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

Do you want to conduct research on the legal framework for digital identity wallets? As a Postdoctoral Researcher, you will focus on the requirements for the revision of the electronic IDentification, Authentication and trust Services (eIDAS) regulation, and the potential conflict with other regulations.

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. The research plan of Building on Digital Identity, including a more extensive description of the selected use cases and their relevant legal questions, is available to provide more information about the project.

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.

Requirements:

• 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.

Salary Benefits:

• 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.

Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

30.4 - 38 hours per week

Houtlaan 4