Openings (2 positions): Student Assistant at Data School

Data School has two new student assistant positions available starting in September 2026.

Application deadline: June 19, 2026. Interviews will be scheduled during the week of June 29.

Appointment period: September 2026 — January 2026.

Position size: 0.2 FTE for five months (8 hours per week).

Salary range: €3,084–€3,141 (SA2–SA4 under the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities) gross per month, for full-time employment.

Location: Data School, Drift 13, Utrecht. Working from home is possible.

Interested? Send a brief cover letter and resume to Sanne Janssen at s.janssen@uu.nl

About Data School

Data School is an education and research platform that explores how data and AI are transforming our society, journalism, public administration, and democracy. Data School consists of a young, dynamic, and interdisciplinary team and is located in the heart of Utrecht (Drift 13). Everyone on our team has a different background, and there is room to contribute your own expertise and ideas.

We have two research lines:

  1. Responsible data practices and AI. An example of a product developed in the past within this research line is the IAMA: Impact Assessment of Human Rights and Algorithms.
  2. Online public debates. A good example of past research in this area is “Playing with Fire,” which examines how the interaction between the Dutch House of Representatives and social media fuels anger in the public debate.
Photo: Daan Jeurens

About the Openings

The current openings are for student assistantships within the first research line. Both student assistants will be embedded in a project titled “Unlocking Web Data for Research: Legal and Technical Foundations for Web Scraping,” which Data School is conducting in collaboration with Tilburg University.

The goal of this project is to

  • map out the legal and ethical landscape surrounding web scraping,
  • develop guidelines for responsible web scraping, and
  • develop practical tools such as checklists and flowcharts to support responsible decision-making regarding web scraping.

As a student assistant at Data School, we expect you to be able to work independently and to let us know when you need help. You will sometimes work on tasks as part of a team and sometimes on your own. Clear communication is essential in this regard. A good command of the English language is required to perform this role.

Photo: Daan Jeurens

We are looking for two motivated students with an interest in the interaction between digital technology and society. More specifically, we are looking for:

  1. A student who can analyze laws and regulations, academic (legal) literature, and case law related to web scraping. A legal background is a plus.
  2. A student who can analyze arguments, articulate clearly, and interpret academic literature on the ethics of web scraping. A background in ethics is a plus.

An affinity for the responsible use of technology, and for web scraping in particular, is a plus for both positions.

Both student assistants will collaborate with each other and will be supervised by members of the Data School research team. This research team consists of Catalina Goanta, Mirko Tobias Schäfer, and Sanne Janssen. Questions can be directed at s.janssen@uu.nl.