Erin Pobjie

Dr Erin Pobjie is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in International Law at Essex Law School, University of Essex, and a Senior Research Affiliate at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law. She also holds affiliations as a Non-Resident Fellow at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and a British Academy Global Innovation Fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) in Berlin. Her work bridges academic research and policy engagement in international peace and security law.

• PhD in International Law (summa cum laude), University of Cologne
• LLM in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (Distinction), University of Essex
• Bachelor of Arts (Development Studies) and Bachelor of Laws (Honours), University of Melbourne

Her research focuses on the use of force by states (jus ad bellum), international peace and security law, space law, and emerging threats such as hybrid operations and climate security. She explores how international legal frameworks regulate contemporary security challenges, including military uses of outer space and the protection of victims of aggression. Her work is highly policy-relevant, engaging with governments, defense ministries, and international organizations.

The most recent publications reflect a consistent focus on the legal meaning of 'use of force', space security, and the UN’s role in addressing non-traditional threats. Her monograph Prohibited Force: The Meaning of 'Use of Force' in International Law (2024) provides a comprehensive analysis of the concept under international law. Articles and reports examine topics such as kinetic anti-satellite weapons, pandemic responses under the UN Charter, and victim advocacy in international criminal law, demonstrating interdisciplinary depth and policy impact.

• British Academy Global Innovation Fellowship (Technology & International Affairs)

Dr Pobjie has secured competitive research funding from the British Academy, University of Essex (QR Impact Fund, Research England - PSF), and UNIDIR. She serves as Co-Rapporteur for the International Law Association’s Committee on the Use of Force and is a Co-Convener of the Peace and Security Interest Group of the European Society of International Law. She regularly peer-reviews for leading journals such as the American Journal of International Law and the European Journal of International Law. She has advised the International Criminal Court, German Federal Foreign Office, and Italian Ministry of Defence. She is a qualified barrister and solicitor in Australia.

She is affiliated with key research institutions including the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, where she previously served as a Senior Research Fellow, and contributes to the Heidelberg Journal of International Law as a member of its Academic Advisory Board.