Uppsala University, Department of Law

The Faculty of Law in Uppsala, the oldest faculty of law in the Nordic region, was already in existence when the University was founded in 1477. Its activities cover a broad range of research areas and specialities, and its well-established basic, advanced and research education (in the first, second and third cycles respectively) is of high repute. The Faculty includes the Department of Law, which employs more than 200 people, of whom just over 100 are researchers or teachers. Today, research is under way in a total of 15 research subjects and 9 areas of civil law. This research is in a highly expansive and creative phase. New recruitment of researchers has taken place over the past few years and several research areas have been developed and strengthened. There are currently some 50 doctoral students working on various subjects at the Faculty.

To strengthen our research environment in the field of environmental law, the Uppsala University Department of Law is announcing a two-year position as postdoctoral researcher in environmental law with a focus on climate and energy law. The position is announced in collaboration between the Department of Law and the STandUP for Energy research programme.

Subject description: Environmental law is a dynamic area of law where there is a major need for research. Today, environmental legislation is primarily part of public law. Its overall objective is to contribute effectively to the fulfilment of environmental policy aims, such as mitigation of climate change and a transition to a fossil-free energy system. Environmental law deals with conflicts involving opposing private and public interests that arise when environmental policy is implemented. Different environmental policy aims are not infrequently hard to reconcile; an example is when the objective of expanding extraction of renewable energy comes into conflict with goals of protecting nature or creating a good local living environment for people. Tasks for environmental law research include analysing judicial resolution of diverse conflicts of interest and clarifying the implications of current law in terms of, for example, the scope for attaining a particular environmental policy aim. These issues are also often discussed from a de lege ferenda viewpoint – that is, in terms of what the law should be.

Environmental legislation has developed rapidly in recent decades, as political interest in environmental challenges has grown. Several environmental issues, such as climate change, are regulated internationally, in the EU and nationally (where additional regulatory and decision levels exist). This area of law is complex, not always coherent and sometimes fragmentary. Its complexity as such sometimes works against fulfilment of environmental goals. One task for environmental law research is therefore to systematically analyse legal rules in order to provide guidance for their application and discuss alternative, clearer means of regulation.

Environmental law is a research subject at Uppsala University’s Faculty of Law. For several decades, the research group has collaborated closely with environmental-law researchers at universities outside Sweden. Their collaboration with other higher education institutions in the Nordic region, in both research and education at Master and PhD levels, is the most highly developed.

Postdoctoral project specialisation: Within the scope of this call for applications, the research project can tackle legal issues connected with expansion of renewable energy or transition to fossil-free vehicles. Alternatively, the project can include the entire system for electricity production, distribution or use. The project can then focus either on complexity within the legal system (including contradictory and overlapping rules), or how the law deals with complexity within the electricity system.

Duties: The position is structured so that 70 per cent of the appointee’s time is spent on research and 30 per cent on teaching or administrative duties.

The holder of this position is expected to contribute, both independently and in collaboration with other researchers, to the research and teaching environment at the Department of Law. The appointee is also expected to publish high-quality research and otherwise promote development of the Department’s academic environment.

Some funds for travel will be available, but applicants should endeavour also to apply for external funding for such purposes.

Eligibility: The purpose of this postdoctoral position is to give recent PhD graduates a chance to further consolidate and develop their skills, primarily in research.

To be eligible for a postdoctoral fellowship, the applicant must have a Swedish doctorate or a foreign degree that is deemed to be equivalent. The degree must have been attained within a maximum of three years before the closing application date. If special reasons apply, the doctorate may have been awarded earlier. ‘Special reasons’ relate to sick leave, parental leave, service in the Armed Forces and elected positions in trade unions, student organisations or the like.

Since, in addition to research, the position includes some teaching, teacher training for higher education will count as a qualification.

Application: The application must be submitted through Uppsala University’s recruitment system (Varbi) and include the following:

  • A project description, including a time schedule, in Swedish or English. Within the framework described above, applicants can freely design their own projects. The description must address issues relevant to the project, its subject context, the status of current research, theoretical associations and matters concerning materials and methods. There must also be reflections on the news value of the project and its value in terms of jurisprudence. The length of the project description must not exceed five A4 pages or 17,000 characters including spaces.

  • The applicant must also submit a project summary written for the general reader, in Swedish or English, not exceeding 2,000 characters including spaces.

  • A curriculum vitae (CV) in Swedish or English.

  • A list of the academic publications referred to. Among these, applicants must specify a maximum of 10 works that are primarily cited.

  • Degree certificate(s) and other relevant documents.

  • A letter of recommendation or specification of at least one referee.

  • The academic works (max. 10) primarily referred to, numbered according to the publication list.

Any publications referred to that are not available in electronic format and cannot be scanned must be sent, in triplicate, to the Faculty of Law, Uppsala University, Box 256, SE–751 05 Uppsala. Mark the envelope with the following reference number: UFV-PA 2019/717.

Applications will be assessed in terms of the quality of scholarship of the project proposal and the applicant's qualifications. As part of the application procedure, a limited number of personal face-to-face or, alternatively, telephone interviews may be conducted on the basis of applicants' project descriptions and appendices.

Application period etc.: The application must reach the Department of Law by 27 May 2019 at the latest. To be considered, the application must be complete. Additions submitted after the closing application date are not permitted.

Uppsala University strives to be an inclusive workplace that promotes equal opportunities and attracts qualified candidates who can contribute to the University’s excellence and diversity. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and from people of all backgrounds.

Salary: Individually negotiated salary.

Starting date: Admission by agreement

Type of position: Temporary full-time position ending 211231.

Information about the position is available from Charlotta Zetterberg, Professor of Environmental Law (phone +46-(0)18-471 2656, email charlotta.zetterberg@jur.uu.se) or Head of Department Margareta Brattström (phone +46-18-471 1623, email margareta.brattstrom@jur.uu.se).

We welcome your application not later than 27 May 2019, ref. UFV-PA 2019/717.

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? If so, you will find much information about working and living in Sweden at www.uu.se/joinus. You are also welcome to contact the International Faculty and Staff Services at ifss@uadm.uu.se.

Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Full time
First day of employment Admission by agreement
Salary Fixed pay
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100 %
City Uppsala
County Uppsala län
Country Sweden
Reference number UFV-PA 2019/717
Union representative
  • Saco-rådet, saco@uadm.uu.se
  • ST/TCO, tco@fackorg.uu.se
  • Seko Universitetsklubben, seko@uadm.uu.se
Published 27.Mar.2019
Last application date 27.May.2019 11:59 PM CEST

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