We are looking for two PhD candidates who are interested in studying vulnerability in digital government, the impact of automation of government on administrative law, and how to empower vulnerable citizens to become digital citizens before government.

Project ‘Vulnerability in the Digital Administrative State
Digital government aims to promote efficiency, reduce bureaucracy, and improve communication between citizens and governments. For citizens with average digital and literacy skills, stable social, personal, and economic conditions, digital government has facilitated the exercise of rights and duties before government (e.g., fill in tax returns). However, this is not always true for citizens placed in vulnerable situations (e.g., low-income, sudden death of loved ones, low digital literacy, illness) who are not always able to engage independently with digital technology. Despite the abundant public policy, communication and cultural sciences literature on digital exclusion, existing rules and principles of public law (e.g., good administration) still do not account for administrative vulnerability, that is, the inability to exercise rights on equal terms. We know little about how administrative vulnerability affects the legal position of citizens, how government fails them, and how to improve it. What we know—particularly in light of the so-called Dutch Childcare Benefits scandal – Toeslagenaffaire—is that this problem is urgent because vulnerable citizens get lost in complex administrative procedures. Their mistakes are easily regarded as signs of potential fraud and mistakenly sanctioned as such.
 
The key research question of this project is: How should administrative law account for administrative vulnerability in the design and application of administrative decision-making procedures? This project is supervised by Prof. dr. Sofia Ranchordas (PI) and it consists of two PhD projects: PhD 1 focused on the development of a typology of vulnerability in the context of the automation of government; PhD2 studying the impact of automation on the exercise of rights before government (Dutch administrative law)

Job description:

PhD 1 is focused on the development a new typology of vulnerability from an empirical perspective in the context of the datafication and automation of government. This subproject aims to advance the conceptual understanding of administrative vulnerability as a problem that deprives individuals from the exercise of the rights they are legally entitled to. This subproject will shed light on the different types of challenges faced by citizens when engaging with digital government. The ideal candidate should have strong methodological skills and be able to conduct empirical research (qualitative methods). The project is open to candidates who are not lawyers. Given the nature of the subproject, preference is given to candidates with an interdisciplinary background (law and technology or law combined with other disciplines) or a background in STS, sociology, management & communication or digital humanities. 

PhD 2 is focused on the impact of the automation of government on the exercise of rights in the Netherlands. This project aims to identify the most important legal hurdles faced by citizens in exercising their rights when applying for/contesting negative decisions in the context of positive (allowances) or negative government transactions through interviews. In addition, the project should determine the impact of automation and digitalization on administrative adjudication. Finally, the project aims to conceptualize the right to equal access to administrative adjudication. The project is focused on Dutch administrative law and digital government in the Netherlands. Training in Dutch Law (LLB and LLM) are thus required. 

Both projects should include a part on digital citizenship, reflecting on how citizens can be empowered to fully exercise their rights before government, becoming digital citizens., drawing on insights from comparable jurisdictions (Denmark, Estonia). Both PhDs will help address essential gaps in the literature and address key societal problems. As Ph.D. candidate you will participate in courses of Tilburg Graduate Law School. 

What do we ask? 
Tilburg University is curious about how you can contribute to our research, education, impact, and to the team you will be part of. Therefore, we would like to get the best possible picture of your knowledge, insight, skills, and personality. Below you can find the qualifications we consider important for the position.

PhD1

• You have a master (MA/MSc) in Public Administration, Communication, Society, Management and Communication, Organization Sciences, Sociology, Science and Technology Studies or in a related discipline directly relevant to the specific PhD-research project; 
• You have a clear interest in ongoing debates on inequality, the automation and datafication of public services, and the digital transformation in the public sector. 
• You can perform qualitative comparative research, and you are able to engage with more quantitatively-oriented research as well;
• You have strong English language skills, especially in writing; 
• Fluency in a Scandinavian language (Danish, Norwegian or Swedish) or in Estonian is of added value. Ability to communicate in Dutch is also appreciated.
• You enjoy working independently, but also working in interconnected teams.
• You have good social, communication and interpersonal skills; talent for visual and social media outreach is a plus;
• You are committed to be an active member of the PI’s team, and a good citizen of the PLG department.

