Postdoc In Philosophy of Technology

Co-creating a Transdisciplinary Framework for Sociotechnical System Flourishing.

Introduction

Are you a transdisciplinary philosopher who cares about making theoretical ideas matter in the real world Are you excited to co-create together with non-academic stakeholders a transdisciplinary framework that synthesizes ethical theories of human flourishing with system thinking approaches into a notion of sociotechnical system flourishing Are you eager to connect diverse philosophical perspectives to tackle urgent challenges in the ethics of socially disruptive technologies Applications are open for a 3-year postdoctoral fellowship within the Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies (ESDiT) consortium which will be hosted in the Philosophy & Ethics Capacity Group at TU Eindhoven.

Job Description

The aim of this position is to co-create a new transdisciplinary framework with societal partners that will anticipate mitigate and minimize the socially disruptive effects of emerging technologies. This will involve synthesizing aspects of system thinking with ethical theories of human flourishing. From a system perspective disrupted sociotechnical systems have qualities that resist disruption including adaptability feedback awareness and the ability to incorporate external elements. Theories in the human flourishing have analogous features including emphasizing the individuals capacity to exercise agency teleological orientation and narrative coherence. We believe that combining these two frameworks in a concept of sociotechnical system flourishing has the potential to improve how socially disruptive technologies are developed.

Transdisciplinary research aims to shape real-world domains by co-creating with non-academic stakeholders. ESDiT researchers have identified several cases that could benefit from a transdisciplinary approach that specifically combines aspects of system thinking with the ethics of human flourishing. These include problems in the attention economy dementia care and workplace well-being. Each of these involve pressing ethical challenges including digital overuse care practices overemphasizing autonomy and perceived tensions between employee well-being and organizational productivity. Your role will be to co-create actionable insights into how sociotechnical systems can flourish by closely engaging with users designers businesses NGOs and other stakeholders. The project pursues societal impact by helping societal stakeholders to better understand and perform transdisciplinary research and showing how to design for system level flourishing.

You will lead this research project within the parameters outlined above bringing to bear your education research background and personal interests. Your ESDiT supervisory team will support you in building relationships with key non-academic partners maximizing the real-world impact of your research as well as navigating key theoretical choices (such as which theories of human flourishing and/or which system theories to focus on). We will support you in developing a unique and coherent research trajectory to prepare you for what you wish to do afterwards (personal grant acquisition tenure-track job market non-academic research role).

In addition to contributing to academic philosophy at a globally recognized level this position will allow you to directly contribute to 1) conceptual innovation and 2) practical impact outside of academia helping shape new ways to develop emerging technologies that respond to the complexity of human and societal flourishing.

Institutional Embedding

This postdoc position will be part of the Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies programme a ten-year long international research programme of seven academic institutions in the Netherlands. This programme has a combined budget of 27 million and is funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research and by matching funds from the participating institutions. The programme has the aim of achieving breakthrough research in at the intersection of ethics philosophy technology / engineering and social sciences and to position its consortium at the top of its field internationally. A key objective is 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 consortium counting over 130 researchers consists of internationally well-known ethicists philosophers engineers and social scientists. The programme functions through nine research lines and three synthesising workshops; for a complete overview see . Your project will primarily be embedded in the STEM line of ESDiT. A fuller description of that research line as well as the programme as a whole can be pointed to through the ESDiT website: postdoc position is a 3-year appointment at TU Eindhoven focused primarily on publishing at a globally recognized level as well as doing transdisciplinary research with non-academic stakeholders. The holder will be embedded in the STEM line (and will be expected to take on a coordinating role in this line at some point). They will also contribute to educational programmes in the Philosophy and Ethics group (max. 01 02 FTE) which is part of the Department of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences at TU Eindhoven. They will have generous conference and travel budget available to help them conduct their research at an international level. They are required to be based in the Netherlands.

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries.

Job Requirements

A highly motivated and ambitious researcher with a PhD in philosophy science & technology studies or a closely related discipline (with a demonstratable philosophical affinity) by the time of appointment.

• Ability to conduct high quality academic research reflected in demonstratable outputs.
• A team player who enjoys working in a dynamic research environment as well as being comfortable working as a transdisciplinary team with non-academic stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects to completion on schedule.
• Experience in or affinity for appropriate scientific evaluation methodologies. For example qualitative methodologies including interviews co-creation workshops or (auto)ethnographic methods as well as technology assessment especially in areas relevant to the ESDiT consortium.
• A record (appropriate to career stage) of publications that demonstrates the ability to conduct research which is internationally recognized as contributing to philosophy or philosophy of technology (or related field).
• The ability to work both independently and collaboratively with good organisational and communication skills.
• A creative and innovative approach.
• A willingness and aptitude for teaching in philosophy.
• Excellent (written and verbal) proficiency in English good communication and leadership skills.

Conditions of Employment

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful green campus within walking distance of the central train addition we offer you:

• Full-time employment for 3 years.
• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities scale 10 (min. 4241 max. 5538).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs on general skills didactics and topics related to research and valorization.
• An excellent technical infrastructure on-campus childrens day care and sports facilities.
• Unlimited access to the modern oncampus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
• Partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting working from home and internet costs.
• A TU/e Postdoc Association that helps you to build a stronger and broader academic and personal network and offers tailored support training and workshops.
• A Staff Immigration Team is available for international candidates as are a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) and a compensation for moving expenses.

On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!

About us

We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13000 students and more than 7000 staff forming a diverse and vibrant academic community.

Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven a worldleading tech region with more than 7000 hightech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI photonics semiconductors and advanced manufacturing Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.

The Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences (IE&IS) department combines disciplinary knowledge from the humanities social sciences and technical sciences to solve the complex problems of industries and society. We collaboratively focus on and create responsible and effective innovations for the research themes: Humans and Technology Supply Chain Management Sustainability and Circularity and Value of Data-Driven Intelligence.

TU/e is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome candidates with a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. We aim to increase diversity in Eindhoven University of Technology and the Philosophy & Ethics group as well as in the discipline of philosophy more generally so we especially encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply.

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more

There are two primary contact points with this vacancy:

• Matthew Dennis (TU/e). Joint daily ESDiT supervisor ()
• Gunter Bombaerts (TU/e). Joint daily ESDiT supervisor ().

Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact HR (IE&IS) for application information: or.
Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e Please visit our career page.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application using the apply-button. We cannot accept any other means of application.

The application deadline is May 30th.Initial interviews will be scheduled in June (and may be conducted online); a second round is likely to be scheduled early July.

The application should include:

• A covering letter discussing precisely what interests you about this position how your background prepares you to carry out your proposed research plan and any information about your circumstances relevant to assessing your suitability for the position.
• A curriculum vitae including a list of your publications. Please include at the end the names and contact details of two referees whom we may contact.
• A research plan indicating how you propose to approach the research question posed in this description of the vacancy (no more than 750 words).
• A key relevant publication that you are the primary author of (max. 20 pages you may also include selections from larger work).
• Course evaluations from teaching (if you have any).

Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. Please note that incomplete applications may not be considered and could be rejected.

We give priority to complete applications.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.

Please note

• Please note that there are other vacancies in the Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies programme at different participating case several are of interest to you we want to encourage you to apply to them simultaneously.
• We greatly value harnessing research to create societal impact. Please include a brief note on how you plan to integrate activating impact through your research if you are accepted for interview for this position.
• You must apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.