Researcher to Explore the Legal Aspects of Inclusive Technologies for Access & Social Participation

Around 25% of the Dutch population lives with long-term visual hearing or cognitive disabilities and diversities often facing barriers to participation equality and inclusion when accessing media content and digital services online. As part of the interdisciplinary TACIT (Inclusive Technologies for Access and Social Participation) project you will be part of an interdisciplinary team that co-creates technological solutions to improve the accessibility of digital services and operationalize legal accessibility requirements.

Join us!

This position is a unique opportunity to help explore how AI and immersive media technologies can contribute to improving the accessibility of digital services and help to realise the fundamental rights to non-discrimination equality and freedom of expression of people with visual hearing or cognitive disabilities. You will join a team of researchers from computer science media technology social sciences and Human-Computer Interaction research who together with users the representatives of different user communities and societal partners from the media and cultural sector use participatory methods to co-design and co-create assistive technologies. The tasks of the legal researcher will be to analyse the relevant legal frameworks identify design requirements and help to define how potential solutions to operationalize these rules could look like. The legal work package will also look into the broader fundamental rights implications of assistive technologies.

The position is embedded in the Institute for Information Law (IViR) of the University of Amsterdam and the AI Media & Democracy Lab.

What you will do

You will conduct legal research into the European Accessibility Act and other relevant accessibility regulations at European and national level as well as the relevant fundamental rights. More concretely your tasks involve:

• Develop conduct and publish research on European and national accessibility regulations and fundamental rights
• Contribute with your legal expertise to the development and testing of concrete technological solutions in collaboration with the other (interdisciplinary) team members in the context of concrete case studies and using participatory methods
• Contribute to the public debate and organise activities as part of the TACIT consortium the AI Media & Democracy Lab and the Institute for Information Law;
• Contribute to events research meetings and grant applications.

What we expect from you

• Have a clear research interest in the topic of the project (documented by publications and grant applications);
• An excellent written and spoken command of English as demonstrated by publications in English-language journals (written and spoken command of other languages including French German and/or Dutch is a plus);
• The ability willingness and commitment to do autonomous work in a multidisciplinary team that includes legal scholars social sciences digital humanities and computer scientists.
• The ability willingness and commitment to engage in participatory research with users and societal partners.
• Experience with organising workshops lecture series and similar events.
• A relevant PhD degree in Law. Candidates who are due to submit their dissertation before 1 Febaruary 2026 are welcome to apply.

If the vacancy appeals to you but you are doubting whether you might be THE person we are looking for please do encourage all qualified applicants including minorities women people with disabilities and members of other groups underrepresented in academia to apply. We are committed to creating an environment of mutual respect inclusiveness equal opportunities with room for personal development.

What we offer you

We offer a temporary part-time (304 hours) position for the period of 2 years. Possibilities to extend the scope of the contract through teaching and involvement in research activities at the Institute for Information Law can be explored. Preferred starting date is 1 March 2026.

The salary depending on relevant experience before the beginning of the employment contract will be 4.728 to 6.433 (scale 11) gross per month based on a fulltime contract (38 hours a week). This is exclusive 8% holiday and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The starting salary will be based on qualifications expertise and relevant experience. A favourable tax agreement the 30% ruling may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable. The UvA offers excellent possibilities for further professional development and education.

Your workplace

This PhD position is hosted at the Institute for Information Law Amsterdam Law School University of Amsterdam. With more than 50 researchers from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds the Institute for Information Law (IViR) is the largest research facility in the field of information law in Europe and one of the largest of its kind in the world. The Institutes mission is to further the development of information law into a balanced framework that accommodates the needs and interests of the information society.

With over 5000 students and more than 500 staff members the Amsterdam Law School is one of the larger law faculties in the Netherlands. We educate lawyers who know how to apply the law effectively with the aim of making a real contribution to solving social problems. TheAmsterdam Law Schoolstands for progressive and trail-blazing education and research for stronger legal institutions solutions to social problems and a better and juster society.

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 39000 students 6000 employees and 3000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds.

If you recognize yourself in this profile and are interested in the role we look forward to receiving your motivation letter CV a writing sample and two references. You can apply via the red button until 31 January 2026. Interviews will take place in the middle of February 2026. In case of equal qualifications internal candidates will be given preference over external candidates.

For questions about the position please contact:

• Prof. Dr. Natali Helberger
• T: 06-
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