PhD position Relation between Law and Behavioral Change

PhD Opportunity: Relation between Law and Behavioral Change

Erasmus School of Law, department Law, Society & Crime, is seeking a full-time PhD researcher for a 4.5-year project on the relation between law and behavioral change, with 20% teaching responsibilities.

Job Description

The Department Law, Society & Crime hosts researchers in Criminology, Criminal Law, Sociology of Law, and Health Law. Research focuses on four interrelated lines:

1. Studying phenomena related to unsafety, insecurity, and marginalization, and the social responses to these phenomena from both legal normative and empirical perspectives.
2. Analyzing fundamental assumptions underlying rules and regulations, studying their implementation, effectiveness, legitimacy, and unintended consequences.
3. Examining actors and professions within the (criminal) justice system, including judicial decision-making and the operation of legal professionals.
4. Reflecting on the role of legal sanctions, reforms in criminal proceedings, and transitions between legal domains, including questions about competences between various jurisdictions and authorities.

The research includes topics such as environmental crime, juvenile crime, organized and subversive crime, corporate and white-collar crime, fraud, radicalism, medical-ethical issues, migration, diversity, multiculturalism, and processes of inclusion/exclusion. It also covers the role of legal sanctions, governance modes, and the impact of digitalization and big data.

Research is characterized by the multidisciplinary background of its staff, often adopting an empirical perspective and applying multiple empirical research methods. The department is well-equipped to study international comparative socioeconomic and legal issues with global causes.

The department contributes significantly to the bachelor and master curricula of Erasmus School of Law, offering education in Criminology, Criminal Law, Law and Sociology, and Health Law. It is responsible for four Master programs, including Criminology, an International Master in Advanced Research in Criminology, Criminal Law, and a Double Degree program preparing for legal practice. Bachelor teaching is primarily in Dutch, while master's teaching is also in English.

PhD Position: Relation between Law and Behavioral Change

Law and behavior are closely related. Rules, laws, and policies influence human behavior and are designed to change it, for example, to prevent crime. This project aims to extend the study of the relation between law and behavioral change. Applicants are invited to conduct research related to one of the sub-themes or a combination of them.

A. Citizens and (criminal) law

Citizens play a crucial role in the relationship between law and behavioral change. They are both subjects of behavioral change and recipients of information about crime and crime prevention. Understanding citizens' perceptions and attitudes requires empirical research. Projects can focus on citizens' perceptions of the law, types of crime that are "hot topics," or attitudes towards governmental approaches to prevent crime. The role of media in shaping perceptions of crime can also be studied.

B. Organizational compliance

Compliance within organizations is frequently in the news due to misconduct such as sexual harassment, fraud, or corporate espionage. Projects can focus on gender roles in corporate compliance, balancing different regulations, or understanding compliance within various organizations.

Co-supervisor: Dr. M.E. (Malouke) Kuiper, Supervisor: Prof.dr. C.G. (Karin) van Wingerde

Job Requirements

We are looking for candidates who:

• Hold a master’s degree in Criminology, Psychology, Public Administration, or another relevant social science discipline.
• Can demonstrate scientific research skills.
• Have experience with quantitative empirical research methods.
• Possess excellent oral and written skills in English.
• Are capable of teaching in Dutch or willing to learn Dutch during the first year of the PhD trajectory.

Current master students are welcome to apply, but the master’s degree must be obtained before the start of the employment contract.

Employment Conditions and Benefits

The position is for 4.5 years full-time, starting with a temporary employment contract for 18 months. This period includes an educational program and individual research, with an evaluation after one year. Upon positive evaluation, the contract will be extended. PhD researchers focus on their research and thesis completion, alongside teaching tasks. Structured guidance is provided by thesis supervisors and a doctorate committee.

The start date is 1 October 2025, based at Erasmus School of Law, Department Law, Society & Crime in Rotterdam. The salary is based on the P-scale, with a minimum of € 2901 and a maximum of € 3707 gross per month, on a full-time basis.

Additional benefits include:

• Options for a good work-life balance, including working from home, 41 days of paid leave, holiday pay, and an end-of-year bonus.
• A sustainable, inclusive, and diverse work environment with an open culture.
• Opportunities for personal development, foreign exchange, and access to the university library.
• Good pension with ABP, discounts on various insurances, and compensation for travel and home internet use.
• Support for combining work with parenthood, including parental leave and on-campus daycare.

Erasmus University Rotterdam aspires to be an equitable and inclusive community, nurturing an open culture where everyone can fulfill their potential. We value diversity and provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants.

Employer

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in education and research, as expressed in our mission ‘Creating positive societal impact’. EUR is home to 4,100 academics and professionals and almost 33,000 students from more than 140 countries. We operate under the credo The Erasmian Way – Making Minds Matter, emphasizing global citizenship, connectivity, entrepreneurship, open-mindedness, and social involvement. These values guide our work in solving societal challenges from the dynamic city of Rotterdam. Thanks to the high quality and positive societal impact of our research and education, EUR competes with top European universities.

Faculty / Institute / Central Service

Erasmus School of Law employs 500 staff members and is attended by around 5,000 students. It offers bachelor programs in Law, Tax Law, and Criminology, as well as a variety of master programs and postgraduate tracks. The fundamental premise of academic research at Erasmus School of Law is that law is embedded in an economic and social context that shapes it, while law also shapes society and economic relationships. The mission is to conduct innovative research on the function of law in its economic and social context, with a focus on the interplay between law, practice, and society. Both research and teaching have a strong social and business orientation, promoting international and interdisciplinary research.