As a PhD student, you will prepare and defend a doctoral dissertation. Within the framework of the FWO SBO interdisciplinary project DINEMO (Distribution Network Management Optimisation), which aims to address systemic bottlenecks with regard to grid management that are slowing down the energy transition, you will identify grey areas and weak points of the EU legal framework governing network tariffs and capacity management. You will test choices made at the Flemish level against the EU law rules currently in force. You will evaluate the EU legal framework, distinguish successful rules, and submit recommendations for the further development of the EU legal framework. In line with the DINEMO project requirements, you publish in peer-reviewed national and international academic books and journals and actively participate in national and international academic conferences within your field of research. You are also open to research stays abroad and contribute to research proposals and workshops. 
You will take on a limited number of teaching and support duties (for example: leading teaching groups, supervising theses, hosting information sessions for prospective students, proctoring exams, representing doctoral candidates on committees, etc.). To this end, you will participate in professional development programs for teaching. Finally, you will participate in the 'doctoral school'.

Having an impact on the switch to a more sustainable and resilient society, from a legal perspective, in the region and far beyond, is what we aim for.
To achieve this, we, at the Faculty of Law, combine our research in the research group CORe (Centre for Government and Law). We focus mainly on the relations between citizens and the government with a special emphasis on resilience and sustainability. We opt for high‑quality research in selected core areas and believe in the added value of multidisciplinarity. More information about our research activities and our team, which includes about 15 professors, 40 PhD students and an enthusiastic support staff, can be found on CORe's website. Besides high‑quality research, we of course consider high‑quality and innovative education very important. In an academic bachelor's and master's degree programme in Law, in collaboration with KU Leuven and Maastricht University, we train over 900 students to become creative and problem‑solving legal professionals. We do this through assignment‑ and problem‑based learning and always with an open view on society.
Both our workplaces and classrooms can be found on the UHasselt city campus, in the renovated Old Prison near Dusartplein. This site is easily accessible by public transport.

• You obtained a master’s degree in Law (or equivalent)
• You are strong motivated to research.
• You have distinguished yourself during your studies or can demonstrate that you are capable of publishing scientific papers.
• You take a quality-focused approach to your work.
• You are able to plan your work proactively and independently, identify opportunities, set priorities and meet deadlines.
• You take a creative approach.
• You have excellent communication skills, both written and spoken, and an excellent command of English. Knowledge of Dutch would be an advantage.
• You are a strong team player and are particularly keen to work in an interdisciplinary team. Your commitment is demonstrated, amongst other things, by your regular attendance on our campus.
• You are willing to follow a training in teaching skills.

You will be appointed and paid as PhD student.
You will receive a PhD scholarship, initially for two years and renewable once, for another two years, subject to a positive interim assessment. This is a full-time position. The position has an expected starting date in October 2026. 

You will be provided with a workspace on the UHasselt city campus (Oude Gevangenis), IT equipment and a budget for attending academic conferences both at home and abroad. 

The selection procedure consists of a preselection based on application file and an interview.
The interview is likely to take place in the first half of September. Please include with your application in English a motivation letter (max. 2 A4 page) stating the title of your research proposal, a CV (max. 3 A4 pages) and a written text. The submitted text should reveal the research and writing skills of the candidate and hence we recommend that it is an international publication, an unpublished research paper of excellent quality, or a master thesis. Ideally, the submitted text discusses elements of energy law or of legal fields that are close to the DINEMO project research objectives and questions (e.g. public procurement law, administrative processes for decision-making, etc).

Apply now
Apply up to 31.08.2026