PhD in Philosophy of Digital Technology

Digital technologies are used more and more in society. Not only does this bring great opportunities, they also present us with serious philosophical challenges. Fundamental values, such as social justice, political freedom, sustainability, privacy, transparency, accountability and explainability need to be maintained in the deployment of these technologies yet the specification of these high-level values in more concrete requirements has proven to be difficult. The goal of this PhD position is to contribute to the philosophical reflection on these digital technologies as part of the TU Delft Digital Ethics Centre.

The precise focus of the research is up to the PhD candidate but is expected to fit in with the research lines of the Digital Ethics Centre below and on the website: tudelft.nl/digitalethics. Here TU Delft's world-leading expertise on the operationalization of ethics in digital technology is bundled in both theoretical research and applied projects with large societal stakeholders such as the UWV.

The theoretical research to which the PhD candidate would contribute is organised along three main research lines (described in more detail at tudelft.nl/digitalethics):

(1) Methodology. This includes research on Design for Values, the nature of values, the use of conceptual engineering in the specification of values, and the embedding and assessment of values in concrete digital technologies

(2) Moral Values. This covers a broad range of ethical issues related to digital technologies, such as accountability, autonomy, democracy, fairness and manipulation. It also looks at the alteration of human relations by digital technologies (such as social media platforms) and the ethical implications of these changes.

(3) Epistemic Values. Here values such as trustworthiness, transparency and explainabillity are investigated to set standards on what information is needed to responsibly use, evaluate and overrule digital technologies.

Applicants are free to choose a research area of interest, that links to their current expertise.

The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Prof. dr. Jeroen van den Hoven (promotor) and an assistant or associate professor at the TU Delft Digital Ethics Centre (daily supervisor), to be determined based on the research interests of the successful candidate. In addition, you will be part of the 4TU.Ethics Centre and the TPM Graduate School.

You will have completed, prior to appointment, a Master's degree or equivalent degree in philosophy. An affinity to digital technology is considered during the selection process, and background knowledge in digital technology would be ideal. The core requirement for the position is, however, a strong profile in philosophy. In addition, we look for:

• Strong conceptual and analytic skills
• You have the capacity to work across disciplinary boundaries.
• Relative to experience, you have excellent research skills and excellent academic writing and presentation skills.
• You can work both independently and as part of a team.
• You have a high level of proficiency in English.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details, please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements .

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2541 per month in the first year to € 3247 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

With its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy, the Faculty of TPM makes an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. We combine insights from the engineering sciences, the social and the humanities. We develop robust models and designs, are internationally oriented and have an extensive network with knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Stefan Buijsman, [email protected]

For more information about the application procedure, please contact Olivie Beek, HR advisor, [email protected]

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before 15 January 2023 via the application button.

Applications should include a current CV of the applicant, as well as a statement of interest in the position and in working with the TU Delft Digital Ethics Centre.

Furthermore, a short research statement (no more than a page) may detail the work the applicant has already done with ethics of technology, AI ethics or other fields related to the research at the TU Delft Digital Ethics Centre. 

Please note:

• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Contact by recruitment agencies is not appreciated.

Digital technologies are used more and more in society. Not only does this bring great opportunities, they also present us with serious philosophical challenges. Fundamental values, such as social justice, political freedom, sustainability, privacy, transparency, accountability and explainability need to be maintained in the deployment of these technologies yet the specification of these high-level values in more concrete requirements has proven to be difficult. The goal of this PhD position is to contribute to the philosophical reflection on these digital technologies as part of the TU Delft Digital Ethics Centre.

The precise focus of the research is up to the PhD candidate but is expected to fit in with the research lines of the Digital Ethics Centre below and on the website: tudelft.nl/digitalethics. Here TU Delft's world-leading expertise on the operationalization of ethics in digital technology is bundled in both theoretical research and applied projects with large societal stakeholders such as the UWV.

The theoretical research to which the PhD candidate would contribute is organised along three main research lines (described in more detail at tudelft.nl/digitalethics):

(1) Methodology. This includes research on Design for Values, the nature of values, the use of conceptual engineering in the specification of values, and the embedding and assessment of values in concrete digital technologies

(2) Moral Values. This covers a broad range of ethical issues related to digital technologies, such as accountability, autonomy, democracy, fairness and manipulation. It also looks at the alteration of human relations by digital technologies (such as social media platforms) and the ethical implications of these changes.

(3) Epistemic Values. Here values such as trustworthiness, transparency and explainabillity are investigated to set standards on what information is needed to responsibly use, evaluate and overrule digital technologies.

Applicants are free to choose a research area of interest, that links to their current expertise.

The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Prof. dr. Jeroen van den Hoven (promotor) and an assistant or associate professor at the TU Delft Digital Ethics Centre (daily supervisor), to be determined based on the research interests of the successful candidate. In addition, you will be part of the 4TU.Ethics Centre and the TPM Graduate School.

You will have completed, prior to appointment, a Master's degree or equivalent degree in philosophy. An affinity to digital technology is considered during the selection process, and background knowledge in digital technology would be ideal. The core requirement for the position is, however, a strong profile in philosophy. In addition, we look for:

• Strong conceptual and analytic skills
• You have the capacity to work across disciplinary boundaries.
• Relative to experience, you have excellent research skills and excellent academic writing and presentation skills.
• You can work both independently and as part of a team.
• You have a high level of proficiency in English.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details, please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements .

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2541 per month in the first year to € 3247 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

With its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy, the Faculty of TPM makes an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. We combine insights from the engineering sciences, the social and the humanities. We develop robust models and designs, are internationally oriented and have an extensive network with knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Stefan Buijsman, [email protected]

For more information about the application procedure, please contact Olivie Beek, HR advisor, [email protected]

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before 15 January 2023 via the application button.

Applications should include a current CV of the applicant, as well as a statement of interest in the position and in working with the TU Delft Digital Ethics Centre.

Furthermore, a short research statement (no more than a page) may detail the work the applicant has already done with ethics of technology, AI ethics or other fields related to the research at the TU Delft Digital Ethics Centre. 

Please note:

• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Contact by recruitment agencies is not appreciated.