Your research project will fit in the research agenda of the Chair in Financial Technology and Law. More specifically your research should be into (i) the ‘Legal aspects of the Use of Big Data in the Financial Industry’ and/or (ii) the ‘Legal Implications and Challenges of Open Finance’.

For the research project ‘Legal aspects of the Use of Big Data in the Financial Industry’ the meaning of Big Data will be that more diverse information from more diverse sources becomes available to financial institutions on which they can base their decisions.

The other potential research subject ‘Legal Implications and Challenges of Open Finance’ concerns the development that both financial as well as non-financial institutions will have to provide access to the data they gather from and about their customers to be used and further built upon by other financial and non-financial institutions. A first step in this direction has been the introduction of PSD2 enabling account information services providers and payment initiation service providers to gain access to the customers’ bank accounts held with other financial institutions.

It is expected that your research will be performed in the context of banking services (lending, deposit taking and payments), insurance markets or retail investment services.

Because of the changing landscape and increasing relevance of the use of Big Data and the introduction of Open Finance in the financial industry, we are calling on young aspiring researchers to submit creative research proposals to help shape legal thinking in this area. Possible research angles are:

·       The impact of these developments on the clients of financial institutions (conduct angle);

·       The impact thereof on financial institutions themselves (micro prudential angle); or

·       The impact thereof on the structure of financial markets in general (macro prudential, systemic          angle or competition angle).

The overarching purpose would be to evaluate to what extent the current legal and regulatory framework would need to be adapted to adequately meet the new way financial services are provided.

The research proposal should be written from a European perspective, i.e. should predominantly be based on EU law sources. National law could be used to illustrate how EU law is implemented/understood by the various member states.  Laws of non-EU countries can also be used as a comparator.

Even though the research project sits within the faculty of law, a cross-disciplinary approach (for instance using insights of economics or data science) is encouraged.

We are looking for candidates who:

·       hold a master’s degree in Law or other discipline relevant for this PhD position[1];

·       can demonstrate scientific research skills, proven, for example, by academic publications or by            the quality of your master thesis;

·       have excellent oral and written skills in English (requirements: see application format).

Candidates will be selected based on their professional qualification, the letter of motivation and the quality of their research proposal and will be employed at Erasmus School of Law. See below for the specific requirements regarding the application procedure.

[1] Current master students, who will finish their master before January 2022, are welcome to apply. Bear in mind that proof of a master’s degree is a formal requirement for employment.

Fixed-term contract: 18 months - 4 years.

The position, preferably starting as soon as possible, begins with a temporary employment contract for 18 months. This probationary period consists of an educational programme and individual research and entails an evaluation of the progress of the research after one year. In case of a positive evaluation, the contract will be extended. In the remaining 30-month period PhD researchers focus on their research and the completion of their thesis. In both phases structured guidance is provided by the thesis supervisors and a doctorate committee composed of senior researchers and one of the PhD coordinators of Erasmus Graduate School of Law.

We offer an attractive position with good terms of employment in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO NU). The monthly salary is € 2,434 gross for a fulltime position of 38 hours a week during the first year (CAO NU scale doctoral candidate), which will increase annually up to € 3,111 gross per month in the fourth year.   

The attractive benefits package includes an end of year bonus of 8.3%, holiday allowance of 8%, extensive leave facilities for a healthy work/life balance, a good pension fund and an excellent collective insurance package. Staff are also entitled to use various facilities, such as sport facilities and library.

Since April 2018, Erasmus University Rotterdam has offered a Dual Career Programme to partners and spouses of new international employees. This programme is executed in close cooperation with Leiden University and TU Delft and aims to help partners and spouses find a job on the Dutch labour market, more information can be found here.

We value diversity and believe that a diversity of talents contributes to our vision and strategy to excel as a university on research and education. EUR is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from candidates of all genders, ethnicities and nationalities.

An assessment will be part of the selection procedure.

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Erasmus University Rotterdam is an internationally oriented university with a pronounced social orientation in its education and research. Our scientists and students work to solve global and social challenges, inspired by the dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. Our academic education is intensive, active, and applied. Our research is increasingly taking place in multidisciplinary teams, which are highly intertwined with international networks. With our research impact and study quality, Erasmus University Rotterdam is highly ranked and can compete with leading European universities. Important values for Erasmus University Rotterdam are being daring, curious, socially involved, deliberate and aspiring to success.

Erasmus School of Law

Erasmus School of Law employs 490 members of staff and is attended by around 5000 students. Erasmus School of Law offer bachelor programmes in Law, Tax Law and Criminology, with a focus on active academic learning. Students can subsequently choose from a wide variety of master programmes. Erasmus School of Law also collaborates in Double Degree programmes combining law and (business) economics or law and business administration and is one of the founders of the European Master in Law & Economics. Once students have completed their master’s degree, they may choose from several postgraduate tracks provided by Erasmus School of Law (in collaboration with Erasmus Academy and others).

The fundamental premise underlying academic research conducted at Erasmus School of Law is that law cannot be considered in splendid isolation or as an end in itself. It is embedded in an economic and social context that shapes law. At the same time, law itself shapes society and defines economic relationships. In line with this vision, our mission is to conduct innovative research on the function of law in its economic and social context. This research has a strong social and business-driven orientation. Erasmus School of Law is committed to promoting international and interdisciplinary research.