Niels Van Dijk

Niels Van Dijk is a postdoctoral researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), affiliated with the Department of Law, Science, Technology & Society. His primary role is as a Researcher within the Metajuridica Contextual Research in Law group. He specializes in intersections of law, technology, and ethics, with a focus on data protection, AI governance, and EU legal frameworks. His research explores topics such as digital psychiatry, robotic autonomy, and privacy engineering.

Van Dijk holds a PhD in Metajuridica Law from VUB (2013), supervised by Professors Serge Gutwirth and Mireille Hildebrandt. His work spans interdisciplinary collaborations, including projects like IOF3026 (Cybersecurity & Health) and Data4Food2030 (sustainable food systems). He has received the 2015 Dissertation Award for his thesis on intellectual rights and conflict-based legal approaches.

Key research interests include AI ethics, EU data protection law, and the governance of emerging technologies. He has published extensively on topics like privacy by design, ethical reviews in scientific research, and the socio-legal implications of digital psychiatry. His grants include funding for projects on risk assessment methodologies and the integration of cognitive science into data protection law.

• Grants/Projects:
• IOF3026: Optimizing Legal and Ethical Use of Technologies for Cybersecurity & Health (2024–2028)
• FWOAL1099: Risk as a Subjective Phenomenon (2024–2027)
• Data4Food2030: Pathways for a Fair Data Economy (2022–2026)

Van Dijk actively participates in international conferences and workshops, focusing on digital constitutionalism, posthuman legal theories, and interdisciplinary research ethics. His work bridges legal philosophy, technology studies, and policy design, contributing to debates on responsible innovation and regulatory frameworks for emerging technologies.