The Institute of State and Law of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v. v. i. invites applications for the position
in the field of Law and Global Responsibility
We are seeking an individual with a strong interest in contemporary legal challenges: global supply chains, the role and responsibility of non-state actors in the globalized economy, cross-border dispute resolution and the protection of foreign investments, ESG and climate litigation, corporate sustainability and due diligence, and business and human rights.
We offer the opportunity to pursue independent scientific and research work in a stimulating academic environment that views law not only as a system of rules, but also as a significant instrument for regulating and shaping the actions of non-state actors in a globalized world. The position is based in the Department of Law and Global Responsibility at the Institute of State and Law of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v. v. i., a public research institution receiving institutional funding under the applicable legal framework.
About Our Work
The department focuses on the legal dimensions of the role and responsibility of non-state actors, especially corporations, in the context of the globalised economy. Its research draws on company and commercial law, civil law, business and human rights, and both public and private international law. More broadly, the department examines how law responds to structural shifts in the global order, where corporations, investors, and other private entities possess significant normative and factual power, while states face the pressures of energy transformation, regulatory extraterritoriality, and fragmentation of international law with limited mechanisms for dispute resolution. A central objective of the Department is to systematically connect national private law expertise with global regulatory impulses (EU sustainability rules, due diligence, ESG litigation) and to place these developments within broader framework of accountability under both private and international law.
Who We Are Looking For
We are looking for an individual who wants to develop their own scientific profile and join the department’s collective research program. You do not need to cover all the listed topics; what matters is a strong professional interest in at least one of these areas:
§ Supply chain law, including questions of extraterritoriality;
§ Responsibility of corporations and other non-state actors at international, EU, and national levels in the field of sustainability and climate change;
§ Sustainability in business, mandatory due diligence regulations, including questions of private international law;
§ Environmental and climate due diligence of entrepreneurs, green claims and greenwashing;
§ ESG and climate litigation;
§ Cross-border dispute resolution in sustainability, including questions of private international law;
§ Protection of foreign investments and ISDS in the era of sustainability;
§ Business and human rights.
Requirements
§ Completed university education in a master’s program in the field of law and legal studies.
§ A Ph.D. degree, or ongoing doctoral studies are an advantage.
§ Publication or professional activity related to at least one of the above-mentioned areas,
§ Ability to work independently in scientific research, analytical thinking, and willingness to participate in projects.
§ Active knowledge of English; proficiency in additional languages is an asset.
§ A strong interest in interdisciplinary research and international collaboration, with the ability to integrate doctrinal legal analysis with broader regulatory and societal perspectives.
Key responsibilities
§ Independent research in the field of law and global responsibility.
§ Preparation of scholarly publications, especially articles for peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and analytical studies.
§ Participation in the department’s research projects and co/preparation of national and international grant proposals.
§ Engagement in academic networks, international research collaborations, and mobility activities.
§ Monitoring and analysis of developments in Czech, EU, and international legal regulation in relevant areas of research.
§ Collaboration on expert opinions, policy papers, and other research outputs for public authorities, the academic community, and other institutional partners.
§ Presentation of research findings at conferences, seminars, and other scholarly events in the Czech Republic and abroad.
§ Collaboration in organizing academic events, workshops, conferences, and expert discussions.
We Offer
§ An intellectually stimulating position focusing on timely legal issues of significant societal relevance.
§ The opportunity to develop your own research agenda in the field of global responsibility law for non-state actors.
§ Involvement in research projects and international academic collaborations.
§ A research environment of the Czech Academy of Sciences that values academic excellence, intellectual independence, and long-term professional development.
§ Full-time or part-time employment, by mutual agreement.
§ Flexible working hours and support for a healthy work–life balance.
§ A fixed-term employment contract with the possibility of extension; the position is not a temporary replacement.
§ Five weeks of annual leave, a meal allowance, language courses, and professional development opportunities.
§ Access to the Czech Academy of Sciences' childcare facilities.
§ A workplace located in the centre of Prague.
§ Start date: 1 October 2026 or by agreement.
§ Salary conditions: commensurate with qualifications, experience, and the agreed workload.
Application
§ Applications should include:
§ A structured curriculum vitae (CV) in English;
§ A motivation letter in English outlining the applicant's research interests;
§ A list of publications and/or other relevant professional activities;
§ Optionally, a writing sample or a link to a relevant publication.
Please submit your application to hr@ilaw.cas.cz by 20 September 2026.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.
Information on the Processing of Personal Data (Article 13 GDPR)
Data Controller: Institute of State and Law of the Czech Academy of Sciences, public research institution.
Purpose of processing: To conduct the recruitment procedure and, where applicable, to conclude an employment relationship.
Legal basis: In particular, Article 6(1)(b) GDPR (processing necessary to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract) and/or Article 6(1)(f) GDPR (the Controller's legitimate interest in selecting a suitable candidate). Consent is not required for the ordinary processing of personal data within the recruitment process. Where consent is required for an additional purpose (e.g. retention of an application for future vacancies), it will be requested separately.
Scope of processing and data minimisation: Only personal data relevant to assessing the applicant's suitability for the position are processed, in accordance with Section 316 of the Czech Labour Code (Act No. 262/2006 Coll.).
Retention period: Personal data will be retained for the duration of the recruitment procedure and thereafter only for the period necessary to protect the Controller's legal rights, but no later than 31 December 2026.
Recipients: Personal data will not be disclosed to third parties, except to data processors providing IT services under a data processing agreement.
Data subject's rights: Applicants have the right to access, rectify and erase their personal data, to request restriction of processing, to object to processing (in particular where processing is based on Article 6(1)(f) GDPR), and to lodge a complaint with the Czech Data Protection Authority.
Personal data are processed in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation – GDPR) and Act No. 110/2019 Coll., on the Processing of Personal Data.