Postdoc Position: Legal Framework for Digital Identity and its Use Cases

1. Introduction

Building on Digital Identity is an interdisciplinary project focused on the development of use cases for digital identities. More specifically, the project focuses on the use of digital identities for signing contracts, social media and online voting. This postdoctoral researcher position focuses on the legal framework for digital identity wallets and these use cases. It focuses on the requirements for the revision of the electronic IDentification, Authentication and trust Services (eIDAS) regulation and the tensions with other rules such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Digital Services Act (DSA).

2. Job description

Building on Digital Identity is an interdisciplinary project focused on the development of use cases for digital identities. More specifically, the project focuses on the use of digital identities for signing contracts, social media and online voting. Building on Digital Identity is a collaboration between Radboud University (iHub), HAN University of Applied Sciences and various societal partners, including Procolix, Ver.iD, Ceasar Group, Anoigo Resources, Dirkzwager, the Electoral Council, Privacy by Design Foundation, and Chi Nederland. As a postdoctoral researcher on the legal framework for digital identity and its use cases, you will conduct legal and interdisciplinary research on the requirements for digital identity wallets and the various use cases. 

European and national legal instruments impose various requirements for the use of digital identity wallets. First, the eIDAS revision creates a general framework. This framework can impose more specific requirements, depending on the use case. Next, other rules also impose requirements. Most notably, the GDPR imposes (personal) data protection rules that also apply in the context of digital identity wallets. For example, the principle of data minimisation requires that relying parties do not request more attributes than necessary. It thus prohibits ‘overasking’ (asking for too many attributes). In this light, there is a tension between security (authentication, obtaining certainty about the user and its attributes) and data protection. Moreover, the specific use cases lead to the application of other legal instruments. For example, national contract law imposes requirements on the validity of electronic signatures, the DSA and fundamental rights govern the use of digital identity wallets on online platforms, the Network and Security Directive Version 2 (NIS2) and the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) are relevant for the security of video calling and other electronic communication services, and company law provides a limited framework for digital voting.

The European and national legal frameworks thus impose various requirements that may overlap, supplement and sometimes contradict each other. As a postdoctoral researcher on the legal framework for digital identity and its use cases, your research should navigate these tensions. Your research should not only provide clarity on the legal requirements for the various use cases but also more fundamental insights about the legal framework for digital identity wallets. 

The research includes both legal and interdisciplinary research. You will collaborate with the various members of the Building on Digital Identity project (including computer scientists, programmers, UX researchers and designers). On the legal side, Professor Pieter Wolters (Cybersecurity Law, iHub) is involved with this project as a Work Package leader and will be available to assist you with your research when necessary.

Your duties will include writing and collaborating on scientific legal and interdisciplinary publications in English (and possibly in Dutch), reaching out to academic and societal audiences (e.g. through conferences and workshops), collaborating on the development of the various use cases for digital identity, and generally contributing to the collaborative atmosphere of the iHub and the Building on Digital Identity project.

3. Profile

• You should hold a PhD degree in law, with a specialisation within the field of ICT law, such as data protection law or cybersecurity law.
• More specific knowledge about the legal aspects of electronic signatures is preferable but not strictly required.
• You have a good scientific publication record in relevant journals.
• You have an excellent command of written and spoken English. Given the Dutch context of the project, a working knowledge of the Dutch language is also beneficial.
• You have an interest and, ideally, experience in interdisciplinary research.
• You are able to work both independently and in collaboration with colleagues from various scientific backgrounds.
• You are a team player with a preference for personal contact. For this reason, you prefer to work on campus at the iHub.

Researchers who do not meet all these requirements but are interested in this role are also encouraged to apply.

4. We are

You will be appointed at the Computer Science Department of the Institute for Computing and Information Sciences (iCIS). Radboud University’s iCIS is an internationally recognised institute, consistently ranked among the top Computer Science departments in the Netherlands. The institute focuses its research on three themes: Data Science, Digital Security and Software Science. 

More specifically, you will be based at the iHub, Radboud University’s interdisciplinary research centre for digitalisation and society. It was set up in early 2019, with a mix of funding from the university board,  research funding bodies and external projects. Research at iHub is cross-interdisciplinary, with researchers from across the humanities, social sciences, engineering and natural sciences, focusing on urgent questions raised by the increased digitalisation and datafication of science and society. The research will be conducted at the iHub in collaboration with the various partners of the Building on Digital Identity project. This includes researchers from the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Science and HAN University of Applied Sciences.  

5. We offer

• We will give you a temporary employment contract of 1 year, with the prospect of a contract for another 3 years.
• Your salary within salary scale 10 depends on your previous education and number of years of (relevant) work experience. The amounts in the scale are based on a 38-hour working week.
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus. 
• We offer Dual Career Coaching. The Dual Career Coaching assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands. 
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

6. Practical information and applying

You can apply only via the button below. Address your letter of application to Pieter Wolters.  In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application.

The first interviews will take place on Wednesday 2 April. Any second interview will take place on Thursday 17 April. You will preferably start your employment on 1 June 2025.

We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure. It describes what you can expect during the application procedure and how we handle your personal data and internal and external candidates. If you wish to apply for a non-scientific position with a non-EU nationality, please take notice of the following information.