Research Fellow - Southampton Law School

Applications are invited for a Research Fellow to undertake research work on a Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grant titled 'Modern Technologies, Privacy Law and the Dead'. The project brings together a team of legal scholars working in the area of emerging technologies and biotechnologies to investigate whether modern social, economic and technological realities compel a paradigm shift in favour of legally recognising and enforcing the privacy of the dead. The project is the first thorough examination of personality and privacy of the dead, from a variety of perspectives and using diverse research methods.

The Research Fellow will undertake research and writing on various issues investigated by the project and as directed by the investigators. Particularly, the work will focus on the historiography of the common law and civil law's refusal to protect privacy after death; survey and analyse case law and statutes, including data protection and freedom of information laws, in various jurisdictions on post-death privacy claims; analyse the theoretical, philosophical, doctrinal, social and technological justifications for a change in the current law on post-death privacy protection; and explore the interactions between privacy of the dead and memories - considering the importance of the production of memories in the private and the public realm, and their role in constructing the present, including personal and group identities, and imaginaries of the future. The successful applicant will be based at the University of Southampton collaborating with co-investigators from the other law schools. Applicants must therefore want to work as part of a collaborative research team.

Essential criteria

• Applicants should hold, or be nearing the completion of, a relevant PhD/DPhil;
• Strong background in privacy law, data protection law or freedom of information law;
• Capable of engaging in interdisciplinary research;
• Proven ability to work in a team and to a brief;
• Excellent time management and organisation;
• Excellent communication and writing skills.

Desirable criteria

• Familiarity with the law relating to dead bodies and bodily parts, technology law jurisprudence or relevant human rights literature.

This post is offered on a full time, fixed term basis until 31/08/2023.

Informal enquiries can be sent by email to Dr Remigius Nwabueze at R.N.Nwabueze@soton.ac.uk.

Applications for Research Fellow positions will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification. The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon successful completion of the PhD. Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.

We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.