J. (Jonida) Milaj-Weishaar, PhD

Jonida Milaj-Weishaar is Associate Professor at Groningen University. Her research focuses on the intersection between Innovation, Technology Law and Human Rights and is hosted by the Security, Technology and e-Privacy (STeP) interdisciplinary research group. She always links her research to pressing societal needs and actively presents and publishes her work in international conferences and in renowned peer reviewed international journals.

Jonida has researched in the framework of various national and European projects. Because of her field of studies and the projects she is involved in, she has first-hand experience in collaborating with researchers from various disciplines and countries.

She teaches and coordinates various courses, like: Data Protection and Human Rights in the Digital World, Data Driven Innovation, Introduction to Technology Law, etc.

As of 2019, she is a visiting lecturer at the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing and as of 2022 she is a research fellow at the University of Milan, Information Society Law Centre.

Jonida completed her legal education at the University of Padua (Italy) and obtained an advanced LLM degree in European, International and Comparative Law from Maastricht University (the Netherlands). She defended her PhD thesis at the University of Groningen with a focus on the challenges created for the right to privacy from State surveillance with technology and devices intended for the everyday use of individuals.

Before starting her academic career, Jonida gained practical experience both at national institutions (Parliament of the Republic of Albania) and at international organisations (Council of Europe). Her work in non-academic institutions was composed of legal advice as well as of administrative tasks, which gave her a very good understanding of policymaking and policymakers – the way they work and their needs. She has been exposed to national and international learning, teaching and working experiences that have made her sensitive to cultural differences and needs.