Your work has three connected parts.

1. Assessing knowledge security measures (about 50%, Work Package 7)

• Carry out a scoping review of the literature on key knowledge security risks and on the scientific and societal benefits of international research collaboration.
• Design and facilitate group model building sessions with domain scientists and knowledge security professionals in the Dutch knowledge sector. In these participatory sessions you will map, with stakeholders, the feedback loops, trade‑offs and unintended effects of existing and proposed security measures.
• Publish in international peer‑reviewed journals and present at academic and policy conferences.
• Feed the results into the project’s normative balancing framework, which combines proportionality with risk appraisal.

2. Developing interdisciplinary analytical perspectives (about 30%, Work Package 2)

• Help identify and develop theories, concepts and methods for analysing knowledge security.
• Co‑author a concise report on knowledge security from relevant disciplinary perspectives; this depends on the disciplinary background of the candidate.

3. Connecting to international knowledge security communities (about 20%, Work Package 3)

• Build links with similar programmes abroad and help organise an international research conference on knowledge security.
• Take part in policy fora in The Netherlands and Brussels, and contribute to policy briefs and other impact‑oriented outputs.

You will also join the consortium’s summer and winter schools for early‑career researchers. You may do a short research secondment of one to two months with one of the project’s cooperation partners.

Required:

• A PhD (completed or nearly completed) in a relevant field, such as international or European law,  political science or international relations,  systems science or policy analysis, science and technology studies, public administration, or a related discipline.
• A strong interest in the geopolitics of science and technology, and the ability to engage with the substance of energy transition technologies.
• Experience with qualitative or participatory research methods, such as interviews, workshops, expert elicitation or stakeholder engagement.
• A publication record, or clear publication potential, appropriate to your career stage.
• Excellent written and spoken English, and the ability to communicate with scientists, policymakers and security professionals.
• Enjoyment of working in a large, interdisciplinary and multi‑institutional team, together with the ability to work independently.

Preferred:

• Experience with group model building, system dynamics, causal loop diagramming or other systems‑thinking methods.
• Familiarity with knowledge or research security, export controls, dual‑use governance, or science, technology and innovation policy.
• A background in, or affinity with, energy, climate or sustainability research.
• Working knowledge of Dutch.

• A temporary contract for 1 years at 38 hours per week, with a two‑month probationary period. When your performance is satisfactory the contract that will be extended for two years. Preferred start date Februari 1st, 2027
• A gross monthly salary of €3,706 to €5,760, scale, depending on relevant experience. This excludes the 8% holiday allowance and the 8.3% year‑end allowance. UFO profile Researcher [4] applies, as does the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities.
• The 30% ruling tax arrangement may apply to non‑Dutch applicants.
• A place in an interdisciplinary climate institute that spans seven UvA faculties, and in a national consortium with strong ties to policy and practice.
• Training and networking through the consortium’s summer and winter schools.
• An attractive secondary benefits package (see the UvA employer page).