We are looking for a talented, entrepreneurial and well-organized post doctoral researcher, who has preferably holds a PhD in law, or in political/social science, communications, medicine or public health. The ideal candidate is eager to contribute to a 3-year project funded by the European Commission on risk regulation and communication in relation to pandemic vaccines and preparedness. The ideal candidate has an understanding of the main developments in this field and a track record in empirical-legal research published in international peer-reviewed journals. This position is part of the larger interdisciplinary END-VOC research consortium, and it will be based at the UvA Law Centre for Health and Life, and the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development.

About END-VOC

The END-VOC (Ending Covid-19 Variants of Concern through Cohort Studies) consortium has been awarded funding from the European Commission's Horizon Europe programme to support the European and global response to the COVID-19 pandemic and Variants of Concern. END-VOC consists of 19 partners across Europe, South America, Africa, Middle East, and Asia who will analyse the global circulation of Covid-19 variants of concern and evaluate their impact on vaccines and vaccination and treatment strategies. Within this project, the social science work package is led by the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (which is a network represented in this project by colleagues from the UvA Law Centre for Health and Life).

The Law Centre for Health and Life seeks a talented and entrepreneurial post doctoral researcher to manage the (social science) work package on Pandemic Preparedness. This work package aims to transform evidence from COVID-19 pandemic and variants of concern into regulatory and policy recommendations to strengthen international research and regulatory preparedness. It has two components:

1. Leading the development of legal, regulatory and risk communication strategies through empirical-legal research.

Effectively controlling emergence and spread of pandemic and epidemic pathogens hinges, in part, on access to and public trust in preventative and therapeutic medical products such as vaccines. For example, the emergence and proliferation of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern is fuelled, in part, by vaccine hesitancy among the public. Vaccine acceptance is influenced by regulatory decision making and public communication about the associated benefits, risks, and uncertainties. Legal, regulatory, and risk communication approaches to health interventions differ worldwide, and they shape public acceptance as new safety and efficacy data emerge. These approaches are also a core component of regional and international pandemic preparedness networks and activities that allow regulators, policy makers, and public health officials to rapidly address future pandemics.

1. Developing, in close collaboration with END-VOC partners, a research agenda and plan to serve as regional and international networks for emerging and future global health threats.

Although governments hold the primary responsibility for pandemic preparedness, through International Health Regulations, there are considerable differences in preparedness between countries. Sound pandemic and epidemic preparedness and response relies on the interweaving of cutting-edge science and public health approaches across all sectors, with public policy into a blueprint for rapid and sustained action on emerging and future global health threats. The Covid- 19 pandemic has spurred an unprecedented volume of (basic) scientific and medical research networks about the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen. It has also catalysed numerous national, regional, and global networks for COVID-19 response. Yet, there has been little systematic inquiry and reflection regionally/internationally on how to connect, embed, and continue this expertise and these research networks with public authorities and the private sector for a sound preparedness plan for the next epidemic or pandemic.

What are you going to do

You will:

• Lead the Law Centre for Health and Life's interdisciplinary research in the END-VOC project that focuses on risk regulation and communication in relation to pandemic vaccines and preparedness. This means autonomously managing the research plan, ethical aspects, data collection and analysis, and manuscript drafting for international peer-reviewed journals.
  
  
• Manage (i.e. organise and coordinate) the Law Centre for Health and Life's overall contributions to other work packages, consortium reports, meetings etc. within the END-VOC project.
  
  
• Represent your research and the Law Centre for Health and Life at internal and external meetings, scholarly conferences, and policy events (in English).
  
  
• Support (and where relevant, lead) research funding applications.
  
  

The ideal candidate:

• has a proven track record in legal research in (parts of) the research area;
  
  
• has a PhD in a relevant discipline, preferably law, or in political/social science, communications, medicine or public health;
  
  
• has an excellent academic publication record as evident from journal publications;
  
  
• has proven organizational, communication and team leading skills;
  
  
• is a self-starter, innovative and entrepreneurial;
  
  
• has experience working in interdisciplinary environments, and with societal actors;
  
  
• has excellent language skills in English and preferably in Dutch.
  
  

Additionally, it is an asset if candidates have any of the following:

• some experience with interdisciplinary research in two or more of the disciplines brought together by this project (i.e. law, political/social science, communications, medicine or public health);
  
  
• some experience with quantitative large-n survey research and/or country comparisons;
  
  
• knowledge of medicines/vaccines regulation in general, and/or specifically in Brazil, Italy, or Nigeria;
  
  
• knowledge of the relationship between health regulation and public trust in general, and/or in the context of Brazil, Italy, or Nigeria;
  
  
• a track record in developing and writing grant applications (science foundation programmes and otherwise);
  
  
• has a national and international network in the field of research.
  
  

Your research will be carried out within the Law Center for Health and Life at the Faculty of Law (section Public Law) and in the context of the END-VOC project, at least one day a week at the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development.

The Law Center for Health and Life is a newly established research centre and site for interdisciplinary legal research on health and the living environment. It offers a dynamic scholarly environment including regular research events, incoming visiting researchers, and a collegial atmosphere.

The position is first and foremost a research mandate; yet the successful applicant will incidentally have the opportunity to be involved in teaching courses coordinated by colleagues from the Law Centre for Health and Life.

The position preferably starts between October - November 2022. The position concerns a temporary appointment of at least 26,6 hours per week for an initial term of 1 year, extended with 2 more years following a positive assessment. The full-time gross monthly salary ranges from € 3,974 to € 6,184 per month (salary scale 11-12), depending on relevant experience.

Secondary benefits at Dutch universities are attractive and include an 8% holiday pay and an 8.3% end-of-year Bonus. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities CAO Nederlandse Universiteiten applies.

Amsterdam Law School

Committed, responsible and open-minded. This is how we at the Amsterdam Law School view the role of law in a constantly changing (international) society. With over 5,000 students and 550 staff, we are one of the larger law faculties in the Netherlands. We educate legal professionals who know how to apply the law effectively with the aim of actually contributing to solutions for society. We respond to social developments through innovative and pioneering research. In this way, we always keep in touch with society.