Research possibilities for the SEAS postdoctoral research fellow in regulatory and governance challenges related to ocean sustainability

This position is connected to the thematic areas of regulatory and governance challenges related to ocean sustainability. Applicants are encouraged to submit research proposals dealing with regulatory and governance in the field of marine and/or maritime sustainability. Information on relevant research areas and possibilities are described below. Applicants are encouraged to focus their research proposals on specific thematic areas as described. The position is open to either an incoming or an outgoing candidate, see mobility rules. The successful candidate will be employed at the Faculty of Law with affiliation to the Research Group for Natural Resource Law, Environmental Law and Development Law. For further details about the research possibilities please contact Associate Professor Ignacio Herrera Anchustegui, leader of the Research Group. Upon contact Anchustegui will direct interested persons to relevant potential supervisors who will be able to offer advice towards the development of a research proposal. Enquiries can also be directed to research advisor Ingrid Birce Müftüoglu.

Technological development, increase in human population, and the intense utilisation of marine spaces bring about the need to develop further expertise in the legal governance and management of these areas towards their sustainable use. Research challenges needing further research in the field of marine and maritime sustainability are vast and wide. These range from jurisdictional and state responsibility matters to more technical issues, such as sustainability in decommissioning of offshore structures.

Applicants are encouraged to submit research proposals dealing with regulatory and governance in the field of marine and/or maritime sustainability. Applicants are encouraged to focus their research proposals on at least one of the thematic areas listed below. These have been chosen due to their legal relevance and synergies with our researchers and ongoing academic activities.

• The governance and regulation of fisheries, aquaculture and seafood production
• The role of sustainability in the Law of the Sea and state responsibility implications
• Links between sustainability, multi-areal uses and marine/maritime spatial planning
• Environmental impact assessments and environmental indicators as vehicles to contribute towards the sustainability of activities and projects
• Circularity, recycling, reusability, and repowering of vessels

Research projects are expected to be clearly structured and built around specific relevant legal research questions. Interdisciplinary aspects are welcome as vehicles to integrate different disciplines and perspectives when dealing with regulatory and legal issues.

The position is open to both incoming and outgoing applicants. Applicants must hold a PhD degree within Law prior to the application deadline. Alternatively, document that the thesis is defended successfully, or that the dissertation is currently being evaluated by the PhD evaluation body of your academic institution.

The primary objective of the postdoctoral position is to qualify the appointee for work in top academic positions. Teaching and/or other qualifying duties might be included if the appointee lacks such experience. The UiB-contract may, under certain conditions, be extended by up to one year e.g., if the fellow is qualified to teach in compulsory courses at the master’s level at the Faculty of Law and/or if the faculty/research group/supervisor or fellow receives additional funding.

The successful candidate will be employed at the Faculty of Law of the University of Bergen with affiliation to the Research Group for Natural Resource Law, Environmental Law and Development Law (https://www.uib.no/en/rg/resource).

The Research Group for Natural Resource Law, Environmental Law and Development Law comprises more than ten full-time internationally active and renowned legal researchers devoted to areas tightly linked to marine and maritime sustainability. As part of the group, the successful candidate will join an engaged, ambitious and inclusive community that strives to become a point of reference in Northern Europe in cutting-edge legal research on sea sustainability, management of natural resources, offshore energy and climate change. The successful candidate will benefit from our active environment, be included in the development of research projects and receive supervision. Furthermore, our research activities and interest are reflected in the faculty’s teaching portfolio. The Faculty has several courses directly relevant to marine sustainability, for example, Law of the Sea and its Uses, and International and comparative Energy and Climate Law.

Additionally, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to join other Research Groups within the Law Faculty and be affiliated to interdisciplinary centres and research initiatives at the University of Bergen such as the Bergen Offshore Wind Centre (BOW), the Centre for climate and energy transformation (CET) or the Bergen Center for Competition Law and Economics (BECCLE).

The successful candidate will benefit from a large international research network and close contacts with leading institutions and individuals. This would allow the post-doctoral researcher to have access to world-class scientists in Northern Europe and other parts of the globe and it will facilitate eventual research visits and research collaboration. Examples of institutions with which we have close collaboration are the Aberdeen University Centre for Energy Law, University of Aberdeen; The Center for Climate Change, Energy and Environmental Law, University of Eastern Finland, or The Florence School of Regulation, European University Institute.

The successful candidate will be able to connect to non-academic environments, contributing to the development of non-academic skills, expand his or her network, and open doors for different applied research possibilities. Thanks to our contact network and location, there are opportunities to collaborate with the vivid marine and maritime industrial environment in the Norwegian Western Coast, regulatory and governmental agencies and other interest groups. Examples of these are: Maritime Bergen, the Institute of Marine Research (Havforskningsinstituttet), Vestland County Municipality, and different energy and maritime companies.

The full advertisement in Jobbnorge will be available after august 1, 2021. Call deadline is October 31, 2021.