Postdoc trustworthy digital identities

Join us!
The goal of the research is to conduct doctrinal, normative, theoretical and empirical research into the trustworthiness safeguards of digital identity systems, and translate those insights into concrete governance frameworks. In the process we plan to identify a set of independently verifiable safeguards (legal, technical, economic, and governance‐based) that make a digital identity system stack trustworthy; and design and execute qualitative and preferably quantitative empirical studies to measure the relationship between the objective trustworthiness safeguards and their relationship to users’ subjectively placed (dis)trust in the technology.

To help addressing these questions, we are looking for a postdoc with several years of experience in doing interdisciplinary research at the intersection of information law, digital technologies, (preferably digital identity systems), trust and trustworthiness, and technology governance. Your role will be to help manage the UvA contributions to the consortium, and conduct research within the trustworthiness safeguards related work package, in close cooperation with the other work packages. You will also actively help building the consortium and cooperation across work packages.

In addition to doing research, you will be required to teach at the education programs of IViR, including thesis supervision for the Dutch-language Informatierecht masters programme, and teaching in the English language Advanced LLM in Technology Governance Programme.

The position will be embedded in the Institute for Information Law (IViR), University of Amsterdam.

What you will do

• Develop, conduct, and publish research on the legal, technological and governance aspects of digital identity technologies,
• Help developing and testing the trustworthiness safeguards of the digital identity technology stack, in cooperation with an interdisciplinary team
• Design and execute qualitative and quantitative research into trust in technology, such as interviews with stakeholders at technology forms, public institutions, users
• Manage the UvA contributions to the consortium;
• Contribute to the public debate and organise activities as part of the consortium;
• Contribute to events, research meetings, and grant applications.

What we expect from you

• Have a clear research interest in the topic of digital identities and digital wallets, as well as the specifics of the project (documented by publications and grant applications);
• Demonstrated knowledge of the relevant regulatory frameworks, including, but not limited to the eIDAS (2.0), the DSA, and the DMA.
• Demonstrated experience in EU policy analysis and evaluation
• Demonstrated experience in risk governance, risk regulation on an EU level
• An 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);
• The ability, willingness, and commitment to do autonomous work in a multidisciplinary team that includes legal scholars, communication scholars, digital humanities and computer scientists.
• Experience with organising workshops, lecture series, and similar events.
• A PhD degree in Law, Political science, Information science, or other relevant disciplines.

We encourage all qualified applicants, including minorities, women, people with disabilities, and members of other groups underrepresented in academia to apply. We are committed to creating an environment of mutual respect, inclusiveness, equal opportunities with room for personal development.

What we offer you
We offer a full-time (38 hours) position for the period of 4 years. Preferred starting date is October 1, 2026.

The gross monthly salary based on full-time employment (38 hours per week) ranges from €4.492 up to a maximum of €6148 (salary scale 11). This is exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% end-of-year bonus. The starting salary will be based on qualifications, expertise and relevant experience. The profile Researcher 3 is applicable in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU).

The UvA offers excellent possibilities for further professional development and education.

What else do we offer

• a position where own initiative and input are highly valued;
• the ability to have an active part in setting up and shaping this new research initiative;
• an enthusiastic and dynamic team that is open to new colleagues;
• an inspiring academic and international working environment in the heart of Amsterdam.

Your workplace
The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 39,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds.

With over 5,000 students and more than 500 staff members, the Amsterdam Law School is one of the larger law faculties in the Netherlands. We educate lawyers who know how to apply the law effectively with the aim of making a real contribution to solving social problems.

The Amsterdam Law School stands for progressive and trail-blazing education and research, for stronger legal institutions, solutions to social problems and a better and juster society.
The Institute for Information Law (IViR), officially established in 1989, is one of the largest research centers in the field of information law in the world. The Institute employs over 25 researchers who are active in an entire spectrum of information society related legal areas: intellectual property law, patents, telecommunications and broadcasting regulation, media law, Internet regulation, advertising law, domain names, freedom of expression, privacy, digital consumer issues, commercial speech, et cetera.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.