"Postdoc in Confidentiality and Transparency of Regulated Digital Technologies in the EU"

Do you want to research the rules protecting confidential information and trade secrets of regulated actors in EU law? Contribute to the literature on transparency and accountability in the field of EU digital and data regulation? And lead the organisation of an academic workshop and become the co-editor of a special journal issue on artificial secrecy and algorithmic transparency?

How does EU law balance transparency and confidentiality of digital technologies? This Postdoc position offers you the opportunity to conduct original, cutting-edge research in the project “Artificial Secrecy? Taking Transparency in EU Digital and Data Regulation Seriously”. This research project focuses on the balance struck between transparency and confidentiality rules regarding regulated digital technologies and data in EU law. The EU legal framework on digital technologies and data is made up of various EU regulations (ie. GDPR, DSA, DMA, DGA, DA and AIA) which all contain rules on transparency and the protection of confidentiality.

Your research will cast light on the EU law principles of protecting confidential information and analyse how confidentiality is inscribed in the EU legal framework on digital technologies and data. You will have the chance of exploring the legal issues raised by the protection of confidentiality, such as questions of: How does EU digital and data regulation protect confidential information and trade secrets of regulated actors?; What are the legal requirements of protecting confidentiality and trade secrets and who establishes that a claim is qualified?; How do EU courts balance confidentiality claims and transparency requests in other areas of EU law?

In addition to legal-doctrinal and evaluative research, you will organise an academic and a civil society workshops. In the first workshop you have the opportunity to exchange first-hand with academic scholars working on this topic. In the second workshop you will obtain insights into how civil society and journalists approach and use public interest research in their work.

This project is funded by the Dutch National Research Foundation NWO.

What you will do This is a parttime Postdoc position of 26,6 hours a week for the duration of 15 months. For the most part, you will conduct research and one day per week you will contribute to education. You will implement your Postdoc project at the Institute for Information Law (IViR), Amsterdam Law School, University of Amsterdam. Your Postdoc project is part of a research project under the supervision of Dr. Kristina Irion. Your research will be published as a co-authored article and you will co-edit a special journal issue or edited volume.

Next to your Postdoc project, you will contribute to teaching, educational activities and student supervision tasks.

More specifically, you are expected to: Conduct systematic and critical academic research on the principles protecting confidential information of regulated digital technologies in EU law, culminating in a co-authored article; Present your research in academic conferences, expert sessions, etc.; Prepare the Call for Papers for inviting contributions to the academic workshop, manage reviewing of submissions, co-edit and prepare contributions for an edited volume or special journal issue. Co-develop a concept for and organise the workshop with civil society participants. Contribute to public debate, co-develop project website and prepare project-related output such as blog posts; Contribute to teaching, education activities and student supervision tasks; Where appropriate contribute to new grant applications; Collaborate with the research team and other IViR researchers and participate in other IViR activities.

What we expect from you A PhD in Law relevant for this research project (demonstrable knowledge of information law, freedom of information laws, transparency or confidentiality rules are a plus); Proven knowledge in the EU regulatory framework pertaining to digital technology and data. Excellent research skills demonstrated by a track record of publications in high-ranking journals, conferences and/or with leading presses or a demonstrable capacity to develop such a record; Demonstrable interest in challenges arising for transparency and accountability from overbroad confidentiality protections as witnessed by publications in relevant venues or evidence by public interest work; Experience with organising workshops, lecture series, or other events that facilitate knowledge dissemination and valorisation; Collegial attitude and capacity to work not only independently but also in teams; Excellent written and spoken command of English, as demonstrated by publications in English-language journals; written and spoken command of other languages, including Dutch, is a plus.

What we offer you The Postdoctoral Researcher will be appointed at the University of Amsterdam preferably starting on 1 December 2025 or 1 January 2026. The employment contract will be for 15 months, 26,6 hours a week, with a probationary period of two months for new appointments. The salary, depending on relevant experience before the beginning of the employment contract, will be € 3.546 to € 5.538 (scale 10) gross per month, based on a fulltime contract (38 hours a week). This is exclusive 8% holiday and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The starting salary will be based on qualifications, expertise and relevant experience. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable. The UvA offers excellent possibilities for further professional development and education.

Your workplace This PhD position is hosted at the Institute for Information Law, Amsterdam Law School, University of Amsterdam. With more than 50 researchers from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds, the Institute for Information Law (IViR) is the largest research facility in the field of information law in Europe, and one of the largest of its kind in the world. The Institute’s mission is to further the development of information law into a balanced framework that accommodates the needs and interests of the information society.