Research Interests
Open to PhD applications in:
- Critical approaches to international law/ international criminal law
- Gender and sexuality
- Transitional justice
- Human rights
Public outreach & key achievements
- Editorial board member of leading journals Feminist Review, Feminist Legal Studies and the Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly
- I have an extensive record of expert input at national and international forums such as Nelson Mandela Foundation, the International Criminal Court, the United Nations; The Center for International Law and Policy in Africa (CILPA), The Emergent Justice Collective and the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission in The Gambia
- I have served as a Chair of Race Equality Charter Panel (2022, 2023) therefore, I am particularly attentive to the varied experiences that people from different ethnic backgrounds have within UK higher education and the best practices around support and guidance for PhD students
- As part of my commitment to supporting and mentoring PhD and early career scholars I have organized numerous events as Director of the QUB Gender Justice and Society Research Network and shared advice and guidance to early career scholars on best practices to develop impactful research that engages with policy makers (e.g #ECRday2022 Panel)
- I have been featured on a number of high profile podcasts including the ‘Best of Belfast Podcast: Northern Ireland’s #1 Interview Podcast; Activist Lawyer; and the ‘On the Line: Perspectives on Partition’ by the Museum of Free Derry.
Research students
| PhD area | Women Narrating Justice: The Value of Women's Storytelling in Response to Gender Violence During Mexico's War on Drugs |
|---|---|
| Name | Diana Ortega Torres |
| PhD area | An Appraisal of the Fairness in Trials of the International Crimes Tribunal, Bangladesh |
| Name | Tahsin Khan |
| PhD area | Laying the rails for peace: Framework agreements |
| Name | Melissa Lane |
Alumni: Where are they now
| PhD area | Exploring potential impact of belief in rape myths on (mock) Juror decision-making in Northern Ireland |
|---|---|
| Name | Dr Rosemary Cowan |
| Years of study | PhD awarded 2023 |
| Current Position | Lecturer (Education), School of Law, Queen's University Belfast |
| PhD area | Languishing in a legal limbo: Ireland's cross-border surrogate child |
| Name | Dr Mary O'Connor |
| Years of study | PhD awarded 2019 |
| PhD area | Due Diligence in the protection of victims of trafficking: Responding to the Securitisation of migration |
| Name | Dr Adedayo Akingbade |
| Years of study | PhD awarded 2021 |
| Current Position | Lecturer in Law, Manchester Metropolitan University |
| Quote | "Everything, I needed in a mentor – Dr Brunger supported me from the start of my thesis to submission and beyond. She set expectations, communicated well, and showed me how to think beyond the thesis as a piece of research" |
| PhD area |
Eliminating gender stereotyping and exclusion of adolescent pregnant school girls: an international human rights perspective under Article 10(c) CEDAW |
| Name | Dr Gift Sotonye-Frank |
| Years of study | PhD awarded 2022 |
| Current Position | Lecturer (Education), Queen's University, Belfast |
| Quote | "I felt very welcomed at my first, and subsequent meetings with Dr Yassin Brunger. The Gender Network Initiative events organised by Dr Brunger also created a supportive environment that enabled me to thrive as a PhD student." |
| PhD area | Exploring Potential Impact of Belief in Rape Myths on (Mock) Juror Decision-Making in Northern Ireland |
| Name | Dr Rosemary Cowan |
| Years of study | PhD awarded 2023 |
| Current Position | Lecturer (Education), Queen's University, Belfast |
Discover More
- Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
- School of Law
- QUB Gender Network
- The Senator George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice
- Human Rights Centre
- Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Get ahead: tips on how to prepare your application to study for a PhD at QUB Law
Read our guidance on the steps in our PhD applications process and how to present your research proposal.
Interested in a postdoctoral fellowship at QUB Law?
If you have already completed a PhD or are about to do so, and you are looking for a mentor for a postdoctoral fellowship in one of my areas of expertise, please get in touch via email. The School of Law has a strong track record in supporting able candidates who are working towards fellowship applications to funders such as the British Academy, EU Marie Sklodowska-Curie scheme, ESRC NINE and the Leverhulme Trust.