Do you want to follow your passion for ethics of technology in the life sciences in a Post-doc project at Wageningen University? Are you an openminded academic who likes to collaborate with other researchers in the emerging field of digital twins?

We are looking for a hardworking post-doc researcher in the field of ethics of technology, philosophy of technology or Science and Technology Studies.

Digital Twins (DTs) are an emerging technology that are now applied in different domains, including agriculture and life sciences. This postdoctoral project is part of the WUR investment theme "Digital Twins" which consists of three multidisciplinary Digital Twin flagship projects. An important aim of the investment theme is to foster the responsible design and development of Digital Twins. Our vision on responsibility in relation to Digital Twins is that early engagement of societal actors and innovators is needed in order to assess the societal desirability, ethical acceptability and sustainability of this technology. At the same time, we believe that DTs as representations of (desirable) futures (e.g. sustainable farming or healthier lifestyles) can be used as a tool for responsible innovation in the life sciences. In order for DTs to function as such a tool, it is important to:

1. consider the social and ethical aspects of the DT technology itself;
2. develop a methodology to consider the social and ethical parameters that are seen as important by both engineers, societal actors and future users, and to involve these actors in the assessment and evaluation and the decision-making process regarding the development of design requirements of digital twins.

As digital technologies, DTs raise social and ethical issues, such as algorithmic biases, epistemological and normative concerns such as inconclusive evidence or unfair outcomes, or issues related to the ownership of the data generated by the DT. Furthermore, the fact that DTs in the life sciences represent living organisms and socio-ecological systems requires that this particular context is considered in DT development in general, and in the way DTs may affect our relation to the environment, to animals, and to our bodies in particular. Building on state of the art insights in the field of ethics of technology, responsible innovation and value sensitive design on the one hand, and qualitative interviews with stakeholders on the other, our project will develop a roadmap for the responsible design of digital twins for the life sciences. It results in operational guidelines how to engage in a value-sensitive design of digital twins, which will be piloted in and improved based on feedback of the three Digital Twin flagship projects.

As the successful candidate you:

• hold a PhD in Philosophy, applied ethics, or STS, with affinity with the life sciences;
• are an enthusiastic, dedicated and engaged academic who is well capable to work in interdisciplinary contexts;
• like to explore fundamental questions in ethics of digital technologies in the life sciences;
• preferably have experience in conducting empirical research (interviews, focus groups;
• excellent communication skills. This position requires an excellent English language proficiency (a mininum of CEFR C1 level). For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page.

Our postdoc researchers are encouraged to supervise MSc thesis students when such opportunities arise, and you will be involved in teaching activities.

A challenging position with, depending on your experience, a competitive salary from a minimum of €2.709,- to a maximum of €4.274,- for a full working week of 38 hours in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement Wageningen University (scale 10). This position is for the period of 2.5 - 3 years. Initially you will receive a contract for the period of 1 year, which can be extended for the duration of the project. You will be based at the Philosophy Group in Wageningen.
In addition, we offer:

• 8% holiday allowance;
• a structural end-of year bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent training opportunities and secondary employment conditions;
• flexible working hours that we determine together in good consultation;
• excellent pension plan through ABP;
• 232 vacation hours, the option to purchase extra and good supplementary leave schemes, e.g. the possibility to work a maximum of 2 hours per week extra for extra leave;
• a flexible model to put together part of your employment conditions yourself, such as a bicycle plan;
• a lively workplace on the Wageningen Campus;
• make use of the sports facilities on campus for a small fee.

Wageningen University & Research stimulates internal career opportunities and mobility with our internal recruitment policy. There are ample opportunities for personal initiative in a learning environment. With us you get a versatile job in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

Wageningen University & Research

The mission of our University is to explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life. Within Wageningen University & Research, nine specialised research institutes from the Wageningen Research Foundation and Wageningen University have joined forces to help answer the most important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment.

With approximately 30 locations, 6.500 employees, and 12.000 students, it is one of the leading organisations in its domain worldwide. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of the unique approach of Wageningen. We have been named Best Employer in Education category 2019-2020.

The Philosophy Group focuses on ethical and epistemic issues involved in the relationship of humans with nature, animals, food and agriculture. The group aims to understand processes of ethical deliberation around science and technology in different societal and cultural settings. More information you will find here .

Click here for more information about working at Wageningen University & Research. More information about Wageningen Campus you can find here.

We do the recruiting for this vacancy ourselves. Please do not contact us for sales purposes.