4 positions: New Technologies as Social Experiments
More information in this project_description.pdf.
For the NWO VICI project New Technologies as Social Experiments: Conditions for Morally Responsible Experimentation’ four job openings have opened up: three for PHD students and one for a postdoc.
The deadline for application is October, 15.
Technology, Policy and Management
The Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management contributes to sustainable solutions for technical challenges in society by combining the insights from engineering with the humanities and the social sciences.
The Department of Values and Technology has a research focus on public value issues related to engineering, technology and applied science. It undertakes studies and activities concerned with the description, explanation, design and regulation of socio-technical systems, infrastructures and technologies.
The Philosophy section provides teaching and research in the philosophy of technology. Research and education are focused on the philosophical implications of new technology and its impact on society. Themes within the section are ethics, technology and the philosophical and methodological aspects of technology. Research will be conducted within the 3TU Centre for Ethics and Technology, in which the section participates. This Centre is one of six Centres of Excellence of the three universities of technology in the Netherlands (Delft, Eindhoven and Twente). The Centres mission is to carry out high-quality research into ethics and technology.
Job description
Delft University of Technology has three open positions for PhD students as part of the research project ‘New Technologies as Social Experiments: Conditions for Morally Responsible Experimentation’. The entire project consists of 3 PhD positions and a post-doc position and will be supervised by Dr. Ibo van de Poel. Each of the positions focuses on one of the following technological domains:
* Nuclear energy technology
* Biotechnology
* Nanotechnology
Each of the PhD projects specifies and sets the conditions for responsible experimentation for that technological domain. Each project will consist of two specific case studies and a further theoretical development of the notion of social experimentation adapted to that domain. The project will combine conceptual, ethical and empirical investigations.
The candidate will carry out doctoral research leading to a dissertation and will produce relevant publications. The candidate will participate in the PhD programme of the 3TU Centre for Ethics and Technology. More information on this program can be found at: http://www.ethicsandtechnology.eu/teaching/phdprogram.
One of the positions may possibly be converted into a 3-year post-doc project, so people with a PhD may also apply for these positions.
The candidate will also be involved in the department’s teaching activities.
Conditions of employment
TU Delft offers an attractive benefits package, including a flexible work week, free high-speed Internet access from home, and the option of assembling a customised compensation and benefits package (the ‘IKA’). Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
Information and application
For more information about this position or to apply, please contact Dr. Ibo van de Poel, phone: +31 (0)15-2784716, email: . To apply, please e-mail a detailed CV along with a letter of application by 15 October 2011.
When applying for this position, please refer to vacancy number ATTBM11-010.
Requirements
A master degree in philosophy, engineering or a relevant socio-scientific discipline, like STS (science and technology studies).
A demonstrable interest in applied ethics and in technology.
It is recommended that the candidate has had experience in carrying out empirical research and has knowledge of the relevant technological domain studied in the PhD project.
Good analytical and reasoning skills, as demonstrated by, for example, a master thesis
Willingness and ability to work in an interdisciplinary team
Ability to present his or her ideas clearly also to people with another disciplinary background
Openness to criticism
Productive and dedicated
Good command of both written and spoken English
Engels—Faculty/department Technology, Policy and Management
Leve PhD
Max. employment 38 hours per week (1 FTE)
Duration of contract 4 years
Salary scale 2,042 to 2,612 per month gross
Technology, Policy and Management
The Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management contributes to sustainable solutions for technical challenges in society by combining the insights from engineering with the humanities and the social sciences.
The Department of Values and Technology has a research focus on public value issues related to engineering, technology and applied science. It undertakes studies and activities concerned with the description, explanation, design and regulation of socio-technical systems, infrastratures and technologies.
The Philosophy section provides teaching and research in the philosophy of technology. Research and education are focused on the philosophical implications of new technology and its impact on society. Themes within the section are ethics, technology and the philosophical and methodological aspects of technology. Research will be conducted within the 3TU Centre for Ethics and Technology, in which the section participates. This Centre is one of six Centres of Excellence of the three universities of technology in the Netherlands (Delft, Eindhoven and Twente). The Centres mission is to carry out high-quality research into ethics and technology. For further information please see http://www.ethicsandtechnology.eu.
Job description
Delft University of Technology offers a post-doc position as part of the research project ‘New Technologies as Social Experiments: Conditions for Morally Responsible Experimentation’. The entire project consists of 3 PhD positions and a post-doc position and will be supervised by Dr. Ibo van de Poel. A complete description of the project can be requested or viewed at: http://www.ethicsandtechnology.eu.
The key objective of this research project is to investigate the implications of adopting a conceptualisation of technological development as a social experiment for the regulation and governance of technological hazards. The project will have three phases:
In phase 1, a literature study will be carried out on dilemmas of regulation under uncertainty and ignorance, and on strategies for dealing with these dilemmas and challenges.
In phase 2, the conditions for responsible experimentation that have been proposed in the other projects will be evaluated for their feasibility and adequacy by comparing them with the strategies proposed in the literature and with the opinions of experts and stakeholders.
In phase 3, the implications for hazard regulation and governance will be investigated.
The candidate will also be involved in the department’s teaching activities.
Requirements
Applicants should have the following qualifications:
A PhD in philosophy, law or STS, preferably in a topic related to the research project
A demonstrable interest in applied ethics and the regulation and governance of technology
Relevant knowledge about the regulation or governance of emerging technologies
Good analytical and reasoning skills, as demonstrated by earlier publications
Willingness and ability to work in an interdisciplinary team
Ability to present his or her ideas clearly, including to people with another disciplinary background
Openness to criticism
Productivity and dedication, as witnessed by earlier publications and successful research projects
Good command of both written and spoken English
Conditions of employment
TU Delft offers an attractive benefits package, including a flexible work week, free high-speed Internet access from home, and the option of assembling a customised compensation and benefits package (the ‘IKA’). Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
Information and application
For more information about this position or to apply, please contact Dr. Ibo van de Poel, phone: +31 (0)15-2784716, email: . To apply, please e-mail a detailed CV along with a letter of application by 15 October 2011.
When applying for this position, please refer to vacancy number ATTBM11-011.
