PhD ESPhil

Introduction

Erasmus School of Philosophy (ESPhil) seeks to appoint a doctoral researcher with expertise in the area of philosophy of technology/science and history of philosophy, and with a research interest in artificial intelligence. The researcher will conduct research in the context of the sub-project “Epistemologies of Automation” of the NWO funded project “Epistemologies and Political Economy of Automation” led by Prof. Dr. Yuk Hui. The sub-project is oriented around the following questions 1) How has the concept of intelligence historically related to the figure of the machine in philosophical thought? 2) What epistemological assumptions and obstacles have shaped the development of AI since the mid-20th century? 3) How might re-situating AI within a broader philosophical history inform its future development and critique? 

Job description

The successful candidate will be supposed to:

• Develop and carry out original research within the scope of the project, with the aim of producing high-quality scholarly outputs over the course of the PhD
• Engage with academic and societal partners, contributing to the development of international and interdisciplinary networks
• Participate in the organisation of conferences, workshops, and other project-related events
• Share research findings with a range of audiences, including at academic conferences and, where appropriate, through public or non-academic channels
• Contribute to teaching activities, with opportunities to develop skills in inclusive and student-centered approaches

Job requirements

We are looking for a candidate who brings: 

·  A master’s degree in philosophy or a related discipline, or equivalent experience, with knowledge of areas such as the history of philosophy, philosophy of science, and/or philosophy of technology 

·  An interest in topics such as automation, artificial intelligence, and robotics 

·  Experience or demonstrated potential to conduct research that combines academic quality with societal relevance (this may include publications, projects, public engagement, or other contributions) 

·  An interest in contributing to both philosophical and interdisciplinary teaching, with a commitment to inclusive and student-centered learning environments 

·  The ability to collaborate effectively with others, communicate across disciplines, and contribute to a supportive and respectful team culture

Employment conditions and benefits

We offer you an internationally oriented and varied job in an enthusiastic team, with excellent working conditions in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU).

The start date of this position is 01-SEP-2026 and you will be based at Campus Woudestein in Erasmus School of Philosophy (ESPhil). This position is for 0.8 fte - 1.0 fte. The salary starts at € 3.059 (P-scale), based on a fulltime contract. The contract is entered into for the duration of 18 months and can be extended to 4 years (48 months).

Everything else we offer you; you can find below!

- Everything you need for a good work-life balance: the option to work from home in consultation with your manager, 41 days of paid leave with a 40 hour contract, 8% holiday pay and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a significant discount on a subscription for our on-campus sports centre!

- Sustainable, inclusive and diverse work environment with an open culture, where you can be yourself and we pay attention to each other and to the world around us. Make the most of our bicycle budget, or join networks such as Young@EUR, FAME or QuEUR.

- Time and space for your development in the broadest sense: development days and a personal career budget and free access to our university library.

- Good pension with ABP that EUR contributes 2/3rds towards, discounts on various collective insurances with Zilveren Kruis Achmea, Loyalis, and Allianz, and compensation for travel, working from home and home internet use.

- Are you currently combining your job with parenthood, or do you want to do so in the future? EUR offers partially paid parental leave and fully paid additional birth leave for partners, and our campus features a daycare (daycare not paid for by EUR).

- Moving to the Netherlands for your job with EUR? Then you may be eligible for the Expat-ruling if you meet the requirements of the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax agency), and with our Dual Career Programme we will also help your partner find the right job for them.

Employer

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its education and research, as expressed in our mission ‘Creating positive societal impact’. EUR is home to 4.100 academics and professionals and almost 33.000 students from more than 140 countries. Everything we do, we do under the credo The Erasmian Way – Making Minds Matter. We’re global citizens, connecting, entrepreneurial, open-minded, and socially involved. These Erasmian Values function as our internal compass and create EUR’s distinctive and recognizable profile. From these values, with a broad perspective and with an eye for diversity, different backgrounds and opinions, our employees work closely together to solve societal challenges from the dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. Thanks to the high quality and positive societal impact of our research and education, EUR can compete with the top European universities. www.eur.nl.

Faculty / Institute / Central service

Erasmus School of Philosophy (ESPhil) is a leading research and teaching institution in the Netherlands. The faculty has a broad international orientation, with many international students and staff members and strong connections with universities abroad. Our research programs are internationally leading in our field. We offer two Master programs (the Master program Philosophy Now and the Research Master Philosophy and Economics) and two Bachelor programs (the BA Philosophy and the Philosophy of a Specific Discipline (second degree) program. Guided by dedicated lecturers, students delve into philosophical topics ranging from philosophy of early Enlightenment up to post-modern continental philosophy, from ethics to philosophy of science and metaphysics. Our curriculum is emphatically involved with the current philosophical and societal debates. Human conditions (addressing socio-cultural and technology-driven transitions via engaged reflection) is one of our collaborative research themes.

Group

Epistemologies and Political Economy of Automation is a 5-year research project funded by the NWO led by Prof. Dr. Yuk Hui. The research project is hosted by the Erasmus Institute for Philosophy and Technology of ESPhil.

Inquiry: Dr. Milan Stürmer (sturmer@esphil.eur.nl ) 

Applying

Please submit your application, consisting of a motivation letter, writing sample and CV, before the vacancy closing date.

If you have any questions about the vacancy, please contact Dr. Milan Sturmer (sturmer@esphil.eur.nl).   

You can find more information about the EUR on our website www.eur.nl. 

We look forward to receiving your application.

Persons of all gender identities or expressions, sexual orientations, religions, ethnicities, ages, neurodiversities, functional impairments, citizenships, or any other aspect are welcome to apply and join the EUR community.