Postdoc Position in Political Philosophy

9 Feb 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Utrecht University

Research Field

Cultural studies

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Country

Netherlands

Application Deadline

4 Mar 2024 - 22:59 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Not Applicable

Hours Per Week

40.0

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

We are looking to hire three postdocs in political philosophy (or closely related fields) who want to contribute to the Visions of the Future project.

Your job
The Visions of the Future project aims to provide a systematic normative assessment of the different alternative socio-economic systems that have been proposed to replace neoliberal capitalism. Some well-known proposals are property-owning democracy, the doughnut economy, the well-being economy, models of sustainable prosperity, democratic socialism, as well as some more partial proposals, such as a universal basic income or workplace democracy. These proposals stem from a variety of disciplines – including normative political philosophy, economic sociology, and ecological economics. The goal of the Visions of the Future project is to provide a normative audit of these proposals, by analysing how much they enhance public values and fulfill moral principles, as well as which feasibility constraints they face. The project is funded by a VICI grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) and runs from September 2023 until September 2028.

The project team will consist of Professor Ingrid Robeyns (project leader) and the three postdocs whom we are now seeking to hire. There are no predetermined subprojects for each of the postdoc positions. Instead, the entire team will together decide, in scholarly deliberation, what the most fruitful comparisons to focus on would be. That implies that the Visions of the Future project also wants to engage (at least in part) with a more collaborative form of doing political philosophy. Prospective candidates can obtain the project outline by contacting Ingrid Robeyns at [email protected] .

Requirements
Specific Requirements

We are looking for creative and analytically strong scholars in normative political philosophy or related disciplines. Since the research of the Visions for the Future project will in part be interdisciplinary, a proven interest in interdisciplinary questions and skills in integrating empirical research are a must for this project. Ideally, the candidate has done prior research (e.g in their PhD dissertation) on a topic related to the Visions for the Future project, in particular engaged in normative institutional analysis and used value-pluralistic and empirically grounded methods of political philosophy.

Candidates should have finished all work for their PhD degree before they start the job (whether this means one has had the defense or not, and whether one has the degree or not, depends on the system/country in which one did their PhD degree). Only candidates who know they can meet those conditions by September 2024 should apply. In case of doubt, please contact Ingrid Robeyns. If you do not already have your PhD degree awarded, please explain the timeline in your motivation letter.

Additional Information
Benefits

We offer:

• a postdoc position for 12 months starting 1 September 2024 or, by mutual agreement, shortly thereafter. After a positive evaluation the contract will be extended for the remaining period of 24 months (3 years in total);
• a working week of 38 hours and a gross monthly salary between € 3.226,- and € 5.090,- in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 10 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU);
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development , leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities , as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University .

Selection process

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute. Applicants from backgrounds currently underrepresented in philosophy are strongly encouraged to apply.

To apply, please send your application via the ‘apply now’ button. Your application should consist of 2 PDFs, which should include the following documents.

The first PDF should include:

• a motivation letter outlining your interest in the position and your suitability (max. 2 pages);
• a statement which particular dimension of the Visions for the future project you would be interested to develop;
• your curriculum vitae, including full personal and academic details;
• names and contact details of two academic referees, who might be contacted for shortlisted candidates.

The second PDF should be a paper-length writing sample, in English, that is representative of your research. This could be a chapter of your PhD dissertation, or a (draft) article, or something else that you think provides evidence of your suitability for the position.

Candidates who are selected for an interview will receive notice by Friday 17 March. The first round of online interviews will take place between 19 and 22 March. A second round of interviews, ideally on-site in Utrecht, will be conducted on 10 April, or, if the circumstances of the candidate require it, as soon as possible afterwards.

Additional comments

For more information, please contact Professor Ingrid Robeyns at ([email protected] ).

Please note that international candidates that need a visa/work permit for The Netherlands require at least four months processing time after selection and acceptance. Our International Service Desk (ISD) can answer your questions about living in the Netherlands as international staff . Finding appropriate housing in or near Utrecht is your own responsibility, but the ISD may be able to advise you therewith. In case of general questions about working and living in The Netherlands, please consult the Dutch Mobility Portal .

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

Website for additional job details

https://www.academictransfer.com/337583/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

3

Company/Institute

Universiteit Utrecht

Country

Netherlands

City

Utrecht

Postal Code

3512BL

Street

Janskerkhof 13

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.academictransfer.com/en/337583/postdoc-position-in-political-philos…

Contact

City

Utrecht

Website

http://www.uu.nl/

Street

Domplein 29

Postal Code

3512 JE

STATUS: EXPIRED