PhD position in 20th-Century French Philosophy of Science and Technology in the Netherlands

The recent pace and scale of new developments in science and technology have presented our societies with an ever-expanding set of social and political challenges. At the same time, there is a long tradition of philosophers who have critically engaged with science and technology. This history contains valuable but often forgotten insights and tools for the critical evaluation of science and technology. Maastricht University invites you to join their Philosophy Faculty as a PhD student in philosophy to contribute to the recovery of elements of the history of 20th century French philosophy in order to develop new critical tools for conceptualizing and evaluating contemporary developments in science and technology. You will be part of a broader effort to revisit the history of philosophy in order to enrich and interrogate existing theoretical frameworks, ranging from AI ethics to Science and Technology Studies (STS).

Duties of the position

The appointee will be expected to perform scientific research towards completion of a PhD in Philosophy, with a focus on 20th-century French philosophy of science and technology; publish results at top-tier (international) conferences and in international journals; work independently, as well as collaboratively in both research oriented and in applied settings and assist with educational tasks (e.g., teach at undergraduate level, supervise students and internships).

Required selection criteria

Applicants should possess a Masters or M.Sc. degree (completed, or to be completed shortly) in Philosophy, Science and Technologies Studies, History of Science, or equivalent; demonstrated (e.g., through publications, presentations, thesis, projects, etc.) interest and experience with French philosophy of science and technology; proficiency in oral and written English and reading French; excellent communication skills and ability to work independently and collaboratively in a research-oriented environment. Skills in oral and written French and demonstrated interest and experience with recent philosophy of technology, STS and/or AI ethics will be plus.

If your profile does not completely meet the above criteria, but you are interested and you want to show them your unique perspective on why you would fit this project, they would still like to hear from you.

Benefits 

The selected candidate will be offered a salary based on experience ranging from €2,770 in the first year and €3,539 gross per month in the fourth year (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week), and in addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply; an employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 1.0 FTE with an extension of 3 years upon a positive evaluation;  flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of the position allows it, with a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this; 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day if working full-time and an additional 12 days if you choose to accumulate compensation hours; a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that they offer and a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as ‘acknowledge and appreciate’.

Organisation/Company – Maastricht University (UM)

Research Field –

Researcher Profile –

Country – Netherlands

Application Deadline – 17 May 2024