PhD Researchers in Migration Law and Governance

The department of European Law at the Faculty of Law, Maastricht University, has a vacancy for two full time doctoral researchers (1.0 FTE) for the duration of 4 years. We are looking for two aspiring researchers in migration law and governance with a strong interest in socio-legal and qualitative empirical research for participation in an ERC-funded research project on the enforcement of EU migration law.

The selected candidates will join the team of the SoftEn project that Evangelia (Lilian) Tsourdi, Associate Professor and Jean Monnet Chair in EU Migration Law and Governance, leads at the Law Faculty.
 

JOB DESCRIPTION

ABOUT THE PROJECT 

SoftEn – Soft Enforcement of EU Migration Law – is a five-year project running 2025-2029 that is funded by the European Research Council (ERC) as a Starting Grant. The core project team will consist of four researchers, the Principal Investigator Lilian Tsourdi, 1 post-doctoral researcher, and 2 doctoral researchers. In addition, Dr. Sarah Tas and Dr. Lukasz Dziedzic will respectively co-supervise one doctoral researcher. SoftEn conceptualizes soft enforcement and unlocks the black box of its operationalisation in the context of migration. It brings together theoretical insights from legal and political science on governance, enforcement, and accountability, combining legal analysis with empirical qualitative methods. 

Its groundbreaking nature lies in three characteristics. First, the project will generate a new interdisciplinary, legally grounded, and empirically informed theory of soft enforcement in the migration context. Second, it will generate datasets on soft enforcement along three axes (steering policy implementation; supervising policy implementation; and ensuring actor accountability) across the EU’s migration policies. Moving beyond ‘law on the books’, it will also generate unique qualitative empirical insights at EU and selected national levels. Third, it will generate a new evidence-informed governance framework for soft enforcement that can impact the work of public institutions at EU and national levels, and ultimately, individuals.

YOUR ROLE 

• You will undertake research within the project with an envisaged emphasis respectively on its sub-strand on migration policy enforcement through steering policy implementation (doctoral project 1), and its sub-strand on migration policy enforcement through policy supervision (doctoral project 2), while also contributing to other components of the project.   
• You will have the possibility to develop your own ideas within the project research line. The expectation is that each doctoral researcher will complete a PhD thesis within 4 years, that will also be developed as a sole-authored monograph. In addition, each doctoral researcher will pursue at least two sole authored publications within the project themes. 
• You will conduct original empirical qualitative research within the project.  
• You will contribute to joint research (e.g. development of the project datasets), joint events (e.g. participating in project conferences and workshops) and joint project publications (e.g. contributing to joint outputs in journal special issues or scientific collective volumes).  
• You will present your research at international conferences, and engage in other forms of research dissemination and communication.
• You will take an active part in the work of the SoftEn research team that will involve regular meetings and presence in Maastricht. 
• You will participate in the activities of the research centres and groups that the project is linked with, such as the Maastricht Centre for European Law (MCEL) and the Maastricht Centre for Citizenship, Migration and Development (MACIMIDE). 
• You will have the possibility to follow dedicated training in methods and skills that is tailor-made for doctoral researchers. 
• The positions do not comprise teaching duties but allow to gain experience in teaching, to the extent substantively beneficial for the SoftEn project.

RECRUIREMENTS

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR 
Your qualifications, knowledge, and experience 

• You hold a master’s degree in law that qualifies you to conduct doctoral research at Maastricht University. A master’s degree in related fields such as political science (with a preference to the specializations of public policy, EU studies, migration studies, or international relations) may be sufficient if you have demonstrable qualities in legal analysis. Researchers who have not yet acquired their master’s degree but are close to completion are also encouraged to apply but, if shortlisted, they will be requested to provide additional proof on the state of advancement of the master’s degree.
• You are able to demonstrate an affinity with the project topic through information in the CV and motivation letter. 
• You have demonstrable expertise and interest in socio-legal approaches and/or empirical qualitative methods for the study of law and/or migration, or you are motivated to familiarise yourself with these approaches and methods.  
• You have indicia of an inclination for scientific research, commensurable with the level of seniority, attested through information in the CV and motivation letter.  
• You can document fluency in English as this is the primary working and publication language of the SoftEn project. Fluency in other languages is welcome. 

Your skills and attitude

• You are able to work both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary and international team.
• You possess excellent academic writing and presentation skills.
• You are meticulous, have good organisation skills, and can work with deadlines.
• You are interested in developing your knowledge, skills, and profile as an early-career researcher.  
• You have the ambition to conduct innovative and thorough research, and to complete a PhD thesis based on that research within four years. 
• You are willing to live in or near Maastricht (e.g. Liege, Brussels) and to commit to regular presence in Maastricht.

What we offer
As a PhD at the Faculty of Law, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded according to UFO profile PhD, with corresponding salary from €2901,00 in the first year and €3707,00 gross per month in the fourth year (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• An employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 1.0 FTE. Upon a positive evaluation, an extension of 3 years will follow. 
• Additional benefits in the framework of the ERC funding for this project, e.g. funded possibility for fieldwork, funded possibility for international conference attendance and participation.
• You will become a member of an international team that values both team work and individual development.
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model. 
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students. 
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'. 
   

The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here.

Maastricht University
Why work at Maastricht University?

At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

Click here for more information about UM. 

Faculty of Law
The Faculty of Law at Maastricht University is a top-quality provider of challenging and rewarding Dutch and European legal education at bachelor’s, masters and PhD-level. A true pioneer in small-scale education and the teaching of legal skills for a broad range of future legal professionals.  
 

The clear research focus on European and international aspects of law and technology. On the empirical dimension of law provides both students and staff with a stimulating work environment. The faculty values its open and inclusive community, which contributes to creating a productive and pleasant place for work and study.  

The Faculty of Law offers a wide range of bachelor and master's programs. Would you like to learn more about our programs? Visit our website for more information on the courses, career perspectives, and admission requirements of our programs.  

 
Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Lilian Tsourdi at e.tsourdi@maastrichtuniversity.nl, Principal Investigator of the ERC SoftEn project for more information. 

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new PhD? Apply now, no later than March 9, 2025, for this position.

The interviews of shortlisted are envisaged to take place on the 31st March and 1st April 2025.

The application package must contain:

• A motivation letter that outlines how you fulfill the position requirements as identified under the section ‘what we are looking for’ (max. 2 pages, font 12, single spaced);
• A full Curriculum Vitae, including a qualifications and indicia of an inclination for scientific research;
• A transcript of your master’s degree (if already in your possession). If you have a foreign diploma in a language other than Dutch, French German, or English, please add a translation in one of the mentioned languages. In case you are enrolled in a master’s degree but have not yet completed it, please provide proof of enrolment and a transcript of your study results to date.  
• An academic writing sample in English, (such as a master's thesis, publication, extended course assignment) of 10,000 words maximum.
• The contact details (name, affiliation, and email) of two people whom we can contact for academic references, in case of shortlisting.  

The starting date for these posts is 1st September 2025.
 

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.