[Netherlands] PhD project at The University of Twente
PhD project “Cultural, Political and Religious Ideologies and the Appraisal of New Mediaâ€
The University of Twente is an entrepreneurial research university, located in Enschede, the Netherlands. Distributed over 5 faculties, the UT offers 20 educational programmes ranging from applied physics and public administration to communication studies and biomedical technology.
Research takes place within the context of institutes and focuses, among other things, on nanotechnology, information and communication technology, biomedical technology, policy studies, human behaviour, and mechanics, processes and control.
More than 7,500 students and 2,700 staff members live, work and recreate at the UT, the Netherlands’ only campus university.
The Faculty of Behavioural Sciences offers the following Bachelor programmes: Educational Design, Media and Management (EDMM), Communication Studies (TCW) and Psychology (PSY), the following Master programmes: Educational Science and Technology (EST), Philosophy of Science, Technology and Society (PSTS), Communication Studies (CS), Psychology (PSY) a Research Master and two Masters for Teachers.
Most of the faculty’s research is carried out within the Institute for Behavioral Research (IBR), and focuses on the themes Health and Safety, Labor and Organization, Knowledge and Education and Communication and Media. Furthermore, research is carried out within the Biomedical Institute (BMTI) and the Institute for Information and Communication Technology (CTIT).
One of departments of the Faculty is the Department of Philosophy, which specializes in research in philosophy of technology, and includes the Centre for Philosophy of Technology and Engineering Science (CEPTES). The department also participates centrally in the 3TU.Centre for Ethics and Technology.
The Department of Philosophy of the University of Twente in the Netherlands is looking for a
Ph.D. Student (M/F, fulltime) For the project “Cultural, Political and Religious Ideologiesand the Appraisal of New Mediaâ€
The PhD position is part of a prestigious and exciting international research project in philosophy named “Evaluating the Cultural Quality of New Mediaâ€. This five-year project, which includes six researchers and involves collaboration with leading international scholars and research centres, has as its aim to develop a framework for better normative analyses of new media and new media culture, especially in relation to their contribution to the quality of life (“the good lifeâ€) and the quality of society. Project leader is Prof. Dr. Philip Brey. The project is part of a new international Centre of Excellence in Ethics and Technology (http://www.ethicsandtechnology.eu) of the departments of philosophy of Twente University, Delft University of Technology and Eindhoven University of Technology.
Tasks
The aim of the PhD project is to perform a study of interpretations and evaluations of new media and their consequences that are made by representatives of major ideologies or worldviews, with the aim of assessing how they relate to conceptions of the good life and the good society held by these ideologies. It will involve a study of liberal, communitarian, conservative, religious and post materialist evaluations of new media, and will try to assess how the benefits and harms of new media cultures are and can be evaluated within these ideologies. It will also provide normative critiques of current ideological stances regarding new media.
Profile
A Master’s degree or equivalent degree in philosophy, preferably with a background in ethics and/or social or political philosophy.
Consideration will also be given to candidates with a multidisciplinary Master’s degree on a topic relevant to the project and some background in philosophy, and to exceptional (international) candidates with only a bachelor’s degree in philosophy.
Demonstrable interest in philosophical issues relating to information technology and new media (but previous work in this area not required). Good analytical skills. Good communication skills in English, in writing as well as orally. Good team spirit. Creativity, open-mindedness, and an ability to develop new ideas.
Offer
A four-year full-time Ph.D. position, preferably starting April 1, 2008. The gross salary is € 2.000,- in the first year going up to € 2.558,- in the fourth year (€ 27.456,- and € 35.699,- per annum, respectively, including vacation pay and end-of-year bonus). The position also comes with a personal budget of € 8.000,- for travel and conference attendance.
Information and application
A description of the PhD project, the overall project of which it is a part and a FAQ can be retrieved from http://www.ceptes.nl/vici. Applicants are advised to read these texts before applying. For questions not answered on the website please contact the project leader, Prof. dr. Philip Brey (e-mail: p.a.e.brey@utwente.nl).
Your application should contain the following documents: a letter of application which explains your interest in the position and your qualifications for it, as well as some suggestions on how you would want to approach the project you apply for; a curriculum vitae which includes the name and e-mail address/telephone number of one of your professors, preferably the supervisor of your master’s thesis; a copy of your thesis; copies of publications, if any; an academic transcript that contains a list of subjects taken and grades received (this may be an unofficial version or scanned copy; we can request the original later).
Your application can be sent before March 7, 2008 by e-mail (preferred) or by normal post to
dr. ir. J.F.C. Verberne
(e-mail: pz-gw@gw.utwente.nl),
managing director of the Faculty of Behavioural Sciences,
University of Twente,
PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede,
the Netherlands.
Vacancy number: 08/035.
Job interviews will be held on March 13 and/or 14, 2008. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.
