Postdoc Research Ethics/Bioethics

The ethics of health-related research involving humans is one of the research lines of the Department of Bioethics and Health Humanities. Your main task will be to further develop this research line in collaboration with others in the department who are involved in research ethics. Currently, our research ethics group performs projects on the ethics of innovative methods and research designs (e.g. adaptive trial designs, learning health systems), climate change and research ethics, diversity/equity/inclusion in trials, and the ethics of innovations in health and research (gene and cell therapy, organoid biobanking, and in-silico trials). These projects are funded among others by the EU (Marie Curie Doctoral Network grants and Horizon Europe), ZonMw, NWO and WHO.

There are several opportunities to supervise PhD students in these projects, perform conceptual and qualitative work (focus groups), depending on your background and ambitions. You will also be stimulated to develop your own research topics within research ethics and write grant applications.

Apart from conducting research, you will teach (max 10-20% of your time) bioethics and health humanities to bachelor and master students in Medicine, research ethics to master students in epidemiology and data science, and bioethics to general practitioners in training. You will also help to transition the online course on research ethics to a new electronic platform.

You will participate in ethics consultancy and committee work (max 10% of your time), including moral deliberation (“moreel beraad”) in the UMC Utrecht, and membership of one of the Dutch research ethics committees.

We are seeking a dedicated and creative professional with strong collaborative skills and a clear understanding of what is required to conduct both conceptual and empirical work in bioethics. Priority will be given to candidates with expertise in the ethics of (bio)medical research and the ability to read and speak Dutch.

• You are a highly motivated bioethicist with a completed PhD in a relevant background.
• You enjoy carrying out research and taking initiative.
• You have excellent communication skills, preferably also in Dutch
• You can communicate fluently verbally and in writing in English.
• You are able to work independently and in a team.
• You have experience in supervising master or PhD students.

Interviews are scheduled for 4, 11 and 22/23 July.

The maximum salary for this position (32 - 36 hours) is € 5.669,00 gross per month based on full-time employment.

In addition, we offer an annual benefit of 8.3%, holiday allowance, travel expenses and career opportunities. The terms of employment are in accordance with the Cao University Medical Centers (UMC).

The Department of Bioethics & Health Humanities is an inter- and transdisciplinary department, combining bioethics, health law, history of medicine, narrative medicine, medical anthropology, and patient involvement in education, research and consultation. The department is situated in the Julius Center of the UMC Utrecht and is a sub department of Global Public Health and Bioethics.

The focus of our research is on ethical, legal and social aspects of biomedical innovation, technologies, patient participation, global health and end-of-life issues. Other key research topics are medical history and narrative medicine. We perform analytical and empirical (qualitative) research on these topics.

We participate in many committees both inside and outside the UMC Utrecht. For example, we join the Hospital Ethics Committee (Commissie Medische Ethiek), and we participate in Research Ethics Committees. We assist with Moral Deliberation in various Departments at the UMC Utrecht and can be approached for ethical-legal consultation. At the (inter)national level we join various committees as ethicists and lawyers, among others as members of the Health Council of the Netherlands (Gezondheidsraad) or for the World Health Organization (WHO). We are also an official WHO Collaborating Centre for Bioethics.

We stimulate training of staff members via talent programs and education programs (such as "BKO", basiskwalificatie onderwijs/ university teaching qualification)

Contact our colleague:
Dr. Rieke van der Graaf
06 53 37 19 31
RGRAAF2@UMCUTRECHT.NL