PhD Position in Philosophy

This PhD position will be embedded in the NWO-funded project TEND (Technological Niche Disruptions), which investigates the impact of new, disruptive technologies on both individuals and societies from an ecological perspective, adopting a niche construction framework.

The PhD project will focus on developing the foundational framework of the project, as well as one (or both) of two case studies. One case study concerns the disruption of epistemic spaces, with a focus on a historical comparison between the emergence of the printing press in the modern era and the recent advent of the Internet. The other case study concerns chatbots (like ChatGPT) and other similar AI architectures, focusing on how they challenge and disrupt the concepts of ‘communication’ and ‘authorship’. Both projects will be carried out in close collaboration with the project’s principal investigators, Prof. dr. Catarina Dutilh Novaes and dr. Guido Löhr. A short description of TEND is available on https://sites.google.com/view/tend-project/home, and a full description is available upon request.

The expected starting date is 1 February 2026 or shortly thereafter.

Your duties

• conduct research on the project’s topic, resulting in a PhD dissertation, journal publications, and conference presentations
• participate in the regular research activities of the project, such as weekly seminars, workshops and conferences; teaching
• participate in the research (and possibly teaching) activities of the Philosophy Department
• complete the required PhD coursework for the Humanities Graduate School

We are looking for candidates who meet the following qualifications:

• a Master’s or Research Master’s degree in philosophy or related field (science and technology studies, political theory, media studies etc.), fully completed before the application deadline (October 10th)
• relevant areas of expertise include: social epistemology, philosophy of language, philosophy of technology, philosophy of artificial intelligence, political philosophy. We are looking for candidates with interests in a combination of these areas (not necessarily all of them)
• strong academic record and demonstrable affinity with societal and technological contemporary debates
• excellent oral and written communication skills in English
• strong organizational skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

• a salary of € 3.059,00 (PhD) and maximum € 3.881,00 (PhD) gross per month in the fourth year, for a full-time employment
• an employment contract of initially 1 year. If there is sufficient perspective, this will be extended to a total of 4 years. Your dissertation at the end of the fourth year forms the end of your employment contract
• ample funding for research and travel

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and arrangements. Some examples:

• a full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• contribution to commuting expenses
• a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge

The Department of Philosophy, which belongs to the new Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, is a vibrant and international community of philosophers committed to high-quality teaching and research in various areas of philosophy. The Theoretical Philosophy group, where the advertised position will be based, is widely recognized as an outstanding research group, with strengths in particular in epistemology and philosophy of science (broadly construed).

The PhD candidate will also be embedded in the Graduate School of Humanities, which coordinates all activities involving training and guidance of PhD candidates and Research Master students. Through the Graduate School, the PhD candidate will come in contact with a lively interdisciplinary research community, and will take part in the mandatory PhD coursework and in the regular activities (lectures, workshops etc.) organized by the Graduate School.

Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
A better understanding of ourselves and social communities, values and meaning, through social sciences and humanities. That is the aim of The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. No single discipline can do this alone. The SSH disciplines are characterised by an open way of thinking and the natural urge to seek coherence and connection.

The faculty consists of nine academic departments within three schools: School of Religion & Theology (SRT), School of Social Sciences (SSc) and School of Humanities (SH).

Are you interested in joining Social Sciences and Humanities? You become part of a dynamic academic community with approximately 900 staff members, over 5,000 regular students and more than 5,000 course participants. In an inspiring and collegial environment, we work together on education and research with impact.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding. We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services. Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.