The candidate is expected to have written a PhD thesis by the end of the contract.

The subject of the thesis is open but must be within the scope of the research themes of the (daily) supervisor. These topics are:

• Matteo Colombo: Philosophy of Science (especially, explanation, evidence, modelling, scientific realism, and values in science); Philosophy of Mind and Cognitive Science (especially, foundations of computational cognitive neuroscience and computational psychiatry; representation; computation; networks; 4E-cognition); Moral Psychology (especially, social norms; moral judgement; intellectual humility). For more on Dr Colombo’s research: https://mteocolphi.wordpress.com/
• Maureen Sie: Moral and Social Psychology (especially moral judgment, moral hypocrisy, social norms, efficacy of deliberation, dual process theory of moral cognition, cognitive dissonance) and Philosophy of Agency (especially social dimension of responsibility, free will, nature of moral reasons, autonomy, implicit bias, the adaptive unconscious). For more on Prof Sie research https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Maureen_Sie.
• Michael Vlerick: Naturalized epistemology / evolutionary epistemology(epistemic justification, cognitive closure / epistemic boundedeness, ecological rationality); Philosophy of science (bias in science, scientific realism); Evolutionary ethics (moral realism, moral psychology); Cultural evolution (mimetics, dual inheritance theory); Social ontology (emergence and evolution of social institutions); Cognitive science of religion

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 the epistemology and philosophy of science.

The selected candidate will be a member of the Department of Philosophy. Research in the department is organized in two cooperative groups: The Tilburg Centre for Logic, Ethics and Philosophy of Science (TiLPS) and Philosophy of Humanity, Culture and Ethics (PHC&E). The department sustains a large international network and regularly organizes conferences, workshops and seminars in the philosophy of science and other areas of philosophy.

Fixed-term contract: 4 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 € 2,222 in the first year to € 2,840 in the final year.

The position starts in principle on August 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

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