Graduate Research Fellow

Company Description: International Investment Law Initiative Bangladesh (IILIB) is dedicated to strengthening Bangladesh’s capacity to engage with the evolving global regime governing foreign investment. As the country moves toward graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, IILIB focuses on the legal and policy challenges posed by Bilateral Investment Treaties, Free Trade Agreements with investment chapters, and investor–state dispute settlement mechanisms. The initiative responds to a critical gap in specialised expertise, academic instruction, and high-level research on international investment law within Bangladesh. IILIB works to equip researchers, policymakers, and practitioners with rigorous, context-specific knowledge to protect economic and sovereign interests in a more demanding treaty environment. By fostering advanced scholarship and training, IILIB aims to support evidence-based negotiation and implementation of international investment obligations.

Role Description: The Graduate Research Fellow is a full-time, on-site role based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Fellow will conduct in-depth legal and policy research on international investment law, focusing on Bangladesh’s treaty commitments, ISDS cases, and comparative practice in other developing and emerging economies. Day-to-day tasks include reviewing treaties, arbitral awards, and academic literature; drafting memos, policy briefs, and research papers; and contributing to research projects that support government officials, practitioners, and other stakeholders. The Fellow will assist in organising workshops, seminars, and training programs, and may help develop teaching materials and public-facing content that communicate complex IIL issues in accessible terms. Collaboration with senior researchers, external experts, and institutional partners will be expected, along with maintaining high standards of academic integrity and timely project delivery.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in international law or economic law, ideally with coursework or demonstrable interest in international investment law, treaty law, or international dispute settlement.
• Advanced legal research and analytical skills, including the ability to interpret treaties, case law, arbitral awards, and policy documents.
• Excellent academic writing and editing skills, with the ability to produce clear, well-structured research papers, briefs, and reports in English.
• Capacity to synthesise complex legal and economic issues into concise, policy-relevant analysis for non-specialist audiences.
• Proficiency in using legal databases and research tools; familiarity with citation standards and research ethics.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple research tasks and meet deadlines in a collaborative environment.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (completed or in progress) in Law, International Relations, Economics, or a closely related field; higher-level legal training (LL.M. or equivalent) is an advantage.
• Demonstrated interest in development, economic policy, or the role of law in shaping