Call for Applications: for PhD Candidate in Access, Actors and Accountability: The Role of Researchers in AI Governance, Application Deadline- 2 November 2026
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Amsterdam Law School
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Master’s
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38 hours
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15529
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€3,204 – €4,051
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Closes on02-11-2026
What is the role of researchers in the governance of AI systems and digital platforms? What legal exceptions and safeguards do researchers need to be able to play that role? And how can we organise productive interactions between researcher, policy makers, regulators, civil society and companies? Research and expertise have critical role in making sure that AI and digital technologies are safe, respectful of fundamental rights and beneficial to society, but we have yet to develop the legal and organisational frameworks to enable their work, while protecting their safety and academic freedom. If you want to help doing so, this position might be for you.
Access, Actors and Accountability: The Role of Researchers in AI Governance
Governing AI systems and digital platforms, identifying systemic risks and developing adequate policy responses is complex and requires research and expertise. In the new European Digital Framework, researchers are central stakeholder ins AI and platform governance, and regulations like the DSA and the AI Act, define prominent roles for them to produce evidence, audit big tech companies and public bodies, monitor the way AI technology impacts society and help to ensure transparency and accountability.
This is what you will do
This doctoral project examines the legal position of researchers under the DSA and AI Act, and the research exemptions, safeguards and policy processes needed to allow independent researchers to generate evidence for regulatory learning and anticipatory governance without eroding legality or academic freedom. This research combines doctrinal, normative and comparative research with interviews (with academics, policy makers, civil society and other societal stakeholders) and participatory research to co-design how research exemptions and researcher-regulator feedback loops can be designed and operationalised. The work will build an evaluative analysis of exemption scope and adequacy, a typology of enablers and obstacles to researcher–policy engagement, and concrete proposals how to enable policy research while protecting academic freedom.
You will work on a legal PhD thesis at the Institute for Information Law (IViR), Amsterdam Law School, University of Amsterdam, as part of the REGULAIRE project. The PhD will provide the opportunity to contribute to the activities of the DSA Observatory, the AI, Media & Democracy Lab and the Amsterdam Law School Sectorplan initiative Democratic Digital Transformation (2026-2031) and offers a focused route into information law, platform and AI regulation.
This is what we offer you
A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 12 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). The preferred starting date is January 1st 2027. This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.
The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 3.204 to € 4.051 (scale P). This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile ‘PhD student’ is applicable. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable. The UvA offers excellent possibilities for further professional development and education.
What else do we offer
- a position where own initiative and input are highly valued;
- an enthusiastic and dynamic team that is open to new colleagues;
- an inspiring academic and international working environment in the heart of Amsterdam.
For more details, refer here
