Doctoral position in the area of International Law at Max Planck

International Max Planck Research School on Retaliation, Mediation, Punishment (IMPRS-REMEP) Call for Doctoral Research Position The Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law in Heidelberg offers in accordance with the conditions of the Max Planck Society for the support of young researchers a doctoral research position within the area of international law starting 1 February 2009 for the conferral of a doctorate degree in law (Dr. jur.).
These doctoral positions are granted in the context of the interdisciplinary programme of the 'Max Planck Research School on Retaliation, Mediation, Punishment (IMPRS- REMEP)'. The research school aims to attract young researchers educated in law (in particular international law). 
The doctoral student will carry out his or her studies mainly in Heidelberg, will participate in the training program offered by the IMPRS-REMEP and may use the facilities and infrastructure of the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law. The interdisciplinary curriculum further requires participation in several joint seminars to be conducted together with the doctoral students who are affiliated with the IMPRS-REMEP partner institutes in Halle/Saale, Freiburg and Frankfurt/Main. During these seminars, all students shall achieve cross-disciplinary knowledge in order to develop a common understanding of the overall research agenda and to be able to mutually understand and discuss their doctoral theses from the perspectives of all relevant disciplines. Working language of the training program and the dissertation is English. According to local university regulations, German language skills may be required in exceptional cases. The scientific supervision of the doctoral students will be carried out by the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law. Cross-disciplinary dissertation projects may be co-supervised by a member of the academic staff from a partner institute. 
Candidates graduated in the disciplines of history of law, criminal law, criminology and
(social) anthropology are invited to apply according to the parallel calls of the partner institutions (Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law in Freiburg i.Br, in co-operation with the Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Halle/Saale, in co-operation with the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Max Planck Institute for European Legal History in Frankfurt/Main).
Dissertation Topics
The research agenda has its focus on the fundamental question common to the disciplines of social sciences and humanities regarding how peace and social order are negotiated, constructed, maintained and re-gained. In particular, in the context of conflict and post- conflict societies, traditional approaches to reconciliation and mediation are being adopted, amending, and – partially – replacing, well-established systems of punishment mainly based on concepts of retaliation. 
Research in Heidelberg shall be conducted in the field of international law.  Possible areas of research are international criminal law and its role in the global legal order, issues of transitional justice and the international system for the maintenance and re- establishment of world peace with a special focus on compliance. Particular importance is attached to the development of a system of international courts and international criminal tribunals. In this respect the analysis of potential avenues for a certain degree of systemic coherence as well as an examination of the developing international procedural law and international fair trial standards will be of interest.
Applicants are expected to develop their research questions independently, and to specify those in their proposal. The dissertation topic needs to fit into the thematic framework outlined above. Proposals with a comparative perspective and/or an inter-disciplinary approach will be considered with priority.
Application requirements
1. Completion of a law degree at a German university or completion at an equivalent university abroad. First or Second German State Law Exam with a minimum overall grade of "vollbefriedigend" (according to the examination regulations "JAPrO" of the State of Baden-Württemberg), or an equivalent degree with an equivalent grade ("with distinction") from abroad.
2. Submission of a substantive proposal for a dissertation topic linked to the research agenda of the IMPRS-REMEP. 
3. Solid proficiency in the English language. In addition, students should have at least some basic knowledge of German language and demonstrate willingness to improve it.
The IMPRS-REMEP seeks to reach a composition of at least 50 percent foreign doctoral students. Thus, foreign candidates with a foreign degree are explicitly encouraged to apply. 
Application documents
1. Cover sheet addressed to the 'International Max Planck Research School on Retaliation, Mediation, Punishment' at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law in Heidelberg 2. European style curriculum vitae (http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/) in German or English. It should include information on all previous research activities.
3. Copy of Secondary Education certificate with a list of subject areas. The documents must be officially translated into German (preferably) or English and a copy of the original supplied.
4. Copy of certificates relating to the First and, where applicable, Second German State Law Exam(s) from lawyers. From foreign graduates, copy of all university certificates with a list of all grades, including the overall grade, the average grade and the university certificate of graduation. The documents must be officially translated into German (preferably) or English and a copy of the original supplied.
A table of grades specifying the different levels of accomplishment needs to be provided.
5. Substantive/meaningful proposal for a research topic (5 pages), preferably in English, structured into a) relevance of the proposed topic in the context of the overall research agenda of the IMPRS-REMEP, b) state of preparation, c) aim of the project, d) probable links to other disciplines, e) methodology, f) proposed timeline, g) intended time of completion of the dissertation. It is intended that doctoral students, when participating in the research program in a regular manner, will be able to complete the program within a two year period.
6. Two letters of recommendation from two senior scientists (to be written in English or German). These letters should include information as to previous research experience, and vouch for the ability of the applicant to undertake doctoral studies at the Research School.
7. Applicants who do not speak English as their native language and who are unable of demonstrating good proficiency in English language in any other way must prove their skills through language examination certificates. In particular, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with at least 6.0 bands or TOEFEL (at least 560 points, computer: 220 points) are recognized.
8. Applicants who do not speak German as their native language should be capable to demonstrate basic knowledge of German, e.g., through a certificate German language ("Zertifikat Deutsch", ZD). Proficiency in German language is not a formal precondition for application. However, subject to university regulations, German may be mandatory for the oral doctoral exam or defense, or for parts of it, in individual cases. If necessary, access to external language courses can be arranged.
Presentation of officially authenticated copies of the original certificates etc., with regards to Nos. 3 and 4 above, is only necessary once a decision has been made to admission. 
Application dates
Application documents must be submitted by regular mail no later than by 31
December 2008 to  
Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law Attn. Ms. E. Matthies Im Neuenheimer Feld 535 69120 Heidelberg Germany Please also send your application letter, cv and propoals electronically to the following email address: application-imprs-remep@mpicc.de (maximum 5 MB per E-Mail). 
Applicants will be invited to telephone or personal interviews in Heidelberg upon prior notification. The selection procedure should be completed by 15 February 2009. The applicants will be informed of the selection results in writing. During the selection procedure we ask applicants to refrain from contacting the Institute with regards to the results of the procedure. An absolute right to financial support does not exist.
The Max Planck Society endeavours, wherever possible, to employ disabled persons, and applications from such persons are expressly called for. The Max Planck Society also desires to increase the proportion of women in areas where they are underrepresented.
Women are therefore expressly encouraged to apply.
Financial support
Financial support is granted in accordance with the guidelines of the Max Planck Society in the form of a doctoral contract or bursary. The financial support regarding the doctoral contract corresponds with public service organizations (up to 50 per cent of the payment group 13 degree 1 of the General Framework Agreement on Public Services, "Tarifvertrag Öffentlicher Dienst", TVöD). Financial support will be granted for a period of two years, with a possibility of two subsequent extensions, each for a period of six months.
Inquiries
Further information on the research program of the IMPRS-REMEP as well as on the parallel calls published by the partner institutes can be acquired at http://www.mpil.de/ww/de/pub/research_school/imprs_remep/programm.cfm
Information on the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International
Law is available at www.mpil.de. For additional inquiries, please write to                
imprs-remep@mpicc.de.