PhD position in the field of law and human reproduction, with a focus on empirical legal studies and legal data science -80%
Universität Zürich
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Chair for Legal Tech, Law and Economics and Public Law (Prof. Dr. Dr. Yoan Hermstrüwer)
PhD position in the field of law and human reproduction, with a focus on empirical legal studies and legal data
science 80 %
Start of employment 01.01.2025, temporary
What are the social norms guiding fertility choices? How do prices affect the use of assisted reproduction
technologies? How do laws affect the parenthood happiness gap? How can we empirically test highly controversial claims
about human reproduction and its normative challenges?
The University Research Priority Program (URPP) "Human Reproduction Reloaded | H2R" explores rapidly developing
medical technologies in the field of human reproduction, the societal challenges they pose and their legal
implications. This interdisciplinary positioned URPP is hosted by the Faculty of Law and brings together researchers
from six faculties as well as from various disciplines from the humanities, social, medical and natural sciences. The
URPP's phase 2 (2025-2028) revolves around three main research foci: family, kinship and gender; declining fertility
and non-reproduction; and CRISPR.
The PhD position will be attached to the Chair for Legal Tech, Law and Economics, and Public Law (Prof. Dr. Dr. Yoan
Hermstrüwer). The chair provides a genuinely interdisciplinary and international work environment. Our team is
committed to exploring a wide range of social, economic and political issues bearing on all areas of the law. Our
research projects rest on experimental methods, econometric analysis, and methods from data science more generally.
Your responsibilities
You write a doctoral thesis in the field of law and human reproduction, ideally from an interdisciplinary perspective
(e.g. empirical legal studies of human reproduction).
- You explore problems related to human reproduction, ideally using empirical methods (e.g. observational or
experimental data) or methods from data science more broadly (e.g. machine learning, NLP).
- You participate in the URPP's events and actively take advantage of the opportunities for interdisciplinary exchange
and interfaculty networking.
- You are willing to learn about new methods to explore normative problems around human reproduction.
Your profile
You hold an excellent degree in law, social science (e.g. economics, psychology), computer science or in a related
discipline. Applicants who do not hold a law degree need to demonstrate a keen interest in the law and
interdisciplinary approaches to law.
- You are proficient in analyzing data (e.g. using Python, R, Stata), or you are willing to invest in developing your
data analysis skills.
- You have excellent analytical skills and are willing to collaborate on research projects at the Chair.
- You are proficient in English and ideally another language (e.g. German, French, Italian), and are motivated to
develop your skills in a genuinely interdisciplinary and international environment.
Information on your application
Please attach the following documents in a single pdf file to the application form:
- a detailed CV including - if applicable - relevant publications;
- a project proposal in the field of law and human reproduction;
- a short (!) letter of motivation;
- a substantial writing sample - if available;
- academic transcripts obtained during your studies.
The project proposal should be structured as follows:
- Problem statement: please explain the background of the proposal, the problem you intend to address in your
research, and why it fits with the URPP H2R (max. 500 words);
- Research question: please describe the main research question you intend to explore (max. 300 words);
- Method: please specificy the research design, the methods and explain the link between the proposed research
questions and the methodology (max. 1000 words);
- Contribution: please explain how your research will contribute to the existing body of knowledge and connect to the
literature (max. 600 words);
- Feasibility: please provide an approximate time schedule, and briefly provide a feasibility assessment (e.g. some
data you need may not easily be available).
Please submit your application, consisting of a motivation letter and a CV, in a single pdf file until December 23,
2024.
What we offer
Our employees benefit from a wide range of attractive offers. More
What we offer
Work-Life Balance
- Flexible working models (such as part-time positions, mobile working, job-sharing)
- Childcare at the kihz foundation of UZH and ETH
More Learning and Development
- Wide range of continuing education courses of UZH and the Canton of Zurich
- Language Center run jointly with ETH Zurich
More Food
- Food and drinks at reduced prices in the UZH cafeterias
- Lunch-Check-card with UZH contribution
More Healthcare
- Special conditions on the Academic Sports Association ASVZ
- Free seasonal flu vaccinations
- Rest and relaxation at the quiet room in the university tower
More Discounts
- Private traffic: Carsharing, rent a vehicle, parking space
- Digitalization: Hardware, software, mobile phone subscriptions
- Special conditions on hotel reservations
More Conditions of Employment
- Policies of the UZH
- Most UZH staff are employed according to public law
More International Services
- Support for people from outside Switzerland
More Campuses
- Campuses Zurich City, Zurich Irchel, Oerlikon and Schlieren
- Sites Zurich West, Old Botanical Garden, Botanical Garden and Lengg
More
Location
Chair for Legal Tech, Law and Economics and Public Law (Prof. Dr. Dr. Yoan Hermstrüwer)
Rämistrasse 74, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Further information
Questions about the job
Prof. Dr. Dr. Yoan Hermstrüwer Contact Form
Contact question to: Prof. Dr. Dr. Yoan Hermstrüwer
Your Name *Your Mail Address *Your question *I accept the privacy policySend Thank you for your message. We will get
back to you shortly. Working at UZH
The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, offers a range of attractive positions in various subject
areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and currently 12 professional apprenticeship streams the
University offers an inspiring working environment on cutting-edge research and top-class education. Put your talent
and skills to work with us. Find out more about UZH as an employer!
More → https://www.uzh.ch/cmsssl/en/explore/work.html
Please apply via our job portal www.jobs.uzh.ch.
