The Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences of Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands, invites applications for a four-year PhD position (1,0 fte) in continental political philosophy, the philosophy of culture, or cultural studies, starting  November 1,  2018 or later this year, on the topic of social media and the public sphere.

The thesis will be written under the supervision of Prof. M.S. Prange (Department of Philosophy); Prof. O.M. Heynders (Department Cultural Studies); Dr. M. Bot (Department of Law).

This PhD project explores possibilities for democratic communication in an age of social media and digital technologies. The project explores how social media and digital technologies can facilitate free communication among equal members of democratic publics, and it explores how social media and digital technologies can undermine such free communication, for instance through bots and trolling and by providing platforms for narratives, symbols, and sentiments of inequality, particularly of race, religion, gender and sexuality.

Candidates must hold a MA/MSc degree or equivalent by the time of appointment. Apart from philosophy graduates, candidates with degrees in other relevant disciplines are welcome if they can demonstrate a high level of familiarity with political philosophy or philosophy of culture.

The selected candidate will be a member of the Graduate School of the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences. The selected candidate is expected to become member of the research groups Philosophy of Humanity, Culture and Ethics and Rapid Social & Cultural Transformations. They sustain large international networks and regularly organize conferences, workshops and seminars in different traditions of continental philosophy and cultural studies, respectively.

The candidate is expected to have written a PhD thesis on the topic of social media and the public sphere by the end of the contract. The PhD thesis is funded by the Advancing Society: Impact program of Tilburg University, theme: Empowering Resilient Society. The subject of the thesis is expected to be an interdisciplinary research, which combines two or more of the following disciplines:

• Philosophy of Humanity, Culture, and Society; Philosophy of Art and Media;  
• Cultural Studies; Literary theory; Online culture and Digitalization
• Philosophy of Law; Critical Theory; Democratic Theory.

Fixed-term contract: 1+3 years.

Tilburg University is rated among the top Dutch employers and offers very good fringe benefits (it is one of the best non-profit employers in the Netherlands), such as an options model for terms and conditions of employment and excellent reimbursement of moving expenses. The collective labor agreement of Dutch universities applies.

The selected candidates will start with a contract for one year, concluded by an evaluation. Upon a positive outcome of the first-year evaluation, the candidate will be offered an employment contract for the remaining three years.

The gross monthly salary will be in accordance with the salary scales for PhD candidates at Dutch universities, i.e. ranging from € 2.266,- in the first year to € 2.997,- in the final year. In addition, a holiday allowance of 8% and an end-of year bonus of 8,3%.

The position starts in principle on November 1, 2018 but another starting date may be considered.

Researchers from outside the Netherlands may qualify for a tax-free allowance equal to 30% of their taxable salary. The university will apply for such an allowance on their behalf. The Faculty will provide assistance in finding suitable accommodation.

Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences (TSHD) conducts scientific research and education in the fields of Communication and Information Sciences, Philosophy, Religious studies and Language and Culture studies. The School of Humanities features three departments, several research institutes and a faculty office. Each year around 275 students commence a Bachelor or (Pre) Master Program. The School has approximately 1300 students and 250 employees.

Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences