Research intern in international human rights law

The T.M.C. Asser Instituut is a research centre for international and European law. Its mission is to contribute to the development of international and European law by conducting independent fundamental research, policy-oriented research, and applied legal research, as well as by initiating and facilitating academic and expert meetings, (professional) education, and public events with a view to disseminating knowledge of international and European law. The institute is dedicated to building a strong research community and creating an environment that facilitates critical-constructive reflection.

The institute invites applications for a:

Research intern – Full-time (38 hours per week)

Available from September 2024 to work in The Hague (non-remote) on the project on ‘Enabling Civil Society Efforts to Address the Misuse, Diversion, and Abuse of Arms Exports in Latin America’ and to strengthen our research capacity regarding human rights and arms trade in Guatemala within the Research Strand on ‘In the public interest: accountability of the state and the prosecution of crimes’ and in the context of our strategic research agenda 'Rethinking public interests in international and European law (2022-2026)':

The role
The research intern will assist the project leader, senior researcher Dr. León Castellanos-Jankiewicz with research on the human rights implications of arms trafficking and diversion, including the development of instruction materials, conducting outreach with civil society
organisations, organising conferences and delivering trainings.

Duties and responsibilities

  • Develop and execute human rights-related research in the context of the project on ‘Enabling Civil Society Efforts to Address the Misuse, Diversion, and Abuse of Arms
    Exports in Latin America’.
  • Assist in the preparation of instruction materials for training sessions relating to human rights and arms trafficking.
  • Assist with the organisation of conferences, expert meetings and other events
    related to the project, including administrative tasks.
  • Liaise with project partners and coordinate reporting activities.

Qualifications and background
We are looking for a candidate who:

  • is enrolled as a student or is a recent graduate in international or European law;
  • has a demonstrated interest in international human rights law;
  • has an interest in arms trade;
  • has fluency in English and Spanish;
  • has experience writing and editing academic papers;
  • is enthusiastic about contributing to a stimulating research community;
  • has demonstrable communication skills;
  • is enthusiastic about the outreach and dissemination of research output;
  • is able to work as part of a multicultural team;
  • is flexible, versatile, and creative;
  • is able to work in a changeable & fast-moving environment;
  • has a proactive and collaborative character, suggesting solutions and approaches,
    anticipating problems, and foreseeing potential challenges;
  • is administratively competent and able to manage competing urgent demands.

Internships at Asser are for students in principle and, exceptionally, for recent graduates. This means that you must be registered as a student at a university or a school and must be eligible to live and work in the Netherlands through either EU citizenship or a student visa from a Dutch university. Recent graduates (bachelor and master) may apply, but only within the first year of graduation, when ‘learning through interning’ may still add to your education.

The internship is an opportunity to learn in an active and dynamic research environment. Therefore, we expect interns to be present at the Institute in The Hague. It is not a remote working opportunity.

Regretfully, the Asser Institute cannot hire students without EU citizenship for internships, unless they already have a Dutch residency and work permit. In order to accelerate the selection process, please include relevant visa status or residence permit information in your application.

Please read this page on internships at the T.M.C. Asser Instituut for more information.

Conditions

  • This appointment is for six months. It can be extended for an additional three months subject to positive review.
  • Interns at the Asser Institute receive a monthly expense allowance of €550.

How to apply
Persons who are interested in applying should send their letter of motivation, a CV, and a writing sample in English (in a single PDF file) to PO@asser.nl by Monday, 5 August 2024, at 23:59 CEST at the latest indicating ‘Application ASPC Internship’ on the subject line. Interviews will take place online during the week of 12 August 2024. Applications received after the deadline, or not including the required three components (letter of motivation, a CV and a writing sample) will not be considered eligible.

Questions about this position can be addressed in writing to Dr. León Castellanos-Jankiewicz (email: L.castellanos@asser.nl).