The Department of TILT (Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology, and Society) has a vacancy for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Competition Law & Digital Regulation. The selected candidate will contribute to research projects on the regulation of digital platforms and data.  

The rise of digital platforms, data and AI is reshaping competitive dynamics in markets and challenging existing legal concepts. EU competition law is being complemented by other legislative instruments such as the Digital Markets Act and the Data Act, which aim to keep markets open and fair. Understanding how to balance the prospects and risks of digital platforms, data and AI is essential for effective regulation and enforcement in EU technology markets. We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher with a keen interest in doing cutting-edge research to help answer these questions. 

The research involves three projects:

• The INCA Horizon Europe project, which involves a consortium of 12 universities, research institutes and non-academic actors across Europe. INCA analyses the impact of digital platforms on democracy from a multidisciplinary perspective. TILT is responsible for the legal and policy aspects within INCA, which includes an assessment of the influence of big tech firms on the implementation and interpretation of laws (such as the Digital Markets Act), and the development of codes of conduct to protect platform workers, business users and consumers.
• An internally funded research project on the role of competition law in creative industries, focusing on music and gaming. 
• An internally funded research project on governing data in shared regulatory space, including the implementation of the data-related obligations of the Digital Markets Act. 

Within the last two projects in particular, there is room for the postdoctoral researcher to carve out areas of own interest.

The selected candidate will join the research teams of the three projects and can also be involved in education activities of TILT for a maximum of 0.2 FTE. More specifically, the successful candidate will:

• independently and jointly pursue path-breaking research leading to excellent publications in double-blind peer-reviewed international journals;
• actively contribute to relevant Work Packages and activities (including Work Package meetings, consortium meetings and public events) of the INCA Horizon Europe project; 
• be an active member of the department by participating in and organising events and activities, presenting, and discussing research output within the department, and representing the department outside Tilburg University;
• co-supervise students in writing their Bachelor and/or Master thesis in law and reading and grading Bachelor and/or Master theses on a variety of topics;
• assist in courses at the Bachelor and/or Master programs that TILT is involved in, for instance by giving guest lectures.

Tilburg University is curious about how you can contribute to our research, education, impact, and to the team you will be part of. Therefore, we would like to get the best possible picture of your knowledge, insight, skills, and personality. Below you can find the qualifications we consider important for the position.

• You have completed a PhD in the area of Competition Law and/or Digital Regulation (or at least a PhD manuscript approved by your supervisors);  
• You show interest in the regulation of digital platforms (for instance the Digital Markets Act) and/or the regulation of data (for instance the Data Act), as evidenced by your research and activities. Work that combines several domains is preferred;
• You have an excellent written and spoken command of English, as demonstrated by publications and conference presentations in English; 
• You have experience or affinity with working in a multidisciplinary environment; 
• You feel comfortable working in a team and express this through collaboration, sharing knowledge and experiences, and contributing to an open and inclusive work environment; 
• You have the ability to supervise students in writing their Bachelor and/or Master thesis in law and the ability to read and grade Bachelor and Master theses on a variety of topics; 
• You are available to start working for Tilburg University in January 2025;
• You are prepared to be present at Tilburg University at least 2 days a week in line with TILT's hybrid working policy office hours and commit to integrate in the environment provided by the INCA Horizon Europe project, TILT and Tilburg Law School. 

To maintain a vibrant and active university community, it is important that we meet each other regularly and that the connection between us remains good. Therefore, the premise is that all staff members carry out their work in the Netherlands and that lecturing, when relevant, is done physically.

Tilburg University offers excellent terms of employment with attention to flexibility and room for (personal) development. We recognize and reward our employees and encourage the use of talents and strengths.

Tilburg University is committed to an open and inclusive culture, embracing diversity, and encouraging the mutual integration of groups of staff and students. We create equal opportunities for all our staff and students so that everyone feels at home in our university community. 

We work in a vibrant and lively (work) environment on our beautiful campus, close to the forest and easily accessible by public transport. We are committed to a sustainable society and challenge you to make an active contribution to this. 