PhD2

• You are trained in Dutch Law (LLB & LLM Rechtsgeleerdheid). Preference is given to candidates who have completed a Master in Public law (staats- en bestuursrecht).
• You have a clear interest in ongoing debates on administrative law, inequality, the automation and datafication of public services, and the digital transformation in the public sector. 
• You have strong Dutch and English language skills, especially in writing; 
• You enjoy working independently, but are also able to work in teams.
• You have good social, communication and interpersonal skills; talent for visual and social media outreach is a plus;
• You are committed to be an active member of the PI’s team, and a good citizen of the PLG department.

To maintain a vibrant and active university community, the premise is that all staff members carry out their work in the Netherlands. Moreover, we expect that you take responsibility for your work and have team spirit, contributing to an open and inclusive work environment.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

What do we offer?
Tilburg University offers excellent terms of employment with attention to flexibility and room for (personal) development. We recognize and reward our employees and encourage the use of talents and strengths.

Tilburg University is committed to an open and inclusive culture, embracing diversity, and encouraging the mutual integration of groups of staff and students. We create equal opportunities for all our staff and students so that everyone feels at home in our university community. 

We work in a vibrant and lively (work) environment on our beautiful campus, close to the forest and easily accessible by public transport. We are committed to a sustainable society and challenge you to make an active contribution to this. 

For both positions (PhD1 and PhD2), we offer:

• A position based on 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week).
• Tilburg University offers you an employment agreement which will initially be for a fixed period of 16 months with a statutory probationary period of two months. After 12 months, an evaluation will take place. If the performance evaluation is positive, your employment agreement will be extended for the remaining period of 32 months. 
• A salary of minimum €2,541 and maximum €3,247 gross per month for full time employment, based on UFO profile PhD candidate and salary scale P of the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system for salary scaling that is based on relevant education and work experience.
• Vacation allowance (8%) and a year-end bonus (8.3%);
• Vacation days (41 days for a 40-hour work week);
• Options Model for benefits and reimbursement of moving expenses;
• Employees from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a tax-free allowance of 30% of their taxable wages. We will apply for this reimbursement for you;
• You will be enrolled in the General Pension Fund for Public Employers (ABP) through us;
• Various training courses, for example in leadership skills, personal effectiveness, and career development;
• A wide range of amenities and facilities and various arrangements to create an optimal work-life balance;

Visit working at Tilburg University for more information on our terms of employment. 

Tilburg University

Tilburg University's motto is Understanding Society. Based on this vision, our more than 1,500 employees conduct research, inspire more than 19,000 students of 110 nationalities, and bring people from different disciplines and organizations together to learn from each other. In this way, we want to contribute to solving complex social issues. In doing so, we work from the fields of economics, business and entrepreneurship, social and behavioral sciences, law and public administration, humanities and digital sciences, and theology. We seek the connection between the various disciplines to find solutions to the major issues we face as a society. Our students are educated to become responsible and entrepreneurial thinkers, driven by solidarity, a sense of responsibility, and empathy, who are able to influence and give direction to a rapidly changing society in an innovative way. Tilburg University has a culture of collaboration and co-creation, at local, regional, national, and international level.
 

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; 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, skill 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 signature research programs: 1) Global Law and Governance; 2) Law and Security; 3) Connecting Organizations; and 4) Regulating Socio-Technical Change. 

Department of Public Law & Governance (PLG)

The Department of Public Law & Governance (PLG) is a unique collaboration of researchers in the fields of International Law, European law, Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Environmental Law, Public Administration, Legal Philosophy, Political Science, Legal History, and Jurisprudence. Collaboration within the Department is very much inspired by joint research interests.