Postdoctoral Researcher in Software Engineering (Impact of Regulations and Compliance)

Blekinge University of Technology is a place of curiosity and inventiveness, with a campus located in the Blekinge archipelago. We offer education from undergraduate to doctoral levels and conduct world-class applied research. We transform and make a difference. Do you want to become one of us? The Department of Software Engineering is internationally recognized for its research and educational environment. Our greatest strength is the strong focus on industry-near empirical research in close collaboration with the business sector. BTH's research in software engineering, as well as many of the department's researchers, are highly ranked internationally. Job Description As a Postdoctoral Researcher in Software Engineering, you are expected to explore the effects and costs of regulations and compliance on the development and maintenance of software-intensive products and services (SIPS). European companies operate in an increasingly complex regulatory environment. Frameworks such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) aim to strengthen consumer trust, protect privacy, and ensure responsible technology development. However, compliance entails significant costs – in terms of time, money, and organizational resources – as well as behavioral changes that often prioritize risk avoidance over innovation. As regulations increase and interpretations of compliance grow, companies risk losing their market competitive advantage. Although regulations are designed to establish minimum standards, companies often adopt overly cautious interpretations to avoid potential sanctions or reputation damage. This tendency can transform recommendations or obligations into perceived rules that regulatory authorities never intended. You will focus on investigating the cost of compliance, unnecessary compliance, impact on innovation and product development, market entry, and how regulations are used and interpreted. As a postdoctoral researcher, you will be a key person in the research group and work closely with both industry and academic partners. Your work will include: • Investigating the relationship between laws, regulations, and compliance as realized in the industry regarding SIPS and SIPS companies. • Examining how compliance affects costs, organizational flexibility, and innovation capacity. • Drawing overarching conclusions at the sector level for SIPS companies from a macro perspective. • Conducting a cost-benefit analysis of regulation and compliance in terms of competitiveness and productivity in Europe. • Investigating how new tools, such as generative AI, can be used to mitigate challenges inherent in interpreting or following compliance. • Publishing research results in leading conferences and journals and contributing to industrially relevant software development research. For this position, we are seeking a candidate with a background in empirical research on corporate and market trends and phenomena at a comprehensive level. Up to 20% of working time may include tasks other than research, such as teaching and supervising doctoral students. The applicant is expected to actively participate in the department's research and educational activities. Great emphasis is placed on high social competence and professional ethics. Eligibility Requirements To be eligible as a postdoctoral researcher, the applicant must have completed a doctoral degree or have a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. This eligibility requirement must be met by the time the employment decision is made. Primarily, those who have completed their degree within the last three years should be considered. Candidates who completed their degree earlier may also be considered if there are special reasons. Special reasons include leave due to illness, parental leave, clinical service, union assignments, or other similar circumstances. Eligibility requirements and assessment criteria are described in detail in BTH's Guidelines for Employment and Promotion of Teachers, available at the end of the Job Openings page (https://www.bth.se/om-oss/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-tjanster). Meritorious Competencies and Experiences In addition to the requirements described in the job description, eligibility requirements, and assessment criteria for the position, the following degrees, competencies, and experiences are considered meritorious: • Experience with large-scale empirical studies and statistical analysis. • Experience with empirical studies with companies at the intersection of industrial economics. • Understanding of software development and software-intensive products and services (SIPS). • Publications in highly ranked international conferences or journals. • Excellent ability to express oneself verbally and in writing in English. • Good collaborative and communication skills with students and colleagues. Excellent ability to express oneself verbally and in writing in English. Duty Station: Karlskrona. Employment Scope: 100%. Commencement: February 1, 2026, or by agreement. Duration: Temporary employment for 2-3 years, with the possibility of extension. The total