Björn Schiffbauer

The University of Cologne is advertising a research assistant position with doctoral qualification opportunity at the Institute for Air Law, Space Law and Cyber Law , attached to the professorship for European and Public International Law headed by Prof. Dr. Björn Schiffbauer . The position is based in Cologne, Germany, and is designed for candidates with a strong legal background who want to combine research, teaching, and academic development. The successful applicant will work across European law and public international law , with specific reference to international air law, space law, and cyber law as well as aspects of German law. Duties include supporting research and teaching in the professorship’s and institute’s core areas, assisting the institute director with projects, events, and publications, undertaking independent research, and contributing to teaching with a workload of 2 SWS . The post explicitly offers the opportunity to pursue a PhD in the institute’s research fields. It is a good fit for early-career legal scholars who want to deepen their expertise in international and European legal frameworks, especially in emerging fields such as space and cyber law. The institute emphasizes excellence in research and teaching, practical relevance, and international networking. Eligibility highlights include completion of the first and/or second German state examination with an above-average result, preferably above 9 points, or an equivalent degree such as an LL.M. . Applicants should have very strong knowledge of European and international law, solid German and English language skills, and ideally some familiarity with air, space, and cyber law. Moot court experience and additional languages are welcomed. The position begins on 2026-10-01 , is part-time (19.92 hours/week), and is fixed-term until 2028-09-30 . It is paid according to TV-L pay grade 13 , subject to the relevant collective agreement and personal requirements. Applications must be submitted online through the University of Cologne job portal by 2026-08-28 using reference number Wiss2607-13 . Applicants should upload complete supporting documents and omit an application photo.