M/F Junior Researcher - Propriété du patrimoine culturel religieux

CNRS; France; Sur place; EUR 30 000 - 45 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading research institution in France seeks a Researcher specialized in cultural heritage law. The successful candidate will contribute to a project on the ownership of religious heritage, requiring advanced proficiency in French and a PhD in law. Responsibilities include conducting case studies, overseeing editorial activities, and collaborating with a dynamic team at ENS Paris‑Saclay. Join us to explore the legal complexities of cultural patrimony across various historical periods.

Prestations

Access to university cafeteria

Partial reimbursement of public transportation costs

Access to campus facilities

Qualifications

• Advanced proficiency in French is mandatory, given the legal context of the research.
• PhD in law is required, emphasizing cultural patrimony law expertise.
• Strong ability to conduct scientific evaluations and assist in creating indexes.

Responsabilités

• Participate in research and book development on cultural heritage law in France.
• Conduct case studies on religious heritage and oversee editorial activities.
• Liaise with contributors and monitor project-related activities.

Connaissances

Advanced proficiency in French

Research skills in cultural patrimony law

Ability to work in a team

Strong interest in cultural heritage

Good interpersonal skills

Formation

PhD in Law

Outils

Proficiency in IT and databases

Description du poste

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Institut des Sciences sociales du Politique Research Field Sociology Juridical sciences Criminology Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Country France Application Deadline 8 Jan 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Mar 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The candidate selected will participate in the research project and in the development of a book on the ownership of religious cultural heritage in France throughout different historical periods, thereby contributing to the completion of the editorial project. This is a project in the field of sociology of law, specifically cultural heritage law. The researcher's main task will be to support and increase the scientific production of content to be included in the book. He or she will also monitor project-related activities and liaise with contributors.

• Collect, study, and comment on texts and jurisprudence
• Analyze the status of various “heritage objects” (archives, manuscripts, objects, and works of art, etc.) from a property perspective
• Participate in the authoring and production of a scientific work on the property regimes of Catholic religious heritage from a historical perspective, covering four periods in France (the Revolution, the Concordat period, the laws on the separation of church and state, the contemporary period with the introduction of Article L. 2112-1 on public property and the handling of claims in the last two decades)
• Conduct case studies on the different periods
• Participate in the thematic development, setup, and organization of workshops
• Oversee the editorial activities for the publication of the book on religious heritage
• Participate in the scientific supervision of the activities of a Research engineer tasked with researching diocesan archives

Applicants must have an advanced level of proficiency in French, as the research is based on legal texts in France.

The Institute for Social Sciences of Politics (ISP) is a joint research unit of the CNRS, ENS Paris‑Saclay and Paris‑Nanterre University. The unit is located on two sites: the University of Paris Nanterre campus, in Nanterre, and the ENS Paris‑Saclay campus in Gif‑sur‑Yvette. The work will be carried out at the ENS Paris‑Saclay facilities in Gif‑sur‑Yvette, within a dynamic team. The position is a 38.5‑hour per week position and includes vacation time commensurate with this work schedule. The position includes access to the university cafeteria, partial reimbursement of public transportation costs, and access to campus facilities. Travel is expected in connection with research, knowledge dissemination, and work meetings.

Research project context: In recent years, several departments of the french Ministry of Culture have been confronted with cases involving cultural property currently held by diocesan associations or other ecclesiastical institutions, in which it is difficult to determine the origin of ownership and, consequently, the legal status of the property, due to the fragility of the evidence and doctrine at their disposal. However, it is possible that the property held by these institutions actually belongs to the public domain of a public entity. The Institute for Social Sciences of Politics has been commissioned to write a book on this issue. In terms of chronology, the specialist departments agreed that the study should begin with the revolutionary period and extend to the decrees implementing the 1905 Separation Act and the introduction of Article L2112‑1 of the CGPPP. This would cover the 19th century and the Concordat period, with specific reference to the Alsace‑Moselle region, as well as the contemporary period. The study would involve both a review and analysis of all the legislative and regulatory texts adopted during this period, with the aim of presenting the legal regimes they created. It will be accompanied by an inventory and annotated analysis of case law (from the 19th century to the present day) as well as elements produced by administrative doctrine and ecclesiastical institutions on this issue.

• PhD in law
• Expertise in cultural patrimony law, general knowledge of administrative law, particularly administrative property law
• Proficiency in IT and databases for searching documents in archives
• Ability to carry out all types of scientific evaluation: writing articles, assisting in the creation of indexes
• Ability to work in a team, strong interest in the project topic, and good interpersonal skills