Postdoc Position: Legal Aspects of Online Tracking and Privacy-Enhancing Technologies

Radboud Universiteit; Nijmegen; On-site; EUR 52,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

2-year contract

Salary scale 10

Holiday allowance 8%

Year-end bonus 8.3%

Extra leave days (30/41)

Job summary

Radboud University’s Faculty of Science invites applications for a postdoctoral position focused on the legal aspects of online tracking and privacy-enhancing technologies within the REAL-PETS project. You will work at the intersection of law and computer science to address privacy challenges and contribute to the development of PETs.

We seek a PhD in law and technology or related field with strong GDPR expertise and experience in interdisciplinary collaboration.

Qualifications

• You hold a PhD in law and technology, data protection law, or a related legal field in Europe, or will obtain such a degree soon.
• Strong interest in data protection law and privacy.
• Expertise on GDPR and ideally on DSA, DMA and ePrivacy Directive.
• Interest in interdisciplinary work with computer scientists or researchers from other disciplines.
• Proficiency in English; Dutch not required.

Responsibilities

• Analyze the legal landscape regarding privacy and online tracking.
• Apply GDPR and related regulation to tracking techniques.
• Analyze legal requirements for PETs developed in the project.
• Cooperate with computer scientists to detect tracking techniques and develop PETs.

Skills

Data protection law

GDPR expertise

Interdisciplinary collaboration

English proficiency

Education

PhD in law and technology

Job description

Postdoc Position: Legal Aspects of Online Tracking and Privacy-Enhancing Technologies

Faculty of Science
The Faculty of Science (FNWI), part of Radboud University, engages in groundbreaking research and excellent education. In doing so, we push the boundaries of scientific knowledge and pass that knowledge on to the next generation.
We seek solutions to major societal challenges, such as cybercrime and climate change and work on major scientific challenges, such as those in the quantum world. At the same time, we prepare our students for careers both within and outside the scientific field.
Currently, more than 1,300 colleagues contribute to research and education, some as researchers and lecturers, others as technical and administrative support officers. The faculty has a strong international character with staff from more than 70 countries. Together, we work in an informal, accessible and welcoming environment, with attention and space for personal and professional development for all.
Radboud University
At Radboud University, we aim to make an impact through our work. We achieve this by conducting groundbreaking research, providing high-quality education, offering excellent support, and fostering collaborations within and outside the university. In doing so, we contribute indispensably to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. To accomplish this, we need even more colleagues who, based on their expertise, are willing to search for answers. We advocate for an inclusive community and welcome employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives.
If you want to learn more about working at Radboud University, follow our Instagram account and read stories from our colleagues.

1. Introduction

Are you a lawyer with a strong interest in privacy, data protection and emerging technologies? Join the REAL-PETS project, a European research collaboration bringing together researchers from nine partner institutions. As a postdoctoral researcher, you will work at the intersection of law and computer science to address privacy challenges and contribute to the development of innovative privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs).

REAL-PETS will generate long-lasting technological, societal and industrial impact: strengthening EU's technological sovereignty, enabling regulators to enforce privacy rules through empirical evidence, technology standardisation, fostering privacy-resilient products and services, and empowering citizens with usable, transparent and trustworthy privacy protections.

As a postdoctoral researcher in law in the interdisciplinary REAL-PETS project, your main tasks within this larger project objective are the following.

• Analysing the legal landscape regarding privacy and online tracking.


• Applying the GDPR and related regulation to newly discovered tracking techniques.


• Analysing legal requirements for the privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) developed in this project.


• Cooperating with computer scientists who detect known and new tracking techniques and develop privacy-enhancing technologies.


• You hold a PhD degree in law and technology, data protection law, or a related legal field in Europe, or will obtain such a degree within a few months from now.


• You have a strong interest in data protection law and privacy.


• You have expertise on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and ideally also on other EU regulations relevant for privacy and personal data, such as the Digital Services Act (DSA), Digital Markets Act (DMA) and ePrivacy Directive.


• You are interested in – and ideally have experience in – interdisciplinary work with computer scientists or researchers from other disciplines.


• You are proficient in English (Dutch is not required) and have good communication, presentation and writing skills.

If you do not meet all the above-mentioned requirements, please feel free to reach out to ask whether you should apply anyway.

4. We are

You will join the Digital Security (DiS) group at the Institute for Computing and Information Sciences (iCIS) at Radboud University’s Faculty of Science. The Digital Security group is one of the leading groups in computer security and privacy in the Netherlands and Europe.

You will also be part of iHub, Radboud University’s interdisciplinary research hub on Digitalisation and Society. iHub brings together researchers from computer science, social sciences, humanities, law and other disciplines to address societal challenges arising from digitalisation. iHub provides a collaborative environment for research at the intersection of technology, security, privacy and society, fostering collaboration across disciplines and the development of value-driven digital technologies.

5. We offer

• We will give you a temporary employment contract of 2 year(s).


• Your salary within salary scale 10 depends on your previous education and number of years of (relevant) work experience. The amounts in the scale are based on a 38-hour working week.


• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.


• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

6. Practical information and applying

The first interviews will take place on Wednesday 18 November. Any second interview will take place on Tuesday 1 December. You will preferably start your employment on 1 March 2027.

We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure . It describes what you can expect during the application procedure and how we handle your personal data and internal and external candidates.

Do you already work at Radboud University and have questions about making an internal move? Learn more about internal applications .

Additional employment conditions

Work and science require good employment practices. Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions reflect this. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself. For example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports membership. In addition, you receive a 34% discount on the sports and cultural activities at Radboud University as an employee. And, of course, we offer a good pension plan. We also give you plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

Type of employment

Type of employment Temporary position

Employment expires 2029-02-28

Contract type

Contract type Full time

First day of employment

First day of employment 01-03-2027

Number of positions

Number of positions 1

Full-time equivalent 1,0

City

County

Country

Country Netherlands

Reference number

Reference number 62.128.26