Postdoc on Law and Human Vulnerability in Social Media

Postdoc on Law and Human Vulnerability in Social Media 0,8 - 1,0 fte

eLaw – the Center for Law and Digital Technologies at Leiden University, is looking for a 22-month postdoctoral researcher with expertise in law and technology with an interest in digital vulnerability and platform regulation.

RESOCIAL (“User vulnerabilities and Resilience on SOCIAL media platforms and the metaverse: a sociolegal and design perspective”, an NWO-NWA Synergy Grant Project) seeks to identify, measure, and thereby mitigate human vulnerabilities on social media platforms (including the metaverse and immersive technologies), thereby fostering the resilience of their users. People increasingly live their social life online and experience new and/or amplified risks to their fundamental rights (e.g., manipulation, discrimination, stigmatisation). This is due to the asymmetry of power with the private sector governing online social media platforms and the underrepresentation of vulnerable users in key decision-making at the business level. This issue is amplified by the lack of scientific methods to measure risks to fundamental rights online, the inadequacy of the national and EU legislation to enhance the resilience of users, and the ineffective protection of vulnerable users online. This project will contribute to solving these issues through an interdisciplinary, participative, multi-stakeholder approach. Starting from four use cases of vulnerability (children, vulnerable consumers, vulnerable data subjects, victims of gender-based violence) and through many disciplinary lenses (children’s rights, consumer protection law, data protection law, gender studies, human rights and computer science), this project aims to measure human vulnerabilities on social media and to propose three clear and effective solutions to enhance the resilience of vulnerable groups online, namely: a legal solution (government guidelines for a vulnerability-aware implementation of the legislation on social media); a design solution (“vulnerability-sensitive design”); and a business-oriented solutions (vulnerability-aware codes of conduct for social media and the metaverse).

The research objectives of RESOCIAL are:

• Propose and validate a clear framework to measure risks and human vulnerabilities on social media platforms.
• Analyse the gaps in the existing and proposed legislation on digital platform and formulate action perspectives for the Dutch Government, including Guidelines on platform regulation.
• Propose and validate best practices that can lead to a Code of Conduct for Vulnerability on Social Media model

Tasks

As a postdoctoral researcher at eLaw, you will advance the knowledge of human vulnerability in social media regulation, at the interplay of data protection, consumer protection, children’s rights and fundamental rights. In concrete, you will help conduct the interviews planned with different stakeholders and analyze gray information, help structure legal guidelines for the Dutch Government in RO2 and cooperate on RO1 and RO3 with two other postdocs, one specialized in Human-Computer Interactions an Twente University (working on RO3) and another specialized in human rights and technology policy at Delft University and inHolland University (working on RO1). You will also help co-supervise two junior researchers at Leiden University on this project.

In particular, we are interested in understanding how we can implement and improve the existing legislation (DSA, AIA, GDPR, DMA and Consumer protection acquis) regarding the protection of fundamental rights of vulnerable users on social media, how to assess the impact on fundamental rights and how to create participatory best practices for industries and institutions.

Within this narrative, you will contribute to several ongoing activities, projects, and initiatives in our group at Leiden University, including:

• Contribute to the RESOCIAL project (“User vulnerabilities and Resilience on SOCIAL media platforms and the metaverse: a sociolegal and design perspective”, funded by the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA)) and to the follow-up of RESOCIAL (a 1 year project which will disseminate the results of RESOCIAL and of other three parallel projects);
• Contribute to and be partly responsible for the Working group on Vulnerability at eLaw to create a community at Leiden University on the topic of law and digital vulnerability;
• Give guest lectures and support the coordination in courses on Fundamental Rights and Digital Technologies, Privacy and Data Protection and help co-organise the eLaw Summer School on AI and Data Law and the eLaw symposium;
• Supervise master thesis students of the Adv. LLM. in Law and Digital Technologies.

Because postdoctoral researchers must grow and excel, you will also have time to forge your research line and explore the topics dearest to you.

Key responsibilities

• Independent performance of research in vulnerability legal theories and social media regulation in the EU and fundamental rights law, at the intersection of data protection law (GDPR), platform regulation (DSA and DMA), consumer protection law, children’s rights and gender-based violence;
• Use legal design, a method that brings design thinking, user research, and human-centered design to deliver legal knowledge usable, useful, and engaging for different communities to work out a model supporting multi stakeholder recommendations for policy change;
• Preparing questionnaires, conducting interviews with affected stakeholders, and processing the outcomes in deliverables and publications;
• Disseminating academic results in leading international and peer-reviewed scientific journals and top-tier conferences;
• Communicating project results to the broader public in different formats, including blog posts, podcasts, media material, or art installations;
• Management and coordination tasks within ongoing projects and initiatives of the center;
• Expanding teaching experience by preparing some guest lectures in existing bachelor’s or master’s courses;
• Contributing to the team spirit of eLaw.

