Postdoctoral Researcher in Energy Law, Regulation, and Innovation

Shape the Future of Energy Transition as a Postdoctoral Researcher in Law! 
Transitioning to a sustainable neighbourhood energy system is necessary for a future-proof energy infrastructure. How can electricity, heating, and cooling be integrated into localities while ensuring affordability, reliability, and sustainability? What legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks are needed to support innovative forms of collaboration between network operators, national governments, municipalities, and energy communities? Are you passionate about energy law and sustainable energy systems? Then we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity!

Tilburg Law School has a vacancy for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Energy Law, Regulation, and Innovation. The selected candidate will conduct research in energy law in collaboration with researchers at the Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology, and Society (TILT). The researcher will also be part of a university-wide network of researchers within the Academic Collaborative Center (ACC) for Climate & Energy (Academische Werkplaats Klimaat en Energie) and collaborate with researchers from different schools and disciplines. Within this Center, researchers also work closely with partners from the field of practice on sustainability, climate change, and energy transition-related challenges.

Your position 
The evolving European and Dutch energy regulatory landscape demands a reassessment of legal frameworks. With the implementation of the EU Green Deal, Fit for 55, and the REPowerEU Plan, the European energy market is fundamentally transforming. The Netherlands leads these developments by enacting new laws like the Energiewet, Wet collectieve warmte and others, as well as deploying new regulatory tools for a secure and sustainable green transition. 

Tilburg University seeks a postdoctoral researcher to study regulatory innovations in energy governance, systems and infrastructures, digitalisation, and sustainability. The role focuses on Dutch energy law, market design, renewable energy, grid flexibility, and data-driven markets. The researcher will analyse legal challenges in decentralised systems and explore regulatory frameworks for collaborative, neighbourhood-scale energy solutions.

The successful candidate will:

• Conduct independent and collaborative legal research in energy law, regulation, and innovation, leading to peer-reviewed international publications and outputs such as industry or policy reports,
• Contribute to ongoing projects and collaborative initiatives on the green and digital transitions,
• Closely collaborate with both fellow researchers and diverse societal partners and external stakeholders, bridging the gap between academia and practice,
• Proactively seek funding opportunities at Dutch and EU levels, coordinating grant applications and research projects for government bodies and other institutions,
• Contribute to the legal discourse on energy, data governance, privacy, digital energy platforms, and regulatory innovations within academia and practice,
• Be an active member of the TILT and ACC communities, participating in and organising events, workshops, and conferences, and presenting research findings at national and international forums, and
• Engage in limited educational tasks (0.1 - 0.2 FTE), including contributing to the teaching of energy law in the LLM in Law and Technology, supervising and grading theses and assisting in LLB/LLM courses or executive training programs.

We recognise that no candidate will meet every requirement, and we do not want lists of requirements to discourage talented applicants. If you’re excited about this position but don’t tick every box, we encourage you to still apply! In your application, share your qualifications and passions.

For this position, we are seeking a motivated and talented postdoctoral researcher who has:

• A PhD in law or at least having your PhD manuscript approved at the time of application (strict requirement). Your PhD research can focus on any aspect of energy regulation, competition law, international trade law, data regulation, or innovation law, among other relevant fields, as long as it equips you to engage meaningfully in energy law research,
• A strong background and keen interest in energy law, regulatory governance, and/or digital transformation in energy markets,
• Excellent command of Dutch and English (C1 – C2), demonstrated through publications and conference presentations,
• Experience in collaborating with diverse stakeholders, and bridging connections between researchers and practitioners, and the ability to switch from working with researchers to working with partners from practice,
• A commitment to Tilburg University’s vibrant research community on climate and energy and to fostering an inspiring work environment,
• A proactive, independent, and creative mindset with a vision for innovative research, and
• Availability to be present at Tilburg University at least two days per week, in accordance with the university’s hybrid working policy.

