Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam – Space Law and Sustainability Center
Listed on Orbital Diplomat 8 Oct 2026
The Space Law and Sustainability Center at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) is a joint initiative of the Amsterdam Law and Technology Institute (ALTI) and the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute (ASI), providing an interdisciplinary platform for research on the expanding scope of human activities in outer space. Its research focuses on space pollution and debris governance, critical technologies including AI and quantum in space, and the international regulatory frameworks required for sustainable space operations. This fully funded four-year PhD position sits at the frontier of two rapidly evolving fields: space law and artificial intelligence. The research addresses a question of growing urgency for the governance community — who sets the rules when AI turns Earth Observation data into decisions about security, resilience, and society? As AI systems increasingly mediate the transformation of satellite-derived data into consequential outputs for national security, disaster response, border management, and critical infrastructure monitoring, the legal and regulatory frameworks governing these processes remain deeply underdeveloped. The postholder will develop original scholarship on the intersection of space law, AI regulation, and the governance of Earth Observation data — contributing to one of the most pressing and underexplored areas in contemporary space governance. The position is embedded within VU Amsterdam's Faculty of Law and the Space Law and Sustainability Center's active research community, with opportunities for engagement with European institutions, space agencies, and the broader international space law community.
LL.M. degree (or equivalent) in international law, space law, technology law, or a closely related legal discipline Demonstrated interest in space law, AI governance, or the regulation of emerging technologies Strong academic writing and research skills in English Ability to work independently in an interdisciplinary environment Motivation to engage with policy-relevant research and external stakeholders Applications via the VU Amsterdam careers portal (workingat.vu.nl)