PhD candidate on Health Data Governance and Legal Adaptation in the Netherlands and the EU

Maastricht University, in collaboration with Maastricht University Medical Centre+, invites applications for a four-year, fully funded PhD position focused on examining health data governance in the digitalhealthcare environment.

Job Description
Health data is deeply personal, but it also holds immense societal value. It impacts how we understandand treat medical conditions, design and govern health care, protect rights, and drive innovation. The governance of health data in the EU is equally multi-faceted. It involves multiple layers of national and EU law, including recent legislative developments governing digitalization and data. While this emerging legal framework is designed to enhance healthcare, protect privacy and promote innovation, its realworld implications are not as straightforward. Healthcare providers are faced with the challenge of providing healthcare amidst both rapid advancements in digital health and the complex web of EU and national regulations governing digital technologies, data, healthcare, and medical practice.

In this PhD project, you will investigate how healthcare providers in the Netherlands and other EU member states are navigating digitalization healthcare within this complex legal landscape with a focus on health data governance. Your research will explore what organizational strategies and compliance mechanisms are being used and what barriers are providers encountering when balancing individuals’ rights to privacy with the right to receive high-quality, data-driven care? You will address these questions using both empirical legal methods and doctrinal and comparative legal analysis to understand how health data governance impacts healthcare delivery and patients’ rights. By examining whether some implementation difficulties stem from deeper structural misalignments between national and EU law, the research also aims to generate actionable insights into how Dutch law may need to evolve structurally in light of EU developments and digitalization in the health sector, and where practical implementation can be improved through policy, training, or institutional design.

You will be part of a cross-disciplinary team at Maastricht University’s Faculty of Law, the Maastricht law and Tech Lab, and MUMC+, contributing to a project that bridges health law, technology, and policy.

Requirements

• LLM in Law (completed by the start of the position).
• Demonstrated interest in health and technology law and empirical legal research.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in Dutch and English (both required).
• Working knowledge of German and/or French is an advantage.
• Strong motivation to work across disciplines, particularly in healthcare and public policy contexts.
• Team-oriented, open-minded, and eager to contribute to socially relevant research.

What we offer
As a PhD Candidate at the Faculty of Law, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded according to UFO profile PhD, with corresponding salary from € 2,770 in the first year and € 3,539 gross per month in the fourth year (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• An employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 1,0 FTE. Upon a positive evaluation, an extension of 3 years will follow. 
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model. 
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students. 
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'. 
   

The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here.

Maastricht University
Why work at Maastricht University?

At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

Click here for more information about UM. 

Faculty of Law
The Faculty of Law at Maastricht University is a top-quality provider of challenging and rewarding Dutch and European legal education at bachelor’s, masters and PhD-level. A true pioneer in small-scale education and the teaching of legal skills for a broad range of future legal professionals.  

The clear research focus on European and international aspects of law and technology. On the empirical dimension of law provides both students and staff with a stimulating work environment. The faculty values its open and inclusive community, which contributes to creating a productive and pleasant place for work and study. 

The Faculty of Law offers a wide range of bachelor and master's programs. Would you like to learn more about our programs? Visit our website for more information on the courses, career perspectives, and admission requirements of our programs.  

Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Dr. Mindy Nunez Duffourc at mindy.duffourc@maastrichtuniversity.nl, for more information.

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new PhD candidate? Apply now, no later than 15 July 2025. 

Applications should include:

• a letter of motivation
• a curriculum vitae
• representative work (e.g. a master thesis).

The interviews will be held in July and August 2025. The intended start date is between 1 September and 1 December 2025.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.