For this position, we offer:

• A position based on 0.8 - 1.0 (32 - 40 hours per week);
• A vacancy for a temporary position in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 5 of the CLA for Dutch universities. You will be given a temporary employment contract for the duration of 30 months.
• A salary of minimum €4.332 and maximum €5.929 gross per month for full time employment, based on UFO profile Researcher 3 and salary scale 11 of the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system for salary scaling that is based on relevant education and work experience;
  As of 1 September 2024 all salaries will be collectively raised by 3,7% and as of 1 January 2025 again with 1%.
• Vacation allowance (8%) and a year-end bonus (8.3%);
• Vacation days (41 days for a 40-hour work week);
• Full reimbursement of commuting expenses for sustainable travel: walking, biking and public transportation;
• Moving allowance;
• Options Model for benefits and reimbursement of expenses;
• Employees from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a tax-free allowance of 30/20/10% of their taxable wages. We will apply for this reimbursement for you;
• You will be enrolled in the General Pension Fund for Public Employers (ABP) through us;
• Various training courses, for example in leadership skills, personal effectiveness, and career development;
• A wide range of amenities and facilities and various arrangements to create an optimal work-life balance.

Visit working at Tilburg University for more information on our terms of employment. 

Tilburg University

Tilburg University's motto is Understanding Society. Based on this vision, our almost 2,800 employees conduct research, inspire more than 19,000 students of 110 nationalities, and bring people from different disciplines and organizations together to learn from each other. In this way, we want to contribute to solving complex social issues. In doing so, we work from the fields of economics, business and entrepreneurship, social and behavioral sciences, law and public administration, humanities and digital sciences, and theology. We seek the connection between the various disciplines to find solutions to the major issues we face as a society. Our students are educated to become responsible and entrepreneurial thinkers, driven by solidarity, a sense of responsibility, and empathy, who are able to influence and give direction to a rapidly changing society in an innovative way. Tilburg University has a culture of collaboration and co-creation, at local, regional, national, and international level.

Since its founding in 1963, Tilburg Law School has become one of the leading law schools in Europe. Through top research and the provision of high-quality university education, the School contributes to society. Tilburg Law School is organized into five Departments: Public Law and Governance; Law, Technology, Markets and Society; Private, Business and Labour Law; the Fiscal Institute Tilburg; and Criminal Law. The mission of the School is to understand and improve the role of law and public administration in addressing the social problems of today and tomorrow. Through research and education, our scholars contribute to that mission. 

More than 4,000 students pursue a Bachelor's, pre-Master's or Master's degree at Tilburg Law School. Through this education, we train students in law, public administration, and data science. The Tilburg Educational Profile (TEP) is unique in the Netherlands. Central to it are three core concepts: knowledge, skill and character. A university education provides students with the latest substantive knowledge and trains them to be critical thinkers and resilient professionals. In addition, the School is committed to innovative educational concepts and, partly in response to the coronavirus crisis, has invested heavily in the quality of online education and in innovative didactic tools to make and keep students inquisitive. 

Tilburg Law School's research is highly regarded nationally and internationally. The Tilburg Law School Departments work closely together in their research in four signature research programs: 1) Global Law and Governance; 2) Law and Security; 3) Connecting Organizations; and 4) Regulating Socio-Technical Change. 

The Department Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology, and Society (TILT) is home to teaching and research on the effects of socio-technical change on the regulation and management of economic activities in an era when information technology is a key driver of innovation. TILT is one of the leading research groups in Europe at the intersection of law, technology, and society. It is based on multidisciplinary research on socio-technical change, aimed at understanding the interaction between technology and social and normative practices to clarify how to address the regulatory challenges of socio-technical change.

We invite you to apply online for this position by 8 September 2024 (23:59 CEST). 

More information about the vacancy can be obtained from Inge Graef (i.graef@tilburguniversity.edu) and/or Friso Bostoen (f.bostoen@tilburguniversity.edu). 

Please attach the following documents to the application:

1. a cover letter, explaining your motivation for applying for this position;
2. your CV, including publication list;
3. a research proposal of up to 1500 words, describing the research you would be interested in carrying out within the broader area described in this vacancy;
4. a recent example of your written work (for instance a journal article or PhD chapter);
5. contact information for two referees (including name, phone number, and e-mail address). We only approach referees for candidates who go to the second interview round.