Selection Criteria

• A completed PhD in the field of law technology with an interest in at least some of the following topics: data protection, platform regulation, AI regulation, consumer protection, competition law. Candidates who have not yet completed their PhD but have an approved manuscript can also apply. Candidates without an approved manuscript are not eligible for this position;
• Academic background in technology law, artificial intelligence, platform regulation, consumer protection law;
• Excellent research and writing qualities, demonstrated by (international, peer-reviewed) publications;
• Experience with empirical legal research, including survey and questionnaire preparation, interviews, and data processing;
• Experience with multi-stakeholder and complex research teams, with external and international partners;
• Experience in submitting research proposals to grant organizations;
• Experience in working in multidisciplinary and/or international teams, including sensitivity and inclusiveness regarding cultural differences among staff and students;
• Enthusiastic and proactive, with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, spoken and written;
• Excellent team player and warm community builder;
• Excellent English, spoken and written. Command of other European languages, Dutch and Italian, is an advantage.

Organisation

Leiden University
Leiden is a typical university city, hosting the oldest university in the Netherlands (1575). The university permeates the local surroundings. The university premises are scattered throughout the city and the students who live and study in Leiden give the city its relaxed yet vibrant atmosphere. Leiden University is one of Europe's foremost research universities. This prominent position gives our graduates a leading edge in applying for academic posts and for functions outside academia.

Department
Leiden Law School, Center for Law and Digital Technologies (eLaw)With over 6500 students and 650 members of staff, Leiden Law School is one of the largest faculties in The Netherlands. Yet, in all its diversity, it is still known for its ability to provide education on a small scale. The Faculty focuses on multi-faceted and high-level teaching and research, both nationally and internationally. It does so by working with talented people, and stimulating and supporting them in their professional and personal ambitions. The Faculty is housed in the beautifully restored Kamerlingh Onnes Building on the Steenschuur in Leiden. Working for the Leiden Law School means working in an inspiring scientific environment.

The Center for Law and Digital Technologies (eLaw) was founded in 1985 and has a leading role in research and education on law and digital technologies. The Center studies the social, legal and normative impact of emerging digital technologies. The focus of our research and education is particularly on digital technologies and their interplay with fundamental rights and the rule of law. Key themes in our research and education are: online privacy and personal data protection; cybercrime and cybersecurity; data science and law; internet governance; law and complexity in digital society; electronic communications law; children's rights in the digital world; fundamental rights and digital technologies; platform regulation; regulation of AI; law and human-machine interaction; legal technologies; ethics and digital technologies.

Terms and conditions

• This is a 0.8-1.0 fte postdoctoral researcher position, starting on 1 September 2025 (starting before is preferable). The position will be for 22 months, starting with a 10-month temporary contract. If the candidate performs well, the contract will be extended to the end of the project. Salary ranges from € 3.378.- to € 5.331.- gross per month on a full-time basis (pay scale 10, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities). Salary scale depends on education and experience.
• A holiday allowance (8%), an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), and an attractive pension scheme at ABP;
• Full reimbursement of public transport commuting costs for home-to-work travel;
• Flexible working hours: as a standard, you are entitled to a minimum of 29 leave days on the basis of a full-time working week of 38 hours; you can also save for extra leave, for example by working 40 hours a week, and in this way accrue an extra 96 leave hours, or exchange 96 leave hours for a 36-hour week.
• Lots of options when it comes to secondary employment conditions; we can, for example, discuss options for a sabbatical or paid parental leave. Within our terms of employment individual choices model, you can exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits such as an advantageous sports subscription or bicycle scheme, and we also offer child-care options;
• If your work allows it, hybrid working is possible within the Netherlands;
• A home-working allowance (day and internet allowance) and attention for good workplaces. The University will also provide you with a laptop and a mobile telephone.

Diversity and inclusion
Diversity and inclusion are core values of Leiden University. Leiden University is committed to becoming an inclusive community which enables all students and staff to feel valued and respected and to develop their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High quality teaching and research is inclusive. We therefore especially welcome applications from members of underrepresented groups.

Additional Information
Further information about the position can be obtained from Dr. Gianclaudio Malgieri, email g.malgieri@law.leidenuniv.nl .

Within our policy framework on quality, almost all academic staff at the Faculty of Law have obtained a PhD degree and have met the requirements for the advanced research qualification. In addition, they make a significant contribution to the faculty research program.