Researcher AI and Law in Crime & Security

Organisation/Company Ghent University Research Field Computer science » Other Criminology » Other Juridical sciences » European law Juridical sciences » Other Political sciences » Other Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Final date to receive applications 8 Mar 2026 - 22:59 (UTC) Country Belgium Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Part-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - ERC Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

→Apply before 08/03/2026(DD/MM/YYYY) 23:59 (Brussels Time)

→Faculty of Law and Criminology

→Department: RE23 - Criminologie, Strafrecht en Sociaal Recht

→Occupancy rate: 50%

→Number of positions:1

→Type of employment:
Contract of limited duration

→Term of assignment:
Vier maanden

→Wage scale: WM1 to WM4 (master degree or doctoral degree)

→Required diploma:
Master or PhD

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15,000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. With its 11 faculties and more than 80 departments offering state‑of‑the‑art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

Are you interested in the legal and regulatory challenges of artificial intelligence in high‑stakes societal domains such as crime and security? Do you want to research how emerging AI systems can be developed and deployed in compliance with European law, fundamental rights and ethical principles?

The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded a prestigious Consolidator Grant to Prof. dr. Wim Hardyns (Department of Criminology, Criminal Law and Social Law, Ghent University). Within the ERC‑funded BIGDATPOL project (), we are looking for a doctoral researcher with a strong interest in law, regulation and governance of AI and data‑driven systems.

About the project

Artificial intelligence is increasingly used in domains such as policing, law enforcement and crime prevention. These applications raise profound legal, regulatory and ethical questions, particularly where decisions are made under uncertainty, data are incomplete or sensitive, and individuals’ rights may be affected.

The BIGDATPOL project examines how AI‑driven analytical and decision‑support systems can be developed and used in a manner that is legally compliant, transparent and socially responsible. The project explicitly engages with European legal frameworks, including:

• data protection and privacy law
• AI‑specific regulation and governance
• fundamental rights and proportionality in law enforcement contexts

The research is conducted in close interaction with technical researchers, public authorities and institutional partners across several European countries.

Your role in the project

As a researcher, you will focus on the legal and regulatory dimension of AI‑based crime and security applications. Your tasks will include:

• Analysing the legal and ethical framework governing AI, data analytics and risk‑based systems in crime and security contexts
• Examining the implications of European legislation, including the GDPR, the AI Act, the Law Enforcement Directive and related regulatory instruments
• Conducting legal risk analyses and contributing to impact assessments (e.g. DPIAs, AI Act compliance assessments)
• Developing guidelines and recommendations for privacy‑by‑design and compliance‑by‑design, in dialogue with technical researchers
• Monitoring regulatory developments and assessing their implications for AI‑driven security practices
• Actively participating in interdisciplinary collaboration, consortium meetings and stakeholder interactions
• Disseminating research results through scientific publications, policy‑oriented outputs and international conferences

Educational background

• You hold a Master’s degree or a thesis‑based doctorate in law, or in a closely related field with a strong legal…