The Department of Philosophy of the Faculty of Humanities is looking for an Assistant Professor in Philosophy of Language and Cognition.

What are you going to do?

You will provide education in a dynamic context with ample opportunities for the development of innovative teaching methods. You have a proven track record of teaching in theoretical philosophy in particular in philosophy of cognition, philosophy of language and logic.

You have demonstrable experience with teaching at both BA and MA level, including teaching to diverse student groups from different disciplines.

You are an active researcher and have a strong research expertise in philosophy of language and cognition, as well as expertise and interests in the interplay and application of these areas to other research fields, e.g. logic, (computational) linguistics, cognitive science, artificial intelligence, the philosophy of information, or the history of any of these fields. Preferably, you will have one or more of the following: an interdisciplinary background, an empirically-oriented approach or a double expertise in philosophy and one more relevant area, e.g. cognitive science and linguistics or any computational field.

Your research will be part of the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC), which together with the different research schools of the Amsterdam Institute for Humanities Research represents UvA’s research in the Humanities. The position will be embedded within the department of philosophy in the capacity group of Logic & Language, Mind and Behaviour.

You are expected to take an active role in departmental activities. Excellent social skills, a deeply collegial attitude, and ability and willingness to take up administrative tasks are particularly welcome.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• design and conducting independent research in philosophy of language and cognition resulting in academic publications in peer-reviewed international journals and/or books;
• actively pursuing external funding for research, notably funding from research councils, national as well as European;
• actively contributing to and developing national and international research networks and other forms of cooperation;
• actively contributing to the research activities of the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation;
• developing, coordinating and teaching courses in both Dutch and English, in the BA and MA Philosophy and MSc Logic programmes;
• supervising BA, MA and MSc theses and tutoring students; co-supervising PhD theses;
• actively contributing to the development and improvement of the broader teaching programmes in the department;
• taking part in committees and working groups, and carrying out departmental administrative tasks as directed.

What do we require of you?

You are a dynamic and ambitious researcher with a strong profile, demonstrable by international publications and an international academic network. Your publications show broad knowledge of work in theoretical philosophy in general, and a strong affinity with work in philosophy of language and cognition. Your research matches the profile of the Institute for Logic, Language and Computation.

You are able to develop and provide teaching modules in theoretical philosophy and have the competence to teach in philosophy of language, logic and cognition. Important is a proven flexibility in teaching on topics beyond your own research focus, a willingness to work in interdisciplinary teams of teachers and the ability to offer inspiring lectures and tutorials in the BA, MA, MSc and minor programmes that aspire to a wide range of students.

Your experience and profile:

• a PhD in Philosophy or related field, with a research focus on philosophy of language and cognition;
• an international academic network in the research area concerned;
• research output commensurate with the level of the position;
• active and ambitious researcher with a strong publication record;
• demonstrable ability and ambition to obtain external research grants;
• wide and relevant teaching experience at BA and MA level; ideally some experience in supervising students;
• excellent command (near-native fluency) of both Dutch and English: non-native Dutch speakers must achieve an active and passive command of Dutch within two years (passing the faculty’s Dutch language requirement, is a prerequisite for a permanent employment contract);
• experience with digital and audiovisual teaching facilities and affinity with ICT in university teaching;
• experienced in valorization and practice-based education and/or research;
• good team worker and versatile at all levels, capable of multidisciplinary co-operation and interest in contributing to an interdisciplinary research environment;
• excellent organisational experience and skills;
• acquired the Dutch Basic Teaching Qualification (BKO), or willing to acquire this within the first two years.

Research that entails collaboration with non-academic institutions and agencies in the Netherlands, Europe, and beyond is highly welcome.

We offer a temporary employment contract for a period of two years with the intention of converting it into a permanent contract after a positive assessment. Our ideal starting date of the employment contract is 1 September 2021.

The gross monthly salary, dependent on relevant experience, will range from €3,746 to €5,826, based on 38 hours a week. This is excluding a generous holiday scheme (8%) and year-end bonus (8.3%). A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% rule’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement for the Dutch Universities is applicable.

We additionally offer:

• the opportunity to collaborate in interdisciplinary teams;
• excellent opportunities for study and personal development;
• an inspiring academic and international working environment in the heart of Amsterdam.

University of Amsterdam

With over 5,000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.  

The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

Faculty of Humanities

The Faculty of Humanities provides education and conducts research with a strong international profile in a large number of disciplines in de field of language and culture. Located in the heart of Amsterdam, the faculty maintains close ties with many cultural institutes in the capital city. Research and teaching staff focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and are active in several teaching programmes. The faculty offers assistant professors the opportunity to collaborate with leading researchers at research institutes that - partly as a result of their interdisciplinary approach - are world-renowned.