Postdoc Expert Witness Testimony at the International Criminal Court

Welcome to Maastricht University

At Maastricht University (UM), we are committed to solving real-world problems through cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research. As a postdoctoral researcher in this unique project, you will contribute to a deeper understanding of how expert witness testimony is evaluated at the International Criminal Court (ICC). This position sits at the intersection of law, psychology, criminology, and artificial intelligence—offering you the opportunity to explore complex legal challenges with real societal impact.

Your colleagues

You will be based at the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (FPN), in collaboration with the Faculty of Law. You will join a vibrant and international research environment that values teamwork, scientific integrity, and innovation. The project is led by Dr. Anna Sagana, an expert in legal and forensic psychology, and is supported by an interdisciplinary network of scholars with strong links to international legal institutions. Together, we foster a collaborative culture where ideas flow freely and scientific rigour is key.

About the project

Expertise on Trial is an NWO-funded research project that aims to conduct the first comprehensive analysis of how expert witness testimony is evaluated at the ICC. While such testimony plays a critical role in international criminal cases—ranging from genocide to crimes against humanity—there is currently no standardized framework for its assessment. This project combines legal analysis, forensic psychology, and advanced machine learning to deliver evidence-based recommendations that can enhance fairness, transparency, and consistency in international criminal proceedings.

Your work will focus on

You will lead the analysis of expert witness testimony as it appears in publicly available ICC court records. By applying both qualitative and quantitative methods—including the use of large language models—you will extract, categorize, and interpret the implicit and explicit criteria judges use to evaluate expert credibility and reliability.

What you will do

As postdoctoral researcher, you will:

• Conduct advanced analyses on ICC court records to identify patterns in expert testimony.
• Use AI tools such as legal BERT to extract and categorize evaluation criteria.
• Develop evidence-based recommendations for standardized evaluation frameworks.
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and present them at (inter)national conferences.
• Translate scientific results into accessible formats for policymakers and stakeholders.
• Contribute to project coordination and collaboration efforts.

What you bring

We are looking for a candidate who is curious, self-driven, and enjoys interdisciplinary research. You are not afraid to engage with complex data, legal texts, or new technologies. You are also someone who values open science and is committed to societal impact.

You also have:

• A PhD in legal/forensic psychology, criminology, law, or a related field.
• Experience with either qualitative or quantitative research methods (or willingness to learn).
• Affinity with large language models and AI tools in legal research.
• Excellent command of English, both written and spoken.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• A collaborative, proactive mindset.

You also have

• Practical experience with court proceedings or expert testimony (preferred).
• Knowledge of French (preferred).
• A commitment to research transparency and open-access publishing.
• Interest in translating academic research for a wider audience.

Additional Information
This is a 1-year postdoctoral position (0.8 FTE), with no possibility of extension. A hybrid working arrangement is possible. The preferred starting date is 15 September 2025.

What we offer
As a Postdoc at the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, 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 in scale 10 according to UFO profile Researcher, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €3378,00 and €5331,00 gross per month (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 0,8 FTE.
• 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 Psychology and Neuroscience
The Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (FPN) is an international faculty with students and staff from various cultural backgrounds, who are connected by their shared curiosity about human behaviour and our brains.   

This curiosity inspires us to explore the wide field of psychology from different perspectives (such as a biological and cognitive viewpoint). By using small-scale and student-centred methods, such as problem-based learning and project-based learning, we encourage a similar kind of curiosity in our students, as we provide them with the tools to discover the world of the human brain.  

 
Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Anna Sagana at anna.sagana@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information. 

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new Postdoc? Apply now, no later than 17 August 2025, for this position.

Applications are accepted via the online system only.
Your application must include:

• A motivation letter (max 2 pages), explaining clearly why you are suited for this project.
• A curriculum vitae.
• At least two individuals who may be contacted for a reference.

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.