Junior Researcher in Law, Philosophy, and Technology

The project investigates how algorithmic and data-driven forms of social ordering challenge law as a collective, interpretative, and critically reflexive practice. It examines how legal meaning-making, argumentation, and contestation—traditionally grounded in natural language—are transformed when legal and quasi-legal decisions are increasingly mediated by code, data, and computational systems.

The Junior Researcher may contribute to one or both of the following research strands of the project: bias in AI-driven language technologies and the algorithmic prediction and governance of political protest.

The first strand investigates bias in language technologies from the perspective of EU non-discrimination law and fundamental rights. Algorithmic systems that systematically misrepresent or marginalize certain group identities do not merely produce technical inaccuracies but may generate legally relevant harm by reproducing stereotypes, distributing services unequally, and undermining users’ capacity for meaningful self-expression. The project examines representational, allocational, and hermeneutical harms and explores how they can be conceptualized within existing legal frameworks.

The second strand focuses on predictive technologies used in the governance of political protest. Systems designed to anticipate protests treat collective action as calculable and manageable, potentially reversing the temporal logic of modern constitutionalism, which presupposes an open and indeterminate future. The project analyzes how protest prediction affects received understandings of constituent power, democratic contestation, and the conditions under which new political claims can emerge, particularly where datafication and prediction become self-reinforcing through digital traces of past protest.

Tasks include legal and conceptual analysis, compilation of literature reviews, discussion of draft papers, and assistance in articulating the legal implications of philosophical arguments. Tasks also include text and reference editing. An expected outcome is a (joint) publication in a high-impact journal. The candidate is also expected to participate in academic conferences and help with the organization of a workshop.

• You hold a master’s degree in law, preferably with a focus relevant to the position.
• You demonstrate a strong interest in at least one of the following areas: non-discrimination law, governance of artificial intelligence, or fundamental rights in a digital society. You also have a strong interest in philosophy.
• At least one year of relevant research experience is an asset.
• You have an excellent command (CEFR C2 level) of English, enabling high-quality academic writing and communication.
• You demonstrate scientific integrity, critical thinking skills, and the ability to carry out independent research.
• You have an interest in academic outreach and networking to strengthen societal and scholarly impact.
• You have an interest in working in an interdisciplinary environment and contributing to the broader Tilburg Law School communities.
• You have an interest in contributing to an open and inclusive organizational culture.

Tilburg University offers excellent benefits in a pleasant working environment:

• Employment of 1.0 fte (40 hours per week).
• Salary between €3,546 and €5,538 gross per month for full-time employment (UFO-profile Researcher 4, salary scale 10). Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system based on relevant work experience.
• This is a vacancy as Researcher for a temporary position in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 5 sub b CLA DU. You will be given a temporary contract for the duration of 18 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.
• A monthly internet allowance of €25.
• Reimbursement of sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, and public transport.
• 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).
• 30% rule for international employees (if applicable).
• 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, please see our website and the CLA Dutch Universities.

Tilburg University is an academic, inclusive, and engaged community. Together with nearly 3,000 employees, we are committed to broad prosperity, sustainably, 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 social 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.

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 signature research programs: 1) Global Law and Governance; 2) Law and Security; 3) Connecting Responsible 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. 

Research Program: Global Law and Governance 
This research program addresses major societal challenges such as climate change, globalization, growing inequality, the increasing influence of social media, and migration. These developments call for a re-examination of issues such as the role of human rights, democratic principles and structures, and the regulation of non-state actors. 

Would you like to know more before applying? Feel free to contact Dr. Hanna Lukkari at h.l.lukkari@tilburguniversity.edu.