Tilburg University offers excellent benefits in a pleasant working environment: 

• A position based on 0.8 – 1.0 FTE (32 – 40 hours per week).
• A salary of minimum of €4537 and maximum €6209 gross per month for full-time employment, based on UFO profile Researcher 3 and salary scale 11. Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system based on relevant education and work experience.
• This is a vacancy for a temporary position in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 5 under b of the CLA DU. You will be given a temporary contract for the duration of 24 months.
• Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
• Over 8 weeks of vacation leave.
• The opportunity to work partly on campus and partly from home with a home office allowance of €2 per day.
• Reimbursement for sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, and public transportation.
• A monthly internet fee of €25.
• An Options Model in which you exchange benefits for things such as additional leave, more pension, a bicycle or personal training at our Sports Center.
• A moving allowance (subject to conditions).
• Employees from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for the 30/20/10% tax facility.
• A pension with ABP; the most sustainable Dutch pension fund.
• Training in personal development, career development, leadership, education, and research or a language course at our Language Center.
• A work culture in which we embrace differences, everyone is welcome and given equal opportunities.
• A vibrant campus in green surroundings that is easily accessible by public transport. 

For more information, see our website and the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities

Tilburg University is an academic, inclusive, and engaged community. Together with nearly 3,000 employees, we are committed to broad prosperity, sustainability, and inclusion. For current and future generations. We develop and share knowledge for the requirements of people and our society. This is how we contribute to solving complex societal issues and help society move forward.

We educate our 19,500 students of 110 nationalities to become responsible leaders with knowledge, skills, and character. With our education and research for broad prosperity, we exceedingly focus on themes such as mental and preventive care, an inclusive labor market, the energy transition, and digitalization.

About Tilburg Law School
Since its founding in 1963, Tilburg Law School has become one of the leading law schools in Europe. Through top research and the provision of high-quality university education, the School contributes to society. Tilburg Law School is organized into five Departments: Public Law and Governance; Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology, Markets and Society; Private, Business and Labour Law; the Fiscal Institute Tilburg; and Criminal Law. The mission of the School is to understand and improve the role of law and public administration in addressing the social problems of today and tomorrow. Through research and education, our scholars contribute to that mission. 

More than 4,000 students pursue a Bachelor's, pre-Master's or Master's degree at Tilburg Law School. Through this education, we train students in law, public administration, and data science. The Tilburg Educational Profile (TEP) is unique in the Netherlands. Central to it are three core concepts: knowledge, skills, and character. A university education provides students with the latest substantive knowledge and trains them to be critical thinkers and resilient professionals. In addition, the School is committed to innovative educational concepts and, partly in response to the coronavirus crisis, has invested heavily in the quality of online education and in innovative didactic tools to make and keep students inquisitive. 

Tilburg Law School's research is highly regarded nationally and internationally. The Tilburg Law School Departments work closely together in their research in four research programs: 1) Global Law and Governance; 2) Crime, Criminal Justice and Vulnerability; 3) Connecting Responsible Organizations; and 4) Regulating Socio-Technical Change. 

The Department Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology and Science (TILT) is home to education and research on the effects of socio-technical change on the regulation and governance of economic activities in an era where information technology is a key driver of innovation. TILT is one of the leading research groups in Europe at the intersection of law, technology, and society. It is premised on the multidisciplinary study of socio-technical change, aiming at understanding the interaction of technology and social and normative practices in order to clarify how regulatory challenges of socio-technical change can be addressed.

Academic Collaborative Center for Climate and Energy
At Tilburg University, researchers and practice partners join forces to drive impactful climate action and energy transition. Through cutting-edge research and real-world solutions, they contribute to a socially just and sustainable future. Since early 2023, the university-wide Academic Collaborative Center (ACC) for Climate & Energy has been the hub for this collaboration. Bringing together over 40 academic researchers from various disciplines and 12 practice partners, ranging from government bodies to grid operators and consumer organisations, the ACC tackles critical challenges in market design and regulation, governance and participation, digitalisation and data-driven innovation, and communication and behaviour. By bridging science and practice, Tilburg University is shaping the future of sustainable energy with knowledge that makes a difference.