Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) / Department for the Economy (DfE)

PhD RESEARCH STUDENTSHIP

The School of Law is delighted to announce a PhD studentship funded by the Department for the Economy (DfE). The successful candidate will research the topic of ‘Inquiries.’

WHAT THE STUDENTSHIP WILL COVER:

· The funded studentship will cover UK tuition fees plus a DfE stipend, for a maximum of three years. For further details re eligibility criteria (including academic, citizenship and residency criteria) please click on the DfE Research Eligibility Guidance Notes.

· The researcher will have standard access to facilities available in the School of Law and the Graduate School at Queen’s University. The researcher with engage with staff from the School of Law and will have direct access to Queen’s University Libraries. Applicants must complete the application form on the Queen’s University Postgraduate Applications Portal and also provide an up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV) and a short paper of up to 1000 words on ‘truth and inquiries’ (see further details below). The paper should demonstrate an understanding of key concepts in law/transitional justice and of core research methods. The paper may take examples from any field of law, but proposals which adopt a comparative perspective would be particularly welcome.

The closing date for applications is Thursday 3 August 2023 at noon.

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed (online) early August at a time and date to be arranged.

Candidates will be notified by the beginning of September of the outcome of their application.

Please insert the code QUB-INQ23 into the Funding section within your application form.

 

ELIGIBILITY

· UK residents: fees plus stipend.

· Other EU residents: fees only.

· Please note this studentship is not available to international students.

For further details re eligibility criteria (including academic, citizenship and residency criteria) please click on the DfE Research Eligibility Guidance Notes

· Study can only be undertaken on a full-time basis from October 2023

· Qualifications:

 

· An Upper Second or First Class Honours degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) in law or another relevant discipline, plus a

Master's degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) with an average above 60%.

 

· Applicants with an Upper Second or First Class Honours degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) in law or another relevant discipline, who are currently studying a Master’s degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) will also be considered.

 

· Applicants with an Upper Second or First Class Honours degree (or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University) in law or another relevant discipline, plus evidence of ability to conduct independent and original research will be considered on a case by case basis.

·

Desirable: familiarity with the literature around transitional justice, including ‘truth recovery’ or investigatory processes, victimology, human rights.

 

· For further details re eligibility criteria (including academic, citizenship and residency criteria) please see the DfE Research Eligibility Guidance Notes.

 

RESEARCH PROJECT

Title: Inquiries

Summary: Applications are invited for a project addressing the theme of inquiries. Recent academic research and policy discourses nationally and internationally have focused on investigatory mechanisms such as truth commissions, commissions of investigation or public inquiries as a means of fact-finding and of holding states and other institutions accountable for past wrongdoing. While such mechanisms have been used to address a range of harms, they have often been found wanting in terms of the extent to which they deliver truth, justice or accountability for victims including relating to victim experiences of these processes as well as lack of follow-through on outcomes.

 

Potential candidates are now invited to submit research proposals of approximately 1,000 words on the topic of ‘inquiries.’ Proposals might address – but need not be limited to – questions such as:

· Can inquiries be framed as a ‘victim-centred’ way of dealing with past harms? Is there an optimum model for achieving this?

· By their very nature, inquiries are selective. Is there is a risk that in seeking to deal with the past through inquiries, that hierarchies of victims are created and reinforced?

· Can inquiries deliver truth and justice for victims and survivors in relation to process and/or outcomes?

· To what extent has accountability been achieved through inquiries, including in relation to implementation and follow-through?

· What is the impact of State influence on the scope, mandate, legal framework, composition, powers and resourcing of public inquiries?

· Have inquiries been used to limit the number of ‘provable truths’ about the conflict in Northern Ireland or the legacy of historical institutional abuse?

Proposals can address various policy contexts and empirical problems – including, for example, inquiry models in comparative context across different jurisdictions or inquiries into one particular case study such as child protection/historical institutional abuses; terrorism/conflict related killings; medical/health settings – but should involve a substantial focus on inquiry mechanisms. The methodology should be clearly articulated.

This project will be conducted under the supervision of Prof Anne-Marie McAlinden and Dr Cheryl Lawther within the School of Law.

Further information: Contact Professor Anne-Marie McAlinden (a.mcalinden@qub.ac.uk)