Migration and Human Rights Researcher at the Danish Institute for Human Rights
fuldtid
Migration and Human Rights Researcher at the Danish Institute for Human Rights
We are particularly interested in a researcher with strong legal expertise in the protection of asylum-seekers’ and migrants’ rights; the impact of migration on civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights; a rights-based approach to migration governance including border control and monitoring mechanisms; EU and Danish regulation and policy in this area, including in relation to transfer and outsourcing of asylum-seekers, etc. to third States; and in the evolving jurisprudence from courts and UN and other supranational human rights mechanisms and procedures, including UNHCR policies and practice. Knowledge about countering of migrant smuggling and trafficking would also be relevant.
Applicant qualifications
As a researcher at DIHR, you are expected to engage in academic research and publish regularly in academic journals. Furthermore, you are expected to develop professional networks at universities and research institutions at home and abroad, as well as participate in internal interdisciplinary work at the Institute and offer, for example, mentoring and supervision.
In addition to their own academic research, researchers at the Danish Institute for Human Rights participate in a wide range of project activities supporting the Institute’s work in Denmark and abroad, including analysis, advice, quality assurance, and knowledge sharing with partner institutions.
We offer an open and collegial research environment with skilled and committed researchers from different disciplines working in various human rights fields. We share a common interest in exploring the theoretical and practical aspects of human rights, in communicating this knowledge and applying it in our advising, project and learning engagement.
The position is closely connected to the Institute’s international work and is fully funded by Danish development assistance, and all activities must comply with the definitions of ODA as defined by OECD-DAC.
About the application The application must be written in English and include the following:
About the process After the application deadline, the research director, in consultation with a recruitment committee, will select a number of applicants whose academic record will be subject to an evaluation by an expert committee. The selection is based on an assessment of which applicants best match the department's recruitment needs and the qualification requirements stated in the job advertisement.
All applicants will be informed of whether their application has been selected for evaluation. The applicants whose applications are selected will furthermore be informed of the composition of the committee, and each applicant will be given the opportunity to comment on the part of the evaluation that concerns the applicant himself/herself. Qualified applicants will be invited to a job interview.
Salary and conditions of employment Terms of appointment and salary will be in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). You will receive 18,07% of your basic salary and 12,50% of your availability supplement as contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis. Expected starting date is 1. January 2026.
If you consider applying from abroad, you may find useful information on how it is to work in Denmark here: ism.ku.dk, nyidanmark.dk and workindenmark.dk.
The closing date for applications is 23:59 CET 14 November 2025
Applications or supplementary material received thereafter will not be considered.
Contact For further information about the position, please contact Senior Researcher, Stephanie Lagoutte at sla@humanrights.dk.
Applicant qualifications
- At least three years relevant research experience after completion of PhD within the field of migration and human rights, international migration or refugee law, and/or public international law relevant to the field of migration
- Research publications in high-level academic journals
- Proven ability to present research at conferences and seminars
- Appetite for engaging in concrete projects and applied human rights work through activities such as policy analysis, advisory services, quality assurance and knowledge sharing with international project partners.
- Proven ability to produce policy and practice-relevant analysis and learning materials
- Proven ability to disseminate research to practitioners, policymakers and the broader public
- Some experience with international human rights work
- In-depth knowledge of European migration policies and mechanisms as well as some understanding of Danish migration issues
- Experience with fundraising for research
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
As a researcher at DIHR, you are expected to engage in academic research and publish regularly in academic journals. Furthermore, you are expected to develop professional networks at universities and research institutions at home and abroad, as well as participate in internal interdisciplinary work at the Institute and offer, for example, mentoring and supervision.
In addition to their own academic research, researchers at the Danish Institute for Human Rights participate in a wide range of project activities supporting the Institute’s work in Denmark and abroad, including analysis, advice, quality assurance, and knowledge sharing with partner institutions.
We offer an open and collegial research environment with skilled and committed researchers from different disciplines working in various human rights fields. We share a common interest in exploring the theoretical and practical aspects of human rights, in communicating this knowledge and applying it in our advising, project and learning engagement.
The position is closely connected to the Institute’s international work and is fully funded by Danish development assistance, and all activities must comply with the definitions of ODA as defined by OECD-DAC.
About the application The application must be written in English and include the following:
- A letter of application
- Curriculum Vitae
- Relevant diplomas and certificates
- Three academic publications (in English) that will be used as the basis for the applicant’s evaluation. If co-authored, a statement describing the applicant's contribution to the work must be attached. Unpublished publications may be included, if accepted for publication.
- Complete list of publications. The attached publications should be marked with an (*)
- A research plan, including a brief description of previous research and an overview of upcoming research activities and ideas for future research.
About the process After the application deadline, the research director, in consultation with a recruitment committee, will select a number of applicants whose academic record will be subject to an evaluation by an expert committee. The selection is based on an assessment of which applicants best match the department's recruitment needs and the qualification requirements stated in the job advertisement.
All applicants will be informed of whether their application has been selected for evaluation. The applicants whose applications are selected will furthermore be informed of the composition of the committee, and each applicant will be given the opportunity to comment on the part of the evaluation that concerns the applicant himself/herself. Qualified applicants will be invited to a job interview.
Salary and conditions of employment Terms of appointment and salary will be in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC). You will receive 18,07% of your basic salary and 12,50% of your availability supplement as contribution to the pension scheme. It is possible to negotiate salary supplements on an annual basis. Expected starting date is 1. January 2026.
If you consider applying from abroad, you may find useful information on how it is to work in Denmark here: ism.ku.dk, nyidanmark.dk and workindenmark.dk.
The closing date for applications is 23:59 CET 14 November 2025
Applications or supplementary material received thereafter will not be considered.
Contact For further information about the position, please contact Senior Researcher, Stephanie Lagoutte at sla@humanrights.dk.