As an assistant professor, you will have a diverse set of responsibilities. You will teach, conduct innovative and high-quality research, write research proposals, and participate in administrative activities.

Law and technology research can be divided into Law for Technology research (e.g. privacy, liability for self-driving cars, legal status of blockchain) and Technology for Law research. This position focuses on the latter, as it aims to apply Data Science methods to the legal domain in order to unravel the “Legal DNA” of the law. You will be offered the opportunity to collaborate with data scientists and legal researchers, and to apply (and learn) data science methods and solutions in relation to the legal domain.

The successful candidate will contribute to a cutting-edge research program that combines law with data science and artificial intelligence to tackle challenging issues such as modelling legal complexity. The candidate will take part in multidisciplinary research teams, participate in interdisciplinary teaching, and pursue strategies to translate research results into innovation. We welcome applicants whose research has led to, or has the potential to lead to real-world applications and/or strong collaborations with industry.

Applicants should fulfill the following main requirements:

• PhD degree in law, data science, artificial intelligence, computer science, mathematics, or a related field. Legal scholars with a doctrinal focus do not fit the profile;
• Experience in applying data science;
• Experience in an academic environment after the PhD period is preferred;
• Excellence in research and a track record of obtaining research funding;
• Experience in teaching;
• Experience in supervising Bachelor, Masters, or PhD students;
• A personality characterized by vision, ambition, and collaboration;
• Fluency in the English language.

Fixed-term contract: 2 years with possibility for an extension.

• 38 hours per week;
• A competitive salary set in salary scale 11 of the collective labour agreement of the Dutch Universities depending on qualifications and work experience (expected minimum € 3.637,00 and maximum € 4.978,00) for a full-time job (38 hours/week). An 8% holiday and an 8.3% year-end allowance is also provided;
• The duration of the appointment is initially for 2 years as Assistant Professor (level 2), with the possibility for an extension based on target agreements;
• We offer an attractive package of fringe benefits such as, reduction on collective health insurance, substantial leave arrangements, parental leave packages, attractive retirement benefits and application for attractive fiscal arrangements for employees from abroad;
• The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM employees.

• We offer a rewarding career at a young university in the heart of Europe, with a distinct global perspective and a strong focus on innovative research and education.
• We provide a stimulating, collaborative and interdisciplinary work environment with excellent opportunities for professional and personal development;
• Maastricht University has an excellent international reputation, and Maastricht itself is a beautiful, open-minded city located in the center of Western Europe.

Maastricht University

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 18,000 students and 4,300 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

Data Science @UM

Data Science @UM is a pioneering, university-wide network of data-driven researchers with more than 25 years’ experience in data science education and research. Our community consists of multidisciplinary teams that address significant scientific problems and major societal issues through and related to data science including social, legal and ethical concerns in a wide range of academic disciplines. The Data Science@ UM community is expanding with at least 15 new positions in 2019.

Maastricht Law and Tech Lab

The Maastricht Law and Tech Lab, embedded within the Faculty of Law, aims to produce cutting-edge research and to build a creative community of researchers, teachers and students at the intersection of law, technology, data science and knowledge engineering. The Lab aims to analyze how technology and data science interact with law and justice in society, how technology and data science can increase access to law and justice in society, and analyzes the ethical, legal, and social issues arising from technology and data science innovations. Activities are conducted in collaboration between lawyers, data scientists and/or knowledge engineers. 

Institute of Data Science

The Institute of Data Science at Maastricht University (IDS@UM) is a recently established center led by distinguished professor Michel Dumontier. The mission of the Institute of Data Science is to foster an interfaculty environment for collaborative innovation in the development and application of data science technologies. IDS consists of a core team of data science experts that cooperate closely with researchers across disciplines such as medicine, life sciences, law, social sciences and humanities, business and economics, knowledge engineering and smart services.