You will research existing policies about QSC and encryption, including relevant general and sectoral cybersecurity regulations, and the geopolitical aspects of the QSC transition. You will combine this with insights from other areas, particularly ecosystem research and epistemology. You will draw relevant general and sectoral recommendations for the Dutch QSC ecosystem.

You will work as part of a subproject of the QISS project. In addition to advancing new research, this subproject also aims to obtain new knowledge by integrating the other subprojects into a transition framework and drawing policy recommendations for policymakers and relevant stakeholders. As we are nearing the second phase of the project, your role will be crucial in contributing to the completion of these efforts. You will also work together with the project leader, aiming to integrate these results and gain new insights from this integration. You will also work with the other QISS members, particularly on an ecosystem research project carried out in collaboration with Quantumveilige Cryptografie Rijk and TNO. In this role, you will contribute to the overall results of QISS and to its societal impact.

Your specific tasks will include:

• to study the existing national and international policies about QSC and encryption;
• to research the geopolitical aspects of the QSC transition, including the impact of recent geopolitical events on standardization;
• to do research into the Dutch QSC ecosystem;
• to integrate this research with insights from the other work packages of the QISS project and to draw appropriate recommendations for policymakers and relevant stakeholders;
• to write academic publications in relevant peer-reviewed international journals;
• to present at international workshops and conferences;
• to disseminate these results to the relevant stakeholders;
• to participate in and to contribute to the organisation of research activities and events;
• to contribute to the dissemination of research results to non-specialist audiences and the organisation of outreach events.

While this is primarily a research position, postdocs also get the opportunity to gain teaching experience relevant for their career development, e.g. by working as lecturers for courses in their area of expertise (with a maximum amount of lecturing of 9 EC a year). The position also comes with specific responsibilities regarding dissemination and societal impact, as listed above.

You are a highly motivated PhD candidate or postdoc with a keen interest in the regulation of emerging technologies and their contribution to society. You are capable of working within a research environment combining different disciplines.

Your experience and profile:

• PhD in a relevant discipline, such as philosophy, law, etc;
• demonstrable experience in the areas of policy, regulation and-or geopolitics in relation to (emerging) technologies;
• an excellent academic record;
• good social and organisational skills;
• committed researcher, demonstrated by publications in international refereed academic journals and academic publishers;
• flexible, readiness to participate in interdisciplinary cooperation and multidisciplinary development;
• professional command of both English and Dutch.

It is a preference if you additionally are willing to engage in a project on ecosystem research and innovation studies, carried out in collaboration with Quantumveilige Cryptografie Rijk and TNO.

We offer a temporary employment contract for 38 hours per week for a total period of 24 months with a probationary period of two months. The preferred starting date is 1 September 2025.

The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 3,378 to € 5,331 (scale 10). This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile Researcher 4 is applicable. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.