Phd Candidate in Information Systems: Regulatory Compliance in Digital Financial Services

The University of Luxembourg is an international research university with a distinctly multilingual and interdisciplinary character.

The Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT) at the University of Luxembourg is a leading international research and innovation centre in secure, reliable and trustworthy ICT systems and services.
We play an instrumental role in Europe by fueling innovation through research partnerships with industry, boosting R&D investments leading to economic growth, and attracting highly qualified talent. We look for researchers from diverse academic backgrounds to contribute to our projects in areas such as: Network Security, Information Assurance, Model-driven Security, Cloud Computing, Cryptography, Satellite Systems, Vehicular Networks, and ICT Services & Applications.

**Your role**:
The rise of digital financial services - from mobile banking and digital wallets to decentralised finance (DeFi) and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) - has transformed the financial landscape, bringing both opportunities and significant regulatory challenges. At the same time, regulatory activity in the European Union (EU) has intensified, with a growing body of legislation targeting digital technologies more broadly - such as the Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act, Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, and the AI Act. These frameworks are reshaping how digital financial services are developed, deployed, and governed. Against this backdrop, the ReFIS project will explore how regulatory compliance is conceptualised, designed, and operationalised within the domain of digital financial services, from an IS perspective. The research will focus on the socio-technical dynamics of compliance: how technological infrastructures, institutional logics, and regulatory frameworks interact to shape compliance practices and outcomes.

**Your profile**:

- Master’s degree in Information Systems, Management, Law & Technology, International Relations, Political Science, or related fields.
- Strong academic writing and proficient verbal communication skills in English. Knowledge of French, German and/or Luxembourgish is not required
- General understanding of and/or interest in financial compliance frameworks (e.g., AML/CFT, KYC, GDPR, PSD2)
- General understanding of and/or interest in EU legislation on digital technologies (e.g., AI Act, DSA, DMA, eIDAS2, MiCAR)
- Willingness to work in a highly interdisciplinary context using diverse methods (e.g., dealing with both qualitative and quantitative data)
- Interest in engaging with stakeholders active in financial regulation, compliance and supervision
- A collaborative team player with a desire to make a personal impact within our interdisciplinary research group
- The commitment to participate in the design and implementation of high-quality solutions that solve significant problems
- Self-initiative, creativity, curiosity, flexibility and enthusiasm to work

**We offer**:

- Multilingual and international character. Modern institution with a personal atmosphere. Staff coming from 90 countries. Member of the “University of the Greater Region” (UniGR)
- A modern and dynamic university. High-quality equipment. Close ties to the business world and to the Luxembourg labour market. A unique urban site with excellent infrastructure
- A partner for society and industry. Cooperation with European institutions, innovative companies, the Financial Centre and with numerous non-academic partners such as ministries, local governments, associations, NGOs

**How to apply**:

- Applications, written in English, should include:_
- A cover letter including:
- Full CV, including the contact address and work experience
- Transcript of all modules and results from university-level courses taken (Bachelor’s and Master’s degree or equivalent)

The University of Luxembourg embraces inclusion and diversity as key values. We are fully committed to removing any discriminatory barrier related to gender, and not only, in recruitment and career progression of our staff.
- General information:_
- Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract 36 Month (extendable up to 48 months if required)
- Work Hours: Full Time 40.0 Hours per Week
- Location: Kirchberg Campus
- Planned start date: 1 September 2025
- Internal Title: Doctoral Researcher
- Job Reference: UOL07656

The yearly gross salary for every PhD at the UL is EUR 41976 (full time).