PhD Candidate: Autonomous Decision Making, Responsibility and Liability

The Utrecht Centre for Accountability and Liability Law (UCALL) of Utrecht University is looking for a PhD Candidate for a four-year PhD research project pertaining to Autonomous decision making, responsibility and liability. You may also be involved in the department’s educational activities.

Wat ga je doen?

Over four years, you will conduct PhD research with guidance from a supervisory team, led by Professor Elbert de Jong. The objective of your research is to generate relevant results for Dutch society and the legal community. The project falls within the Utrecht Centre for Accountability and Liability Law's research programme and is part of an NWO-funded initiative on the robust and safe control of remotely operated offshore vehicles. You will work in collaboration with an interdisciplinary consortium, including the Philosophy and Ethics of Technology group at Eindhoven University of Technology.

A clear ethical-legal framework of responsibilities and liabilities regarding the utilisation of semi-autonomous remote Vehicles is crucial to facilitate their (safe) development and application. This project investigates the ethical-legal framework that guides the allocation of responsibility and accountability amid complexity and uncertainty. Specifically, it addresses the interplay between algorithmic decisions, operational consequences, and ethical-legal aspects of accountability and liability. A further description of the project will be distributed upon request. Your letter of motivation should ideally express what appeals to you about this subject, and the ideas you have about the execution of the PhD research.

In addition to your research, you will share knowledge by participating in and helping organise research meetings, both internally and externally. Part of your time will also be allocated to training and development, including PhD courses, as well as a small amount of teaching experience.

Wat breng je mee?

• You hold a Master's degree in Law.
• You enjoy being part of a team, and express that by being open to various types of collaboration, sharing knowledge and experiences, and contributing to a collegial, open and inclusive work environment.
• You have good verbal and written communication skills.
• You are interested in civil law, accountability and liability, and new technologies - mainly in the ethical dimensions of technology and in developing legal frameworks that respond to technological innovations.
• You have experiences or interest in multidisciplinary research, particularly at the intersection of ethics, law, and technology, is considered an asset.
• You have good research skills, and are open to improving them further with the help of your supervisors’ feedback.
• In addition to English language proficiency at the C1 level (CEFR), some proficiency in the Dutch language is also relevant. You are willing to develop your Dutch language proficiency to at least the B1 CEFR level.

Wat bieden wij?

We offer:

• A position for 18 months, with an extension to a total of four years (40-hour work week) or five years (32-hour work week) upon a successful assessment in the first year;
• a gross monthly salary between €2,872 and €3,670 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday bonus and 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible employment conditions based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities.