Researcher Health Data Governance

Uva; Amsterdam; Remote; EUR 41,000 - 64,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

8% holiday pay

8.3% end-of-year bonus

Job summary

The University of Amsterdam (UvA) invites applications for a part-time research position focused on how the European Health Data Space intersects with Dutch law and practice, emphasizing meaningful participation and safeguards for genomic and sensitive health data.

Responsibilities include mapping laws, comparing opt-in/opt-out models, and producing accessible outputs such as a policy brief. English proficiency is essential; Dutch is a strong advantage.

Qualifications

• PhD in law or related field preferred.
• Strong research experience.
• Experience with health law, data protection, or EU law is an advantage.
• Excellent written and spoken English required; Dutch proficiency advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Map EU and Dutch rules for sharing and reusing genomic and sensitive health data.
• Compare opt-in, opt-out and hybrid approaches and their implications for research, privacy, fairness and public trust.
• Help develop interview guides and clear scenarios for stakeholder discussions.
• Conduct and analyse interviews with policymakers, data stewards, researchers, and patient/community representatives.
• Synthesize findings into an academic write-up and a policy brief; contribute to a project-wide research community.

Skills

Health law

Data protection

EU law

Qualitative interviews

English proficiency

Dutch proficiency (advantage)

Education

PhD in Law

Master’s degree in law or related field

Job description

Join the project team!

The research examines how the European Health Data Space relates to Dutch law and practice, and what meaningful participation and effective safeguards could look like for genomic and other sensitive health data.

What you will do

Working with the project team, you will

• Map EU and Dutch legal and policy rules for sharing and reusing genomic and other sensitive health data.
• Compare opt-in, opt-out and hybrid approaches to individual choice, and examine their implications for research, privacy, fairness and public trust.
• Help develop interview guides and clear scenarios for discussions with stakeholder groups.
• Help prepare, conduct and analyse interviews with policymakers, data stewards, researchers, and patient or community representatives.
• Bring the legal and interview findings together in academic writing and accessible outputs, including a decision map and policy brief.
• You will also be part of the Centre’s wider research community, collaborating on related health law and digital health work where it connects to your agreed responsibilities.

What you bring

A completed PhD in law or a related field is preferred. We will also consider applicants with a relevant master’s degree and strong research experience. The appointment level and salary scale will reflect the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience.

You can carry out careful, independent research, work well with colleagues, and explain complex findings clearly to academic and wider audiences. Experience with health law, data protection, EU law, or qualitative interviews is an advantage. Excellent written and spoken English is required. Professional working proficiency in Dutch is a strong advantage. Preferably you are available on short notice (starting 1 December 2026).

What do we offer?

The position is for 0.5 fte and offered for 1 year.The gross full-time monthly salary will be in accordance with the salary scales for junior (post-doc) Researchers at Dutch universities, scale 10 (Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities) ranging from €3.706 to €5.760 gross per month (full-time equivalent). As mentioned before the appointment level and salary scale will reflect the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience. Secondary benefits at Dutch universities are attractive and include 8% holiday pay and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus

This is where you will be working

You will work primarily on two complementary projects supported by an NWO Open Competition XS award and the Amsterdam Law School’s Democratic Digital Transformation (DDT) initiative. Together, they explore how genomic and other sensitive health data can be reused for research under the European Health Data Space, examining opt-out arrangements, meaningful public participation and safeguards under Dutch law. You will be part of the project team which is based at the Law Center for Health and Life, at the Law Faculty of the University of Amsterdam (UvA).

Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact James Hazel [e-mail]

The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer. We prioritize diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We value a spirit of enquiry and perseverance, provide the space to keep asking questions, and promote a culture of curiosity and creativity.