Eva van der Zee

Eva van der Zee is a Junior Professor (tenure track) in International Law with a focus on Behavioral Law & Economics at the Institute of Law and Economics, Faculty of Law, University of Hamburg since 2019. She holds a PhD from Wageningen University, with research conducted at the European University Institute and New York University. Her academic journey includes postdoctoral research at Wageningen University and visiting positions at prestigious institutions across Europe and the United States.

Her educational background includes:

• LL.M. International Trade and Investment Law, University of Amsterdam (2011-2012)
• LL.M. Legal Philosophy (honors program, cum laude), Utrecht University (2010-2011)
• LL.B. Utrecht Law College (honors program) with minor in Economics, Utrecht University (2005-2009)

Eva's research focuses on the intersection of international and EU law with behavioral insights from social sciences, particularly examining how formal and informal regulatory systems interact to promote sustainable development. Her work spans behavioral law and economics, legal theory, sustainable development frameworks, human rights law, consumer protection, competition law, public and private regulation, trade and investment law, and corporate social responsibility. She applies interdisciplinary approaches that combine legal analysis with insights from economics, psychology, and behavioral science to address contemporary regulatory challenges.

Her publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on integrating behavioral insights into legal frameworks, particularly examining sustainability standards, environmental assessments, competition law applications to sustainability agreements, and the role of trust in regulatory systems. Her work shows an evolving trajectory from analyzing private sustainability standards to examining how behavioral insights can improve environmental decision-making and regulatory compliance.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Hamburg Universität Ideeen-und Risikofond (2019, 2021)
• DFG Funding for International Scientific Events (2020)
• Wageningen School of Social Sciences junior international research grant (2016)
• Nomination for Best Master's Thesis Award at Utrecht University (2012)

Eva has established herself as a leader in behavioral approaches to international law, organizing the Behavioral Research Approaches in International Law Network (BRAIN) and multiple international conferences. She has advised governmental institutions in the Netherlands on sustainable development policy and maintains active collaborations with researchers across Europe. Her teaching encompasses sustainable development law, behavioral law and economics, and foundational legal education in international contexts.

She has established collaborative research groups focusing on behavioral approaches in international law and has developed interdisciplinary connections between legal scholarship and social science methodologies.