Human Rights and Business in South Africa and Colombia Application (2025-2026)

DUE: Monday, May 26, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. (CST)

Join the research team supporting skill-building for lawyers bringing human rights cases against corporations in South Africa and Colombia from Fall 2025 to Spring 2026. The project launches with a week-long meeting with the lawyers starting September 22, 2025.

THE PROJECT
Research assistants will work with Kaushik Sunder Rajan, Professor of Anthropology, and with members of the Corporate Accountability Lab, Chicago (https://corpaccountabilitylab.org/). Under their guidance, the research assistants will develop a strategic litigation skills-share between a group of South African and Colombian lawyers who work on issues of business and human rights. This project is sponsored by the Pozen Center for Human Rights.

WHAT YOU’LL DO
Research assistants will be expected to attend a week-long meeting in Chicago (tentatively scheduled for September 22-26, 2025, but subject to change), during which time plans for research projects pertaining to the skills-share will be developed by lawyers from South Africa and Colombia. The exact nature of the research will be determined at this meeting, but research activities could include:

Helping to survey and analyze relevant laws and histories of litigation pertaining to business and human rights in South Africa and Colombia. Likely areas of focus will include (but are not restricted to) class actions against mining companies, mining and land rights, protocols for community consent for extractive enterprise, use of regional courts for bringing human rights cases against corporations, and health and environmental impacts of extractive industry;
Conducting interviews with experts in the two countries (likely by Zoom, though as the project progresses, a research visit to one of the countries may become necessary);
Compiling data or drafting memos that may be of use to participating lawyers; and
Regularly meeting with relevant experts.

TIMING
The Pozen Family Center for Human Rights is seeking two undergraduate research assistants to start on September 22, 2025, by attending a week-long meeting at UChicago. (This is the week prior to the start of Fall Quarter.) The meeting time and place may change depending on the availability of lawyers from abroad. After the initial week of meetings, the commitment will average four to six hours per week during Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters. Work will be done independently or at the offices of Corporate Responsibility Lab.

ELIGIBILITY
Applications are welcome from across UChicago. Preference will be given to those who will be third- and fourth-year undergraduates in 2025-26. At least one of the research assistants should have a working knowledge of Spanish.

COMPENSATION
Undergraduates will be paid $19/hour. Work-study students are encouraged to apply.

The application is due May 26 at 11:59 p.m. Upon successful submission, you will see a confirmation page and also receive an email. Questions? cliffchan@uchicago.edu

Full Name*

First NameLast Name

Phone Number*

Area CodePhone Number

Preferred Name (this name will be used in email correspondence)*

First NameLast Name

UChicago E-mail*

Confirmation Email

Your UChicago student status in academic year 2025 -2026 (preference for 3rd and 4th year UChicago undergraduate students): *

Your undergraduate major*

Please explain your availability for this position. Preference will be given to those who are available during the week of September 22 and can make a commitment of 4-6 hours per week for three quarters. Also, please indicate if you intend to be studying abroad.

Have you declared human rights as your undergraduate major?*

Please list any past or current Human Rights coursework.

0/150

In addition to English, what other languages do you speak, read, or write proficiently? For each, please rate your level of competency (native speaker, fluent, advanced beginner, etc.).

0/150

Please briefly list any experience with research, analysis, interviewing, working with data (including computer science or coding abilities), or with working on business and human rights-related projects. Please note, it is not expected that you need all of these skills – we will build an interdisciplinary team!

0/150

Please describe your interest in joining the research team supporting the work of lawyers promoting human rights and business in South Africa and Colombia. You may include influential and formative academic work, work experiences, volunteerism, activism, personal experiences, and/or interests in particular issue areas that have (a) influenced your decision to apply and (b) prepared you for a research position. Are there personal and professional areas where you’re looking to grow? (300 word limit)**

Note: prior work experience in human rights is not a program prerequisite.0/300

Note: Word limits are strict. There is no minimum word count. We encourage you to be as succinct as possible. Use block paragraphs instead of indented paragraphs to avoid formatting errors.

UPLOAD PDF OF RESUME/CV*

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Human Rights and Business in South Africa and Colombia Research Assistant Application