The postdoctoral researcher will be designing, implementing and analyzing visualization interfaces for governments and citizens on the basis of existing raw (open) data sets. The effects of these visualization tools will be tested in experimental and field lab settings in order to aid governments in communicating their data through visuals in a meaningful way.

These tools should take into account new challenges on information visualization that arise in time of open government at the intersection of visual opportunities, ethical concerns and legal restrictions:

• to reconcile the legal fiction of a one-size-fits-all ‘average citizen’ with existing or new visualization tools for a multi-user environment with different interests and different levels of expertise.
• to map the (im)possibilities of a uniform, cross-sectoral approach to visualization tools for existing (open) data sets of governments in different public sectors, e.g. Water and Energy.
• to incorporate interactive elements in the visual design of public sector information (PSI) in order to level the playing field between citizens and governments.

We are looking for someone who

• Has a strong background in information visualization (visual design / infographics / data visualization / computer-human interaction);
• Combines an interest in fundamental research with a curiosity towards the visualization of information and data in governmental practice;
• Is a team player with excellent communication skills for sharing knowledge and expertise in a multidisciplinary research team;
• Is in the possession of a PhD or else will obtain a PhD in the near future;
• Has a very good command of the English language, and preferably masters the Dutch language as well.

The postdoc researcher will be part of the NWO-MVI project ‘Citizen-friendly data communication’ and join a multidisciplinary team of two senior researchers and two PhD researchers, combining expertise in law, sociology, philosophy and ethics. This research team is hosted by Tilburg Law School, but is supported by a large group of affiliates from academia and practice, including visualization expertise from Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences (Department of Communication and Cognition), Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and private companies.

The (postdoctoral) researcher will be ranked in the Dutch university job ranking system (UFO) in either salary scale 11 or 10 of the Collective Labor Agreement Dutch Universities, depending on whether the candidate is in the possession of a PhD yet or not.

In case of 1,0 FTE, scale 10 implies a minimum salary of € 2,588,- gross and a maximum of € 4,084,- gross per month and scale 11 implies a minimum salary of € 3,475,- gross and a maximum of € 4,757,- gross per month (both exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3 % end year bonus). The selected candidate will receive a 0,7 or 0,8 FTE contract for 30 months or a 1,0 FTE contract for 24 months.

Tilburg Law School

Tilburg Law School (TLS) staat voor kwaliteit, met brede, internationale opleidingen en innovatief onderzoek. Het onderzoek van Tilburg Law School vindt plaats in een organisatie waar ruimte is voor diversiteit. De Tilburg Graduate Law School is verantwoordelijk voor de opleiding en begeleiding van promovendi en onderzoeksmasterstudenten. De inspirerende en open cultuur maakt het werken plezierig. Tilburg Law School