PhD position on the Ethics of Neurotechnology

Do you (almost) have a Master’s degree in Philosophy and affinity with neuroethics? Do you want to conduct research on the ethics of applying neurotechnology within the criminal justice system to reduce recidivism? Please apply for this PhD position at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU).

Location: AMSTERDAM
FTE: 1

The PhD position in the Department of Philosophy at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam will be on the ethics of applying neurotechnology within the criminal justice system to reduce recidivism.

This position is part of the Dutch Research Foundation (NWO) Vici project Targeting the offender's brain. A unified normative framework for the evaluation of neurotechniques in criminal justice. This project consists of closely connected ethical and legal subprojects.

Topic
Crime comes with enormous costs. Society therefore deems it essential to reduce rates of recidivism. One way to do this is to target the offender’s brain, for example, by offering medication that diminishes sexual drive to sex offenders. Additionally, brain scans have been used to assess risk of recidivism. It is expected that in the near future, brain technologies will improve – if not revolutionize – prediction and prevention of recidivism. But such brain-targeting approaches raise fundamental ethical concerns, e.g., about the offender's autonomy, bodily integrity, and privacy. For instance, would it be permissible to offer parole to offenders in exchange for accepting deep brain stimulation to reduce aggression?
The aim of this Vici project is to develop a framework that allows for the systematic normative appraisal of these neurotechniques to reduce recidivism. The PhD-project will contribute to this framework, focusing especially on autonomy, dignity, and identity. This ethical subproject will be carried out in close collaboration with other, ethical and legal, subprojects within the Vici project.

The supervisors will be Prof. Gerben Meynen (Ethics, Philosophy VU Amsterdam) and Prof. Thomas Douglas (Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Oxford). The project will be embedded in the research group Moral and Political Philosophy, Philosophy, VU Amsterdam. There may be an opportunity to make an extended visit to the Oxford Uehiro Centre during the period of the project.

Your duties

• conduct research on the project’s topic, resulting in a PhD dissertation and journal publications
• participate in the research activities of the Ethics group (and related national and international events)
• participate in the research activities of the Vici group (and related national and international events)
• participate in the teaching activities of the Ethics group (max. 10% of your time), and attain a University Teaching Qualification
• participate in the VU PhD training program

• a Master’s or Research Master’s degree in Philosophy or can be expected to obtain it in this academic year. We will also consider outstanding candidates with degrees in related fields
• a promising academic profile and affinity with neuroethics, as shown in grade transcripts, final thesis, and curriculum vitae
• motivated and able to work in an interdisciplinary team
• excellent spoken and written English as well as strong academic writing skills

A challenging position in a socially involved organization. The salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel and amounts € 2,395 (PhD) per month during the first year and increases to € 3,061 (PhD) per month during the fourth year, based on a full-time employment. The job profile: is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for 1 FTE.

The appointment will initially be for 1 year. After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract will be extended for a total duration of 4 years.
Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavor – from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 26,000 students. We employ over 4,600 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

Faculty of Humanities
The Faculty of Humanities links a number of fields of study: Language, Literature and Communication, Art & Culture, History, Antiquities and Philosophy. Our teaching and research focus on current societal and scientific themes: from artificial intelligence to visual culture, from urbanization to the history of slavery, from ‘fake news’ in journalism to communication in organizations. We strive to ensure small group sizes. Innovative education and interdisciplinary research are our hallmarks.

Working at the Faculty of Humanities means making a real contribution to the quality of leading education and research in an inspiring and personal work and study climate. We employ more than 250 staff members, and we are home to around 1,300 students.

The Department of Philosophy, which is one of three departments of the Faculty of Humanities, is a vibrant and international community of philosophers committed to high-quality teaching and research.

Are you interested in this position? If so, please apply via the application button and upload:

• Your curriculum vitae (with grade transcripts)
• A cover letter, which describes your motivation and qualifications
• The names and email addresses of two academic referees who may be approached for references.

Deadline application: August 1, 2021

Vacancy questions
If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, you may contact:

Prof. dr. Gerben Meynen
E-mail: [email protected]

No agencies