Legal Researcher

Legal Researcher / Postdoctoral Researcher in Digital Health Law, Artificial Intelligence and Health Data Governance

The Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy Research Unit at KU Leuven invites applications for a full-time researcher position contributing to European projects at the intersection of artificial intelligence and digital health. Building on our expertise in the legal, ethical and societal implications (ELSI) of emerging health technologies, we work closely with clinicians, engineers, computer scientists and policymakers to support the responsible development and implementation of innovative healthcare solutions.

We are looking for a motivated legal researcher to strengthen our interdisciplinary team working on the legal, ethical and regulatory aspects of Virtual Human Twins and artificial intelligence in healthcare and medical research. Depending on the qualifications of the successful candidate, the position will be offered either as a Researcher (Master's degree) or as a Postdoctoral Researcher (PhD degree).

Key Areas of Work

Virtual Human Twins (VHT)

A VHT is a digital representation of human health or disease state. They refer to different levels of human anatomy (e.g. cells, tissues, organs or organ systems). VHTs are built using software models and data and are designed to mimic and predict behavior of their physical counterparts, including interaction with additional diseases a person may have. A key focus of this project is the development and delivery of training and educational activities on the ELSI of VHTs.

• develop practical guidance and educational materials on the legal and ethical aspects of Virtual Human Twins;
• design and deliver engaging training sessions, workshops and presentations for researchers, developers, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders;
• communicate complex legal and ethical concepts in a clear, accessible and practical manner to multidisciplinary audiences;
• analyse the legal and ethical framework governing Virtual Human Twins;
• assess compliance with relevant European legislation, including the GDPR, AI Act, European Health Data Space (EHDS), Data Governance Act and other applicable regulatory frameworks;
• contribute to the development of governance models for the responsible use and sharing of health data;
• contribute to project deliverables, scientific publications and policy recommendations;
• collaborate with technical, clinical and legal partners across Europe.

You will:

• develop practical guidance and educational materials on the legal and ethical aspects of Virtual Human Twins;
• design and deliver engaging training sessions, workshops and presentations for researchers, developers, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders;
• communicate complex legal and ethical concepts in a clear, accessible and practical manner to multidisciplinary audiences;
• analyse the legal and ethical framework governing Virtual Human Twins;
• assess compliance with relevant European legislation, including the GDPR, AI Act, European Health Data Space (EHDS), Data Governance Act and other applicable regulatory frameworks;
• contribute to the development of governance models for the responsible use and sharing of health data;
• contribute to project deliverables, scientific publications and policy recommendations;
• collaborate with technical, clinical and legal partners across Europe.

Artificial Intelligence in Medical Imaging

This project develops a European infrastructure supporting the secure use of artificial intelligence for cancer research.

You will:

• analyse legal and ethical challenges related to the secondary use and sharing of medical images;
• contribute to governance frameworks supporting trustworthy and legally compliant AI in medical imaging;
• assess legal compliance of data access procedures;
• contribute to the development of legal guidance, policies and best practices for project partners;
• participate in stakeholder engagement activities involving clinicians, researchers, data providers, patients and policymakers;
• contribute to project deliverables, scientific publications and policy recommendations.

Other Responsibilities

You will:

• participate in the design, coordination and execution of research activities across projects;
• conduct literature reviews, comparative legal analyses and regulatory assessments;
• monitor developments in European legislation and policy relating to digital health, artificial intelligence and health data governance;
• develop guidance documents, educational resources and training materials;
• represent KU Leuven by delivering presentations, workshops and training sessions at project