment where scientists and researchers from different disciplines focus on projects in Law and Sustainable Finance. You will work closely with professors from the Faculty of Law and the School of Business and Economics. You will set up challenging research projects together with other researchers. We are looking for an ambitious researcher who is willing and able to work in this interdisciplinary environment. The offered position will be situated both at the Faculty of Law (Institute for Corporate Law, Governance and Innovation Policies, ICGI) and the School of Business and Economics (European Center for Sustainable Finance, ECCE). You will be closely working together with the two professors (Prof. Mr. Olaerts and Prof. Dr. Rob Bauer) who currently hold the Elverding Chair on Sustainable Business, Culture, and Corporate Regulation.

The core of the research is to investigate how long-term decision making by corporations and institutional investors can be enhanced from both a national and a European perspective. It is our ambition to explore this research theme from a multidisciplinary angle, striving for an inclusive approach. Combining the strengths of the faculties involved (Law and School of Business and Economics), the post-doctoral researcher is expected to define, manage and execute research projects in which both economic and legal challenges are investigated, while paying attention to both the institutional investment and the corporate perspective.  The research output should contribute to the literature on how to make businesses more sustainable, how culture can play a role in achieving this, and how boards and management of corporations can be supported (or even nudged) to have a long-term (sustainable) compass. In this respect, the following influencers of long termism and corporate decision making will be researched: the influence of soft and hard law, corporate ethics and culture, and the role of external stakeholders, and more in particular the role of institutional investors (with a focus on asset owners) and private investors.

The post-doctoral researcher will be able to significantly contribute to the direction of the research agenda while being member of a team of senior researchers and PhDs. In that role, the researcher will be involved in activities such as daily supervision of PhDs, post-graduate education, organization of conferences by the Elverding Chair, and interactions with similar initiatives at other universities and think-tanks.

·         PhD in either Law, Finance, Economics, Law and Economics, Law and Finance or a related field;

·         Passion for research;

·         Demonstrated experience in organizational tasks;

·         Team player;

·         Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as in a team;

·         Experience with writing grant applications and research proposals;

·         Excellent oral and written English communication; knowledge of Dutch is a plus.

Fixed-term contract: 2 years.

Depending on the candidates interest and expertise he/she will be appointed at the Faculty of Law or at the School Business and Economics. The appointment as a Post-doctoral researcher will be for an initial period of two years with the possibility for extension based on target agreements. The salary depends on academic qualifications and experience. The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website: www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM employees. The salary is likely to be set in salary scale 11 of the CAO, with a minimum gross month salary of € 3.637,00 and a maximum gross month salary of € 4.978,00. For people recruited from abroad a reduced income tax rate may apply.

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM employees.

Maastricht University

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 18,000 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.

The Institute for Corporate Law, Governance and Innovation Policies (ICGI) and the European Center for Sustainable Finance (ECCE)

ICGI (Faculty of Law) focuses primarily on the impact that far-reaching social changes have on corporations, corporate law and governance. This impact concerns the form, nature, structure, mission, strategy, policy, technological and organizational innovation, and the overall performance of companies: their success and (dis)continuity are thus also part of it. The impact in the opposite direction is also analyzed through constructive assessment enabling the development of changes in corporate law and governance in aid of desired social developments.

ECCE (School of Business and Economics) is the world’s leading research institute on sustainable finance and responsible investing. It offers high-quality research on the impact of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards on the pricing of assets in financial markets. Moreover, part of the research focusses on the different ways investors can engage with the companies they invest in. ECCE’s mission is to develop and communicate a thought-provoking and innovative body of knowledge about sustainable finance and closely related topics, through high-quality research, (executive) education, presentations, conferences, and international partnerships. ECCE aims to encourage an ongoing dialogue between all parties needed to achieve sustainable development, including investors, analysts, companies, consultants, academic institutes, and regulators.

ICGI and ECCE collaborate through the Elverding chair which is a chair on Sustainable Business, Culture and Corporate Regulation. Appointed to this chair are Rob Bauer (ECCE) and Mieke Olaerts (ICGI) to conduct joint research in this area of which this post doc position forms a part.