The department of philosophy of the University of Twente (UT) seeks to appoint a Postdoctoral researcher in philosophy (3 years) to join the Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies programme https://www.esdit.nl , a ten-year long international research programme of seven academic institutions in the Netherlands that has started in January 2020. In this exciting new role you will primarily undertake fundamental revisions to certain ethical and ontological concepts.

The ESDiT Programme

This programme is funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) in the Gravitation funding scheme for excellent research, and by matching funds from the participating institutions. The duration is from January 2020 to December 2029. The programme has the aim to investigate how new technologies challenge moral values and ontological concepts (like "nature", "human being" and "community"), and how these challenges necessitate a revision of these concepts. The programme includes four research lines, "Nature, life and human intervention", "The future of a free and fair society", "The human condition" and "Synthesis: Ethics of Technology, Practical Philosophy, and Modern Technology-Driven Societies".

Your position will fall under the Human Condition Line. It is a research position, but it also involves a small administrative task: you will assist dr. Sven Nyholm (Utrecht University) in managing the Human Condition Line (10%). Furthermore you will have a limited amount of teaching tasks at the University of Twente (10%). You also will engage in regular meetings with other postdocs in the programme to help safeguard cohesion and synergy in the programme and realization of the programme-wide research goals, which include investigations of conceptual change and conceptual disruption, the development of new approaches in philosophy and ethics of technology, and the development of new models of inter- and transdisciplinarity.

The challenge

This project will study how new and emerging technologies - biotechnologies, digital technologies, and/or climate technologies - have implications for our ontological and ethical understanding of the human being. More specifically, the project aims to bring about connections between philosophical anthropology and the ethics of technology, by investigating how technological challenges to the human condition urge us to recalibrate central concepts like authenticity, autonomy, corporality, natality, reflexivity, and vulnerability. The project should result in a comprehensive analysis of the most central concepts at the intersection of ethics and philosophical anthropology (philosophical theories of the human being) and the ways in which technological disruptions of the human condition raise the need to revisit or even revise ethical concepts.

The central question to investigate in this postdoc project is how fundamental revisions to certain ethical and ontological concepts - as developed in the frameworks and theories regarding the human being ("philosophical anthropology", broadly understood) - may be required to address technological disruptions of the human condition in biotechnology, climate technology, and/or digital technology.

We welcome applications that show:

• you are a highly motivated, positive and hardworking researcher with a PhD in philosophy or in another relevant area, e.g. science and technology studies (STS). Related PhD subjects will be considered, especially if you can demonstrate scientific knowledge, understanding or enthusiasm to learn, as well as sufficient training in philosophy;
• a proven interest and/or experience in societal and ethical aspects of science and technology;
• an ability to work independently, but with a good team spirit, excellent organisational skills and a commitment to interdisciplinary research;
• excellent communication and written skills, both within academia and outside the academy, including English proficiency at C2 level.

We expect that you will move to the Netherlands, to the region where the university is located or where commuting is feasible.

Are you up for the challenge to improve the world with excellent research and teaching? Then apply now!

The UT provides a dynamic and international environment, combining the benefits of academic research with a topic of high industrial relevance, excellent working conditions, an exciting scientific environment and a green and lively campus. We offer:

• A postdoc position for three years;
• Full status as an employee at the UT, including pension and health care benefits;
• Gross salary: min € 3.420,- max € 4.490,- per month, plus holiday allowance (8%) and end-of-year bonus (8.3%);
• Excellent facilities for professional and personal development;
• Good secondary conditions, in accordance with the collective labour agreement CAO-NU for Dutch universities;
• A green campus with lots of sports facilities and an international scientific community.