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Academia

In my academic life, I am an interdisciplinary PhD researcher at TILT* focusing on the regulation and governance of AI. In my research, I explore lessons from other technologies and apply them to the regulation and governance of artificial intelligence. My main research is at the intersection of AI and Biotech, as well as disciplines such as law, philosophy, political science, and information science. I am particularly interested in the regulation and governance by design. 

 

I have an interdisciplinary background, and before joining TILT as a researcher, I obtained two master degrees in law with specializations in business law and innovation and technology regulation, as well as a master degree in digital transformation, focusing on business information systems and digital transformation management.

 I am currently being supervised by Prof. Dr. Ronald Leenes and Prof. Dr. Mr. Han Somsen.

*TILT stands for Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology, and Society - TILT is one of the leading research groups in the EU, with more than 30 years of history and is part of Tilburg University in the Netherlands.

Selected Publications

2026

Preventing AI extractivism: the case for braiding indigenous data justice with ABS for stronger AI data governance 

Schulz, Maria; Loewen-Colón, Jordan.

AI & Soc (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-026-02931-z

*This paper is currently ranked top 14% among tracked articles of a similar age in all journals, and is ranked top 10% ( place 7) among tracked articles of a similar age in AI & SOCIETY.

2026

Are we prepared? Legal responses to AI-driven bioterrorism threats

Schulz, Maria; Pölle, Sabrina. 
2026. Abstract from TILTing Perspectives 2026, Tilburg, Netherlands.

2025

Applying ABS principles and Indigenous data sovereignty to AI governance

Schulz, Maria; Loewen-Colón, Jordan.

2025. 80-80 Abstract from Sustainable AI Conference 2025, Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

2024

Insights from traditional knowledge protection in biotech regulation for safeguarding knowledge in the age of AI

Schulz, Maria
2024. Abstract from TILTing Perspectives 2024, Tilburg, Netherlands.

Academic Service (Selection)

since 2026

Reviewer & Program Committee Member of the biennial TILTing Perspectives conference

TILTing Perspectives is one of the leading international conferences focusing on law, regulation, technology and society.

since 2025

Reviewer & Association Member of the IASEAI

The International Association for Safe and Ethical AI was founded by Stuart Russell and is a non-profit organization with a mission to develop safe and ethical AI that benefits humanity.

2025

Reviewer for T20 blog series on AI

T20 is a think tank of the G20

since 2024

Reviewer & Program Committee Member for the annual Southern African Conference for Artificial Intelligence Research

The Southern African Conference for Artificial Intelligence Research is a multidisciplinary international conference with an international reputation. Conference proceedings are published by Springer Nature.

Teaching

since 2024

Master thesis supervision and Researching Law & Technology course

I supervise research proposals and master theses on topics related to AI, Data, Biotech in a Law & Technology Master Program at the Tilburg University. The faculty of law has been ranked #35 by subject by the Times Higher Education.

Academic Quality Assurance

since 2025

Expert Committee Member at the AQAS program accreditation panel

Agency for Quality Assurance through Accreditation of Study Programs (AQAS) is one of the leading international accreditation agencies based in Germany. 

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