The aim of this PhD project is to perform an ethical study of human enhancement technologies and techniques that considers their full range, their potential future development, and the various ethical implications in different domains and for different stakeholders. The study should also help answer the question how society should respond to these technologies: how they should be regulated, what ethical codes and protocols there should be in place, and what the responsibility of various actors is with respect to them. Within this general scope, there is room to focus the project in your own way. About 60% of the position is linked to the SIENNA project (see below), and in those 60%, you collaborate with other researchers in writing reports that address ethical issues in human enhancement and their practical application, and that also addresses the question of how we can develop general approaches for ethical analysis and ethical governance of new technologies. You will be the main author of most of the reports on human enhancement. About 20% of the position is for completion of the dissertation based on the reports that you have authored, and about 20% is for taking courses and providing support for other tasks in the department, particularly teaching.

You have a master’s degree in philosophy, ethics, medical ethics, or a related field. In addition, you:

• are familiar with the medical sciences;
• are interested in multidisciplinary collaboration;
• have good analytical skills;
• have good English language skills, both in writing and speaking;
• have good social and communication skills in academic as well as non-academic contexts;
• have an interest in policy and practical applications of ethics;
• are able to work independently, but also motivated to collaborate with others, including project participants and stakeholders from different countries and with different backgrounds

The ideal candidate would have either completed a master’s thesis on ethics of human enhancement or a directly related topic, or would have completed a thesis in medical ethics on another topic and have a strong background in medical sciences.

Your application should include the following documents:

Your application should include the following documents:

• a cover letter which explains your interest in the position and your qualifications for it;
• a curriculum vitae which includes the name and e-mail address/telephone number for at least two references.
• a copy of your master's thesis or, if it is not yet available, a summary and table of contents of the thesis

Applications (including curriculum vitae, list of publications) should be uploaded via www.utwente.nl/vacatures/en > vacancies > current vacancies.

The application deadline is June 18th, 2017. Interviews will be held in June. Since only three documents can be uploaded per application, please combine documents if needed. Further information Contact: prof.dr. Philip Brey (chair “Ethics of Technology”) T: +31 (0)53 489 4426 (p.a.e.brey@utwente.nl).

Location: This position is based at the Department of Philosophy, University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands. 

Your supervisors will be Prof. Philip Brey and dr. Saskia Nagel, both at University of Twente. Prof. Brey is full professor in philosophy of technology, with a focus on ethics, and coordinator of and researcher in the SIENNA project. Dr. Saskia Nagel is assistant professor in ethics of technology, with a focus on medical and neurotechnologies, and also a researcher in the SIENNA project.

A four-year full-time PhD position, starting September 1 (preferred) or October 1, 2017. The gross salary is € 2.222,- per month in the first year going up to € 2.840,- in the fourth year.  On top of this, you receive a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus. You will have a budget for traveling to SIENNA workshops and to international conferences. We offer excellent auxiliary terms of employment, such as professional and personal development programs; a secondary remuneration package; a dynamic environment with enthusiastic colleagues; an organization focusing on internationalization and a high degree of responsibility and independence.

The University of Twente. We stand for science and technology, high tech, human touch, education and research that matter. New technology which drives change, innovation and progress in society. The University of Twente is the only campus university in the Netherlands; divided over five faculties we provide more than fifty educational programs. The University of Twente has a strong focus on personal development and talented researchers are given scope for carrying out pioneering research. The Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences strives to hold a leading position in their fields in relation to the science and technology research programs of the University of Twente. In all these fields, the faculty provides bachelor, master and professional development programs.

Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social sciences
The Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social sciences (BMS) strives to play a pivotal role in understanding, co-engineering and evaluating innovation in society. Innovation is driven by advances in technology. Through 'social engineering' these technological advances are embedded in society befitting human needs and behaviour, within proper public and private management and business structures. For this the faculty of BMS upholds high quality disciplinary knowledge in psychology, business administration, public administration, communication science, philosophy, educational science and health sciences. All with a focus on the challenges in society. Research is strongly connected to our Institutes on Governance (IGS), ICT (CTIT), Health (MIRA) and Nanotechnology (MESA+).