Clara Rauchegger

Clara Rauchegger is a Senior Assistant Professor of European Union Law and Digital Technology Law at the Department of Legal Theory and Future of Law, Faculty of Law, University of Innsbruck. She joined the university after serving as a Max Weber Postdoctoral Fellow at the European University Institute in Florence for two years.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD from the University of Cambridge (Trinity Hall)

Dr. Rauchegger's research focuses on European Union law with particular emphasis on fundamental rights protection and technology regulation. She is currently working on her Habilitation project on the governance of intermediary online platforms in the EU. Her work bridges legal theory with practical applications in digital governance, examining how EU law addresses emerging technological challenges while safeguarding fundamental rights. She approaches these issues from both doctrinal and empirical perspectives, often collaborating with computer scientists and other interdisciplinary experts.

Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on the intersection of EU fundamental rights law and digital technology regulation. Key themes include the application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in digital contexts, governance frameworks for online platforms, and the evolving relationship between EU law and national constitutional rights in the digital age. Her work demonstrates a consistent concern with ensuring that technological innovation aligns with constitutional values and fundamental rights protections.

Dr. Rauchegger has received numerous prestigious awards:

• University of Innsbruck France Focus Award
• Eduard Wallnöfer Award
• Research Award of the City of Innsbruck
• Rotary Club Innsbruck Award for outstanding academic achievements
• University of Cambridge St Edmund's College Award for First Class LLM degree
• Winner of the Austrian Federal Language Competition in French

As an active researcher, Dr. Rauchegger leads the legal component of the DeFiTrace project (FFG KIRAS), investigating data-driven methods for analyzing illegal payment flows in cross-ledger DeFi ecosystems. She participates in the ArtiPro consortium (ERA-PerMed) and serves on the Management Committee of the Global Digital Human Rights Network (COST). Her research has secured funding from multiple sources including the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), and UK Arts & Humanities Research Council.

Dr. Rauchegger is a member of the Digital Science Center at the University of Innsbruck, an interdisciplinary research center examining digital innovation from multiple perspectives. Through this affiliation, she collaborates with computer scientists, social scientists, and other experts to address complex challenges at the intersection of law and technology.