Call for applications: 2014-2015 Arsenault postdoctoral fellowships at the IASL
The Institute of Air and Space Law (IASL) of the Faculty of Law at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ intends to appoint one or two Postdoctoral Research Fellow(s) during the 2014-2015 academic year.
Deadline to apply: 14 February 2014.
The Postdoctoral Research Fellowship(s) will be funded by the Erin J C Arsenault Trust Fund and the appointment(s) shall be for an initial duration of one year with a possibility of renewal for a second year. The Postdoctoral Fellow(s) will work as part of a research team at the Centre for Research in Air and Space Law (CRASL) under the leadership and supervision of Professor Ram Jakhu, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law and Associate Director of the CRASL.
A principal objective of the Postdoctoral Research Fellowship programme is to train the next generation of Space Law professionals interested in pursuing academic careers in Space Law. Accordingly, in addition to completing a major research project (described below), successful candidates may also be required to perform some of the following tasks which are designed to complement their postdoctoral training:
- assisting in the organization and implementation of workshops/conferences/meetings and other outreach activities at the CRASL;
- providing assistance in the teaching of Space Law courses at the IASL;
- making research contributions to Space Security Index project;
- editing conference papers and articles for publication in the Annals of Air and Space Law;
- preparing or assisting in the preparation of applications for research grants; and,
- such other related tasks.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Applicants must hold a postgraduate doctoral degree in law obtained within the last five years. The ideal candidate must have a solid track record of original research, a high level of proficiency in English and must propose a research project that substantively interacts with the IASL's Space Law research agenda described above.
The criteria for selection are as follows:
- originality, quality and relevance to the IASL's Space Law research agenda of the research project proposed by the candidate;
- ability of the candidate to conduct legal research and perform other academic tasks as evidenced by the candidate's previous track record of original research and publications;
- availability and willingness of the candidate to participate actively in the academic life and collegial governance of the IASL and the CRASL, including a commitment to be physically present in Montreal during the tenure of the postdoctoral fellowship;
- the candidate's desire and preparedness to pursue an academic career in Space Law.
APPLICATION DEADLINE AND PROCEDURE:
The deadline for receiving applications is 14 February 2014. The review of applications will begin commence on 17 February 2014 and continue until the position(s) is (are) filled.
This full-time position will begin on 1 September 2014 and will last until August 31, 2015. The position will pay a taxable minimum salary of C$50,000 per annum. Applications are to be submitted electronically to the attention of Alison Glaser at alison.glaser [at] mcgill.ca.
Applicants must submit a covering letter, a curriculum vitae, a research proposal (maximum four pages), a transcript of postgraduate (doctoral) studies, and one or more writing samples (from peer-reviewed publications, if possible). Applicants should also name three referees who may be invited by the IASL to send letters of reference.
For more information about the Fellowships, please contact Professor Ram Jakhu at ram.jakhu [at] mcgill.ca.
ABOUT THE INSTITUTE OF AIR AND SPACE LAW:
Established in 1951 and based at the Faculty of Law of Ï㽶ÊÓƵ in Montreal (Quebec, Canada), the Institute of Air and Space Law is the first academic institution in the world to offer a course in Space Law in 1963. Through the Institute, Ï㽶ÊÓƵ currently offers postgraduate (Master's and Doctorate) degree programs as well as a Graduate Certificate program in Air and/or Space Law. The Institute attracts students and scholars from all over the world.
Today, the IASL's Space Law program is the world's most advanced, comprehensive, dynamic, and continually evolving and expanding in order to meet the ever-changing needs of today's society. For more information about the IASL and its Air and Space Law programs as well as the CRASL, see www.mcgill.ca/iasl
The IASL's research and outreach activities are international, interdisciplinary, and ambitious in nature. They are implemented through the Centre for Research in Air and Space Law (CRASL) which was established on September 1, 1976 (with the official consent of the Ministère de l’éducation du Québec) as an autonomous entity within the Institute of Air and Space Law.
In the Space Law domain, the IASL's current and ongoing research agenda focuses on "Space Security through the Rule of Law and Sustainable Space Development". With the kind generosity of the Erin J C Arsenault Trust Fund, the IASL has secured guaranteed funding for this research project up to the year 2020. For the 2014-2015 academic year, the IASL's research program will revolve around the following three Space Law axes:
- Global space governance for ensuring space security and sustainable space development;
- Legal issues related to human space travel; and
- National space laws and policies.
