PhD Value Sensitive Design of Quantum Internet for Governmental Communication

The Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is starting a PhD project on the use of the future European quantum internet for governmental communication. Quantum internet will have different characteristics than our current internet, and may in that way support other social and moral values in digital communication. The aim of this project is charting the impact of the architecture of quantum internet and of quantum communication on safety and moral values of the Ministry and of society. For this the project looks at designs for governmental communication through quantum internet using value-sensitive design methodology.

For realising this aim the candidate will engage in the following activities:

• Analyse values relevant to governmental communication, and conflicts between these values;
• Review designs of the European quantum internet;
• Conduct a value sensitive design project on the designs of the European quantum internet;
• Arrive at recommendations on how to use quantum internet for governmental communications in line with the relevant values.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Conducting value-sensitive design research on governmental communication through quantum internet;
• Publish and present scientific articles in international journals and conferences;
• Contribute to educational activities;
  Write a dissertation (monograph or paper-based);

You will be part of the Ethics/Philosophy of Technology section at the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management (TPM), and work within the quantum ethics research group of Dr Pieter Vermaas. You collaborate with Prof.dr.ir Marijn Janssen of the Engineering Systems and Services department of the Faculty of TPM. And part of the research takes place at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with policy officers and enterprise architects.

• A Master degree in ethics of technology, information systems, governance of technology, computer science, communication network design, or in a related field relevant to the position.
• Experience with conceptual or design research.
• Experience with conducting case studies.
• Knowledge of or experience with communication technology will be an advantage.
• Ability to work in teams.
• Ability to collaborate with researchers from other disciplines.
• Good academic writing skills.
• Proficiency in expressing yourself verbally and in writing in English; please see https://www.tudelft.nl/onderwijs/opleidingen/phd/admission for requirements.
• Proficiency in Dutch language is required/would be helpful but is not required.
• Interested in participating in interdisciplinary educational activities.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Security clearence: The candidate should be able to work in an environment in which information is shared in more confidentially ways. A security clearance is a requirement for the position; it will be organised in the first year, and the position will terminate in that year if clearance cannot be obtained.

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2770 per month in the first year to € 3539 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. 

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

The Faculty of TPM provides an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. TPM does this with its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy. We combine insights from both engineering and social sciences as well as the humanities. TPM develops robust models and designs, is internationally oriented and has an extensive network of knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.