Postdoctoral Fellow, Law

Classification: Academic Level A
Salary package: $91,546 - $114,906 per annum plus 17% Superannuation
Terms: Full-time, Fixed Term (up to 2 years)
Position Description & PEWER: PD&PEWER_LevelA_PostdoctoralFellow.pdf

• Contribute to an innovative international research project examining the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and its evolving role as the ‘World Court’, using cutting-edge empirical and sociolegal research methods.
• Undertake rich, interdisciplinary research spanning archival research, qualitative interviews and novel dataset development, with opportunities to co-author academic publications and contribute to high-impact research outputs.
• Join an international and interdisciplinary research network, working closely with Dr Esmé Shirlow (ANU) and Dr Florian Grisel (CNRS) and engaging with leading academics, international lawyers, government officials and practitioners connected to the ICJ.

In 1946, ANU was founded to help rebuild a changing world. We’re still at it, 80 years later. For generations, our people have turned curiosity into ideas that have shaped Australia and our region. Learn more about ANU, our history and the community that has shaped us: ANU at 80

Position overview

The ANU Law School is consistently ranked among the world’s leading law schools. For over 65 years, it has stood at the forefront of legal education and impact as Australia’s national law school, earning global recognition for scholarly excellence and shaping legal and policy debates. With historical strengths in public and international law, and a growing international reputation in environmental law, private and corporate law, and human rights law, the ANU Law School shapes law and policy and prepares graduates for a rapidly evolving legal landscape.

This position supports an ARC Discovery Project grant entitled “Becoming a ‘World Court’? Globalisation and Judicialisation at the International Court of Justice” (2026–2029), contributing to the project’s goal of producing a large-scale empirical and sociolegal study of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as a global institution.

The Postdoctoral Fellow is expected to undertake research across the project’s empirical, archival, and analytical components. The allocation of time to each area will be discussed with the position supervisor annually and be reflective of the external funding conditions that support the appointment, the appointee’s research agenda, and opportunities within the ANU School of Law.

The Postdoctoral Fellow may also be required to support project coordination activities, contribute to the organisation of workshops and the project’s Research Hub, and assist in the supervision of higher degree by research (HDR) students, and contribute cooperatively to the overall intellectual life of the College and University.

For further information please contact Professor Esme Shirlow T: +61 2 6125 0810, E: Esme.Shirlow@anu.edu.au.

The University actively encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For more information on employment opportunities, contact our Indigenous Employment Consultant on indigenous.employment@anu.edu.au

ANU values diversity and inclusion and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to people of all backgrounds and identities. For more information about staff equity at ANU, click here. For enquiries about the application process, or if you require reasonable adjustment to apply for this role, please contact the hiring manager on the above listed details.

Application information

In order to apply for this role please make sure that you upload the following documents:

• A statement addressing the selection criteria.
• A current curriculum vitae (CV) which includes the names and contact details of at least three referees (preferably including a current or previous supervisor). If your CV does not include referees you can complete these online when prompted in the application form.
• Other documents, if required.

Applications which do not address the selection criteria may not be considered for the position.

Please note: The preferred candidate must have rights to live and work in Australia, and will be required to complete mandatory pre-employment declarations and background checks relevant to the role they have applied for, in accordance with the Background Checking Procedure and the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence.

CLOSING DATE: Sunday, 25 October 2026 at 11:55 pm (Canberra Time)