PhD Researcher focusing on Regulating Socio-Technical Change

The research mission of Tilburg Law School (TLS) is to understand and improve the role of law in tackling societal problems now and in the future, particularly those connected with globalization and rapid economic, social, cultural and technological change. The research of Tilburg Law School is conducted in an organization that fosters diversity. Internationalization and interdisciplinarity have become core characteristics of Tilburg Law School’s research. The TLS-research is organized in four signature plans: Connecting Organizations, Global Law & Governance, Regulating Socio-Technical Change, and Subversive Crime.

 

Regulating Socio-Technical Change
We welcome applications from candidates interested in carrying out research in any topic where technology is impacting on society.  In particular, we welcome projects that inquire on how existing rules and regulations can cope with such changes, or with whether and how to regulate moving forward, or in asking which actors should be involved in regulation. 
Within the signature plan, the research team specializes in the following five fields:  (i) Technology (especially Artificial Intelligence and Robotics) and Regulation; (ii) Data Governance; (iii) Technology and Fundamental Rights; (iv) Private Regulation and Trade; (v) Competition, Innovation and Industry Regulation. Project proposals should fall within one or more of these. 
The signature plan carries out work across a range of disciplines in the social sciences: applications are welcome from candidates interested in multi-disciplinary research as well as doctrinal research. Further information about the signature plan is available here.

PhD researchers at TLS generally work four days per week (0.8 fte) on their research, while one day a week (0.2 fte) is dedicated to education or other tasks for the department. 

Tilburg University believes that academic excellence is achieved through the combination of outstanding research and education, in which social impact is made by sharing knowledge. In doing so, we recognize that excellence is not only achieved through individual performance, but mostly through team effort in which each team member acts as a leader connecting people. 

 

You are:

• An outstanding student with an excellent command of English. 
• Have completed (or will complete by the end of August) a Master in Law or a Master in adjacent fields such as Law and Economics, Law and Technology or Politics and Public Administration.
• Have a strong interest in doing research and are able to formulate views, ideas and concepts based upon complex information, as well as construct conceptual frameworks or models. 
• Have excellent writing and presentation skills, you can easily transfer your conducted knowledge to all kinds of target groups.

 

Good planning and organizing skills are necessary to complete your PhD research in the total period of time. You must be able to plan your activities and set goals and priorities. The Tilburg Graduate Law School (TGLS) and your promotor(s) provide help and guidance in the PhD process.
Finally, you are flexible, proactive, and able to work both independently and as part of a team. You are willing to contribute to the research community within our Law School.

Tilburg University offers excellent terms of employment. We believe flexibility, development, and good employee benefits are very important. We make clear agreements on career paths and offer all kinds of facilities and schemes to maintain an optimum balance between work and private life. Tilburg University fosters diversity and inclusion; that is why we pursue an active policy for inclusive teams where diverse talents can flourish.

The starting gross salary is €2,395 per month (full time) based on scale P of the Collective Labor Agreement Dutch Universities. Employees recruited from abroad may be eligible for the 30% tax facility- this means that 30% of your salary will be paid as a tax-free reimbursement.

The total duration of the PhD trajectory is four years (48 months). The candidate will initially be appointed for a fixed period of 16 months. After 12 months, an evaluation will take place. If the performance evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended for the remaining period of 32 months.
You are entitled to a holiday allowance amounting to 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% of your gross yearly income. If you work 40 hours per week, you receive 41 days of paid recreational leave per year.

Please visit Working at Tilburg University for more information on our employment conditions. 

Under the motto of ‘Understanding society’, Tilburg University’s more than 1,500 employees develop knowledge, transfer it to others, and bring people from various disciplines and organizations together. In this way, we want to contribute to solving complex social issues. Our focus areas are economics, business and entrepreneurship, social and behavioral sciences, law and public administration, the humanities and digital sciences, and theology. Tilburg University is internationally known for its high standards in education and scientific research, as well as its good support facilities. The Tilburg University campus offers both quietness and connectivity as it is located in a wooded park, ten minutes away from the city center, main highways, and railways. A mid-sized city of 200,000 inhabitants in the South of the Netherlands, and in proximity to cities like Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, and London, Tilburg is situated at the very heart of Western Europe. 

 

Please apply online via the apply button below before March 31 2022, 23:59hrs, and include the following documents: 

Letter of motivation

• Curriculum Vitae
• Proof of English proficiency
• Research proposal (using the application form)
• Official copy of the diploma Master program
• Official copy of your university marks (grade list)
• A recent example of your written work, ideally a bachelor or master thesis
• A nomination letter from a potential supervisor*

*Please note that your application has to be supported by a potential supervisor from Tilburg Law School (the nomination letter). In order to obtain this support, you will have to initiate contact with potential supervisors early; we recommend at least 2-3 months before the deadline. 

Applications that do not include all documents required will not be considered. First (file) selection takes place Mid – April 2022. Interviews are expected to be held Mid – May 2022.

Ideally, the preferred candidate would be able to start on September 1 2022.