Technologies are increasingly designed to influence people’s behavior in directions that are seen as desirable, as approaches like ‘nudging’ and ‘persuasive technology’ show. At the same time, this development raises ethical concerns. The postdoc project ‘Designing Moral Mediation’ will develop both a philosophical and an ethical approach to behavior-influencing technologies. Being part of the larger project ‘Theorizing Technological Mediation’, led by prof. Peter-Paul Verbeek, it focuses on ‘moral mediation’: the ways in which technologies mediate moral actions and decisions, and help to shape moral frameworks.

Main goal of the postdoc project is to develop an ethical design approach, which connects the approach of technological mediation to the practice of design, and makes it possible to design for specific moral values. In order to do so, it will further investigate the ethical dimension of human-technology relations, and develop ways to incorporate this in processes of technology design. It will focus on two technological domains in which the moral dimension of technology explicitly plays a role: sustainable technology (e.g. in relation to energy consumption) and health technology (e.g. in relation to e-coaching for behavior change). You will be employed at the faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social sciences, in the Department of Philosophy (research group Philosophy of Human-Technology Relations). You will work in close interaction with the DesignLab.

You hold a PhD in practical philosophy, preferably in philosophy of technology, ethics of technology, philosophy and ethics of design, or Science and Technology Studies. You have an excellent list of publications in peer-refereed journals, and have relevant international experience. Excellent command of English is required.

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 recent writing sample (preferably a published article or dissertation chapter)
• either a summary and table of contents of your dissertation or the entire dissertation.

Applications (including curriculum vitae, list of publications) should be uploaded via www.utwente.nl/vacatures/en > vacancies > current vacancies. The application deadline is July 1. Interviews are likely to be held in July. Since only three documents can be uploaded per application, please combine documents if needed.

Further information Contact: prof.dr.ir. Peter-Paul Verbeek (chair “Philosophy of Human-Technology Relations”) T: +31 (0)53 489 4460 (p.p.c.c.verbeek@utwente.nl), W: www.ppverbeek.nl

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

We offer a very challenging position in a highly inspiring environment, connecting science, technology, and society. You will be appointed as a fulltime postdoc researcher for a period of 24 months, starting Oct 1 2017. Salary depends on your experience and will be starting at € 3.111,- per month in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, depending on experience. Employees are also entitled to a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus. Annual salary is € 43.417,-.

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+).