Postdoctoral Fellow in Legal and Political History of War Crimes

Research postdoctoral position exploring statehood and legal challenges in post-conflict Sri Lanka under Professor Alex Green.

Best for:Best for early-career academics with a PhD in History or Public International Law, expertise in war crimes, and a strong interest in Sri Lankan Civil War history and international law.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong · Hong Kong, Hong Kong · R2 · Recognised researcher

More professors at The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Legal and political history of war crimesCrimes against humanitySri Lankan Civil WarStatehood and international lawPost-conflict legal frameworksTransnational governance

This is a postdoc position — not a PhD studentship.

Deadline

Oct 18, 2026

3 days

Funding

Salaried

Not specified

Start date

4 January 2027

Full-time

Location

Hong Kong

Overview

This postdoctoral fellowship at The Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Law focuses on the legal and political history of war crimes and crimes against humanity, with a specific emphasis on the Sri Lankan Civil War. The successful candidate will collaborate with Professor Alex Green and the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam to assess the legal and political frameworks surrounding the creation of an independent Tamil state. The role is research-intensive, requiring historical research, co-authoring legal and policy briefs, and contributing to academic publications. The position is ideal for early-career academics with a background in history or public international law and a passion for international relations and statehood theory.

Postdoctoral FellowshipInternational LawWar CrimesCrimes Against HumanitySri Lankan Civil WarStatehood TheoryLegal HistoryPublic International Law

What you'll do

Conduct historical and legal research on the development of an independent Tamil state within Sri Lanka.
Co-author legal and policy briefs addressing the legal challenges of statehood creation.
Develop and publish academic scholarship in reputable international law and history journals.
Collaborate with project stakeholders and identified collaborators to refine research outcomes.
Liaise with the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam to integrate their perspectives into the research.
Present research findings at academic conferences and workshops.

Requirements

Degree required: PhD in History or Public International Law, ideally with a focus on the Sri Lankan Civil War or related topics

Language: English proficiency (essential); fluency in Sinhala or Tamil (preferred)

Instruction: English

Required skills

Demonstrated academic expertise in history or public international law (or both).
Strong research capabilities in legal and political history.
Fluency in English (essential).
Experience in conducting historical and legal research.
Ability to work collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams.

Nice to have

Fluency in Sinhala or Tamil (or both).Experience in co-authoring academic publications.Prior involvement in post-conflict or transitional justice research.

Eligibility

Early-stage academic career (no specific age or prior experience caps mentioned).
No nationality restrictions mentioned.

Funding & terms

Type

Salaried

Amount

Not specified

Duration

Six months, renewable subject to mutual agreement

Programme

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

How to apply

Deadline: 2026-10-18 (Asia/Hong_Kong)

Applicants must submit their application online through the CUHK career site. The application requires a detailed CV, complete list of publications, one sample manuscript or publication, names of two referees with contact information, and any other relevant supporting documents.

Documents required