PhD Candidate in Systemic Actors and Digital Rule Enforcement at Universiteit van Amsterdam

Are you interested in the functioning of law in relation to big tech? Do you want to research how law and enforcement of digital rules can engage systemic actors in the digital economy? If so, the PhD project ‘Systemic Actors and the Enforcement of Digital Rules’ may be right for you.

Working at the UvA

Join Us!

Enforcing digital rules against large tech companies is a challenging task. This PhD project will investigate the existence of systemic actors in the digital economy and their implications for enforcement dynamics. The digital economy features actors that significantly impact compliance with digital rules beyond their own operations, like smartphone ecosystems and cloud services. This project will examine how the systemic influence of these actors is recognized and how enforcement strategies can optimally address these actors, considering broader compliance impacts.

What We Offer

A competitive salary based on experience and seniority, in accordance with the Labour agreement. The amounts mentioned are based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week.
232 vacation hours, with additional parental leave, partner leave, and social engagement leave. Opportunities for more vacation hours are available through the Employment Conditions Menu Card.
Holiday allowance (8%) and a year-end bonus (8.3%), along with a solid pension plan with ABP and various other allowances.
Career development opportunities through training courses and open UvA lectures.
Relocation support for families, including information on daycare, schooling, health insurance, and employment options for partners, along with the IDCN network for additional support.

Your Responsibilities

The doctoral project will explore how regulators adapt enforcement strategies in response to systemic actors under the DSA, DMA, AI Act, and GDPR. You will trace enforcement processes across cases and jurisdictions and conduct interviews with involved parties. The work aims to develop a typology of regulatory learning patterns, best-practice enforcement learning cycles, and a framework for adaptive enforcement.

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 allow you to contribute to the DSA Observatory and the Amsterdam Law School Sectorplan initiative Democratic Digital Transformation (2026-2031), focusing on information law, platform regulation, and enforcement research.

About REGULAIRE

REGULAIRE (Regulatory Learning for the Governance of Transformative Technologies) is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network that connects 15 doctoral candidates across ten European universities. It examines how regulation can learn to govern transformative technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and neurotechnology. Projects in this network explore early problem sensing by regulators, balanced interventions, institutional capacity changes, and institutionalized feedback mechanisms. Each researcher joins an international cohort, receives supervision across institutions, and participates in summer schools, workshops, and joint work with regulators. A planned three-month intersectoral secondment is included in every project, coordinated by Prof. Urs Gasser at the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

What We Ask of You

A Master's degree (or equivalent) in law, political science, media studies, or related fields, completed by the start date.
A demonstrable interest in the relationship between law and digital technologies.
Skills or interest in qualitative regulatory process tracing and interviews.
Excellent command of written and spoken English.
Willingness to engage in international mobility, including planned secondments and network-wide activities.
Fulfillment of the MSCA eligibility conditions.
Strong critical and analytical skills, a collegial attitude, and the ability to work both independently and in teams.
Experience in organizing workshops, lectures, and similar events is a plus.

If you find this vacancy appealing but are unsure if you meet all the qualifications, we encourage you to apply. We welcome all qualified applicants, including minorities, women, and individuals with disabilities, to create a diverse research group.

Supervision, Training, and Mobility

Your supervision team will include Prof. Joris van Hoboken (University of Amsterdam), Prof. Natali Helberger (University of Amsterdam), an external supervisor from the REGULAIRE project network, and a sectoral mentor at the secondment host. This secondment allows you to observe how a leading digital regulator engages with systemic actors, providing insights into adaptive enforcement cycles and evolving supervisory strategies.

What Else Do We Offer

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for 4 years, starting January 1st, 2027, leading to a dissertation.
A gross monthly salary ranging from €3,204 to €4,051 (scale P), excluding holiday allowance and year-end bonus. The UFO profile 'PhD student' applies, and the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.
Opportunities for professional development and education.

Your Place at the UvA

You will be part of the University of Amsterdam, the largest university in the Netherlands, with a diverse range of degree programs. The Amsterdam Law School is one of the larger law faculties, educating lawyers who effectively apply the law to solve social problems. The Institute for Information Law (IViR) is a leading research center in information law, engaging in cutting-edge research and critical debate.

Important to Know

If you feel the profile fits you and are interested in this PhD position, we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online until Monday, November 2, 2026. Applications should include a motivation letter, a full academic CV, a writing sample, and contact details of two referees.

For questions about the position, please contact Prof. Joris van Hoboken at j.v.j.vanhoboken@uva.nl.

A knowledge security check may be part of the selection process. The UvA is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion.