We are looking for a motivated researcher and skilled communicator to co-create a practical, openly accessible guideline on the legal and ethical use of synthetic data.

YOUR QUALITIES

We Are Looking For Someone Who:

• Writes clearly and effectively for varied audiences—especially in English;
• Takes ownership of a shared outcome and can drive a document from concept to publication;
• Enjoys working across disciplines and bridging legal, technical, and social domains;
• Is proactive, organized, and collaborative;
• Has some familiarity with data governance, research ethics, or data privacy (e.g., GDPR), but deep legal expertise is not required;
• Bonus: reads Dutch or has experience with open science, public interest tech, or research infrastructures.

We welcome applicants from a variety of disciplinary and professional backgrounds, such as digital humanities, data infrastructures, information studies, data stewardship, or interdisciplinary data science.

ABOUT US

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.
The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences is one of the leading faculties in Europe providing research and academic teaching in cultural anthropology, educational sciences, interdisciplinary social science, pedagogical sciences, psychology, and sociology. Almost 7,000 students are enrolled in a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programmes. The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences has some 1,100 faculty and staff members, all providing their individual contribution to the training and education of young talent and to the research into and finding solutions for scientific and societal issues.
The faculty is located at Utrecht Science Park near the historical city centre of Utrecht.

• Lead the drafting of a well-written, publicly available guideline, whitepaper, or tutorial research paper on the responsible use of synthetic data in SSH research.
• Gather input from legal experts, technical partners, and case studies within the project.
• Synthesise diverse perspectives into a coherent narrative that balances legal, ethical, and practical considerations.
• Communicate with a range of stakeholders—academic, technical, and institutional.
• Participate in project meetings and contribute to reporting and dissemination activities.
• Optionally: help organise and follow up on a workshop for legal-ethical experts