Postdoctoral researcher Data Governance & Digital Transformation

The Faculty Social Sciences & Solvay Business School, Department Communicatiewetenschappen, is looking for a postdoctoral researcher. 

More concretely your work package contains: 

The Data, Government & Communities unit at SMIT aims to understand the opportunities and challenges presented by increased data use in the urban environment. Their research examines how data can improve public services and address issues like climate change while ensuring ethical use, privacy protection, and stakeholder trust through inclusive governance.

To further strengthen its central role in socio-economic research on digital transformation in Flanders and Belgium, we are looking for a senior researcher on data governance and digital transformation.

First, you will be involved in different research projects focusing on (public sector) digital transformation and (data) governance. Specifically, you will lead the team at SMIT in SOLIDLab , a large-scale Flemish research project on Social Linked Data and personal data stores, as well as contribute to SMIT efforts in European projects on data governance in smart cities and communities.

Second, you will perform both fundamental and applied research on the societal impact of increasing digitalization and digital transformation processes. You will advance the state-of-the-art, while also translating scientific findings to a non-academic audience.

Third, you will assist in shaping project acquisitions in line with SMIT’s research agenda with an emphasis on data governance and digital transformation aspects.

More concretely you will :

• Develop your own research agenda on (personal) data governance and digital transformation;
• Conduct original research and publish (journals and international conferences) in the field of digital transformation governance;
• Steer and mentor a group of junior researchers;
• Participate in the (research) management and coordination of the Data, Government & Communities (DGC) Unit;
• Co-develop a new research line that fits with the multi-disciplinary, society-centered research agenda of SMIT;
• Assist in project acquisition in line with SMIT’s research agenda;
• Communicate and disseminate research findings to academic and non-academic stakeholders.

For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base.