PhD Candidates in Chinese Studies at Leiden University

The PhD Candidates will carry out research in the framework of the project "The Smart State: Law, Governance and Technology in China", funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO). Dr Rogier Creemers is the Principal Investigator of this project. This project examines the deployment of digital technologies in Chinese law and governance mechanisms. The project as a whole aims to identify how Chinese governance practices and techniques evolve through the use of technologies including big data and artificial intelligence. It will also investigate how these systems require new forms of regulation in turn, most notably in the area of data protection and cybersecurity.

The two PhD candidates will each study a specific subtopic within the project focusing on a particular issue area;

Subproject 1: Smart law enforcement; this subproject will evaluate the role of smart systems in the post-4th Plenum legal reform reform agenda. This agenda intends to enhance the professionalization of courts and law enforcement bodies, strengthen courts' autonomy from local governments, broaden access to justice, and give priority to formal litigation. This project will review whether and how smart systems contribute to realizing these objectives, and how different categories of agents (law enforcement officers, judges, lawyers, court users, etc.) influence this process;

Subproject 2: Social credit and social management; this subproject will survey how China's Social Credit System (SCS) is conceptualized, constructed and implemented. The SCS an effort to more effectively use information about individuals and corporate entities to strengthen law enforcement and provide greater deterrence against dishonest conduct. The research scope will include central and local levels, state and citizen perspectives, and the role of the private sector;

The Faculty of Humanities is rich in expertise in fields such as philosophy, religious studies, history, art history, literature, linguistics and area studies covering nearly every region of the world. With its staff of 995, the faculty provides 27 master's and 25 bachelor's programmes for over 7,000 students.

Successful applicants will be invited to take up their position on 1 July 2019 or as soon as possible thereafter. The appointment will initially be for 12 months and if evaluated positively, with an extension of 3 years and must lead to the completion of a PhD thesis. Salary range from 2,266 to 2,897 gross per month (pay scale P, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities) bases on a full-time appointment.

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses(8.3 %), training and career development and sabbatical leave. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. More at .

Leiden University is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups.

Enquiries can be directed to Dr Rogier Creemers, email .

Please submit online your applicationno later than 15 March 2019 via the blue button in .