Vulnerability and the Human Condition Initiative Fellowship
2022-2024 Research Fellowship or Postdoctoral Fellowship
- Vulnerability theory presents an alternative to both a “rights-based” and a “social contract” paradigm for thinking about state responsibility, decentering the individual and focusing attention on the law’s construction and maintenance of the social structures and relationships in which we all live our day-to-day lives. Vulnerability theory explores the distorting effects of current conceptions of “liberty” and “equality” on the ways we understand and order essential social institutions such as the family, workplace, financial system, or health care, as well as considering the proper ordering of the paired relationships of cooperation and contribution contained within these institutions (parent/child; employer/employee etc.). The theory draws theoretical attention to the inherent inequality and unavoidable dependence of the human condition, which we argue must be acknowledged and justly addressed through the ways law shapes and maintains these social institutions and structures.
The Vulnerability and the Human Condition Initiative holds regular workshops and hosts visiting scholars from around the world. Learn more about the Initiative at our website. You can find our updates on Facebook and Twitter and learn more about the theory at Vimeo, SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, and SSRN.
- Job Description: Applicants for this position should be interested in vulnerability theory and articulate how they intend to use the theory in their research.
Responsibilities of a research or postdoctoral fellow include the following:
- Assume primary responsibility for the development of your research and career.
- Play an active role in seeking career and research advice, both from the faculty supervisor and from other faculty members as appropriate.
- Perform the research required by the faculty supervisor to a high standard and in accordance with all institutional and federal regulations.
- Assist in teaching courses aligned with VHC’s mandate when appropriate and attend the Initiative’s workshops and events.
- Work in a collegial and cooperative manner with the faculty supervisor and other co-workers.
- Start Date: The appointment will be a two-year full-time Research or Post-Doctoral Fellowship and will commence on August 1, 2022.
- Remuneration: Your salary will be set at $60,000.00 per year. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, short-term and long-term disability, and retirement savings. More information here.
- Research Assistance: You will also be provided a research fund of $1,200 per year to cover costs of your research and you may apply for additional funding if attending relevant conferences or for business-related travel.
- Minimum Qualifications: A doctoral degree or equivalent (Ph.D., M.D., etc) in an appropriate field. Excellent writing ability and strong oral communication skills. The ability to work effectively and collegially with colleagues.
- Competitive candidates will have a background or interest in jurisprudence, critical theory, philosophy, or political science, as well as vulnerability theory.
