At Centre for International Business Law (CIBL) at Department of Business Law at Aarhus School of Business, Aarhus University, 5 PhD scholarships will be available from July 1, 2010, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The overall research theme of the scholarships is sustainability and the internationali­sa­tion of law. Focus is on the initiatives of legal and quasi-legal character that have been launched within the area of sustainability with importance for the business community. This encompasses rules that influence the business community’s legal relations with investors, suppliers, other business associates and society in a broad sense. In addition to these matters being regulated on a national level, there is often a regulation on EU-level and from time to time also on UN, OECD and WTO levels. The fact that there are several regulators can mean that companies could be facing particularly encumbering and mutually conflicting demands. That is why it is very important to focus on the consequences of the internationalisation of law in the analysis of how to legally secure sustainability in the best way, and therefore this is expected to be a recurring theme in all PhD projects.

The research theme involves a number of different legal fields, such as contract law, company law, EU-law, environmental law, energy law, climate law, intellectual property law and competition law. The research projects can e.g. revolve around the following areas (see detailed description here), but applications with focus on other areas are also welcome:

1. Companies reporting and informing on sustainability (CSR)
2. Sustainable contract relations
3. Sustainability, industrial property rights and transfer of technology
4. Sustainability and PPP/PPC
5. Sustainability, energy and climate

The scholarships are so-called mobility scholarships, which means that applicants with a qualifying exam from Aarhus University cannot apply.

The scientific staff of the Department of Business Law includes 23 researchers of whom 10 are full professors. At the moment there are 13 PhD students at the department.

A PhD student in Denmark must complete an individually planned PhD course programme within the relevant research area and conduct a research project under the supervision of experienced senior researchers. As part of the programme the PhD student is also expected to spend some time (up to six months), with coverage of travel and accommodation expenses, at another – often foreign – research institution. During the programme, the PhD student is further expected to gain teaching experience within the subject area as well as experience with other forms of dissemination of research results. ASB also finances participation in relevant PhD courses and scientific conferences. In addition, it is expected that PhD students participate in and contribute to the other activities of the department.

Conditions of employment

The PhD scholarship has a duration of three years. Graduates and students expecting to complete their study programme in the near future may apply for the scholarship. The employment is covered by a national collective agreement.

The applicant’s research potential will be the determining factor for a positive academic assessment. For further information on admission criteria and ASB’s PhD programme, please look here.

If you have any questions about the fellowship etc., please feel free to contact Henrik Scriver, deputy head, phone number +45 8948 6560, e-mail: hsc@asb.dk

Questions about the preparation of the project description may be directed to Karsten Engsig Sørensen, Head of centre, phone number +45 8948 6335, e-mail: kas@asb.dk

Application and assesment

The following material must be attached:

• Project description (max. 5 pages), including the expected theoretical and methodological approach.
• Graduate diploma (including a list of all grades)
• CV
• Other material, if any (e.g. publications), which should be taken into account in the assessment

Only applications received through the electronic application facility will be accepted.

Deadline for application is May 12, 2010, at 12:00 noon.

The applications will subsequently be assessed by an expert selection committee, and applicants will receive the committee’s assessment of the individual application and the response to the application from ASB approx. 1 month after the expiry of the deadline for application.

The assessment of the application comprises an overall assessment of the applicant and his or her qualifications. Particular weight is attached to the project proposal, the grades obtained by the applicant in the study programme, and to whether the applicant, during the study programme or in another manner, has displayed special skills in writing major papers, e.g. a thesis.

Tentative Application Deadline : 12 May 2010