Working at UZH
The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, offers a range of attractive positions in various subject
areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and currently 12 professional apprenticeship streams the
University offers an inspiring working environment on cutting-edge research and top-class education. Put your talent
and skills to work with us. Find out more about UZH as an employer! More
PhD position in the field of law and human reproduction, with a focus on empirical legal studies and legal data
science 80 %
Start of employment 01.01.2025, temporary
What are the social norms guiding fertility choices? How do prices affect the use of assisted reproduction
technologies? How do laws affect the parenthood happiness gap? How can we empirically test highly controversial claims
about human reproduction and its normative challenges?
The University Research Priority Program (URPP) "Human Reproduction Reloaded | H2R" explores rapidly developing
medical technologies in the field of human reproduction, the societal challenges they pose and their legal
implications. This interdisciplinary positioned URPP is hosted by the Faculty of Law and brings together researchers
from six faculties as well as from various disciplines from the humanities, social, medical and natural sciences. The
URPP's phase 2 (2025-2028) revolves around three main research foci: family, kinship and gender; declining fertility
and non-reproduction; and CRISPR.
The PhD position will be attached to the Chair for Legal Tech, Law and Economics, and Public Law (Prof. Dr. Dr. Yoan
Hermstrüwer). The chair provides a genuinely interdisciplinary and international work environment. Our team is
committed to exploring a wide range of social, economic and political issues bearing on all areas of the law. Our
research projects rest on experimental methods, econometric analysis, and methods from data science more generally.
Your responsibilities
You write a doctoral thesis in the field of law and human reproduction, ideally from an interdisciplinary perspective
(e.g. empirical legal studies of human reproduction).
- You explore problems related to human reproduction, ideally using empirical methods (e.g. observational or
experimental data) or methods from data science more broadly (e.g. machine learning, NLP).
- You participate in the URPP's events and actively take advantage of the opportunities for interdisciplinary exchange
and interfaculty networking.
- You are willing to learn about new methods to explore normative problems around human reproduction.
Your profile
You hold an excellent degree in law, social science (e.g. economics, psychology), computer science or in a related
discipline. Applicants who do not hold a law degree need to demonstrate a keen interest in the law and
interdisciplinary approaches to law.
- You are proficient in analyzing data (e.g. using Python, R, Stata), or you are willing to invest in developing your
data analysis skills.
- You have excellent analytical skills and are willing to collaborate on research projects at the Chair.
- You are proficient in English and ideally another language (e.g. German, French, Italian), and are motivated to
develop your skills in a genuinely interdisciplinary and international environment.
Information on your application
Please attach the following documents in a single pdf file to the application form:
- a detailed CV including - if applicable - relevant publications;
- a project proposal in the field of law and human reproduction;
- a short (!) letter of motivation;
- a substantial writing sample - if available;
- academic transcripts obtained during your studies.
The project proposal should be structured as follows:
- Problem statement: please explain the background of the proposal, the problem you intend to address in your
research, and why it fits with the URPP H2R (max. 500 words);
- Research question: please describe the main research question you intend to explore (max. 300 words);
- Method: please specificy the research design, the methods and explain the link between the proposed research
questions and the methodology (max. 1000 words);
- Contribution: please explain how your research will contribute to the existing body of knowledge and connect to the
literature (max. 600 words);
- Feasibility: please provide an approximate time schedule, and briefly provide a feasibility assessment (e.g. some
data you need may not easily be available).
Please submit your application, consisting of a motivation letter and a CV, in a single pdf file until December 23,
2024.
What we offer
Our employees benefit from a wide range of attractive offers. More
What we offer
Work-Life Balance
- Flexible working models (such as part-time positions, mobile working, job-sharing)
- Childcare at the kihz foundation of UZH and ETH
More Learning and Development
- Wide range of continuing education courses of UZH and the Canton of Zurich
- Language Center run jointly with ETH Zurich
More Food
- Food and drinks at reduced prices in the UZH cafeterias
- Lunch-Check-card with UZH contribution
More Healthcare
- Special conditions on the Academic Sports Association ASVZ
- Free seasonal flu vaccinations
- Rest and relaxation at the quiet room in the university tower
More Discounts
- Private traffic: Carsharing, rent a vehicle, parking space
- Digitalization: Hardware, software, mobile phone subscriptions
- Special conditions on hotel reservations
More Conditions of Employment
- Policies of the UZH
- Most UZH staff are employed according to public law
More International Services
- Support for people from outside Switzerland
More Campuses
- Campuses Zurich City, Zurich Irchel, Oerlikon and Schlieren
- Sites Zurich West, Old Botanical Garden, Botanical Garden and Lengg
More
Location
Chair for Legal Tech, Law and Economics and Public Law (Prof. Dr. Dr. Yoan Hermstrüwer)
Rämistrasse 74, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Further information
Questions about the job
Prof. Dr. Dr. Yoan Hermstrüwer Contact Form
Contact question to: Prof. Dr. Dr. Yoan Hermstrüwer
Your Name *Your Mail Address *Your question *I accept the privacy policySend Thank you for your message. We will get
back to you shortly. Working at UZH
The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, offers a range of attractive positions in various subject
areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and currently 12 professional apprenticeship streams the
University offers an inspiring working environment on cutting-edge research and top-class education. Put your talent
and skills to work with us. Find out more about UZH as an employer!
More → https://www.uzh.ch/cmsssl/en/explore/work.html
Please apply via our job portal www.jobs.uzh.ch.
Working at UZH
The University of Zurich, Switzerland's largest university, offers a range of attractive positions in various subject
areas and professional fields. With around 10,000 employees and currently 12 professional apprenticeship streams the
University offers an inspiring working environment on cutting-edge research and top-class education. Put your talent
and skills to work with us. Find out more about UZH as an employer! More