AdresseEmployment 0.8 - 1.0 FTE
Gross monthly salary € 2,770 - € 3,539
Required background Research University Degree
Organizational unit Faculty of Science
Application deadline 19 March 2024
Are you enthusiastic about the Philosophy of Physics? Then this is a great opportunity for you! You will conduct exciting research at the intersection of the Philosophy of Physics and general Philosophy of science embedded in both the Institute for Science in Society (ISiS) and the new Radboud Center for Natural Philosophy (RCNP) of Radboud University.
You will conduct exciting research at the intersection of the Philosophy of Physics and general Philosophy of science. More specifically, you will work on one or more of the following philosophical issues with regard to effective (field) theories in physics: models and representation, fundamentality and emergence, realism, and explanation and understanding. The project will be supervised by Dr Kian Salimkhani, with Prof. Henk de Regt and Prof. Klaas Landsman as official thesis advisors, and is embedded in both the Institute for Science in Society (ISiS) and the new Radboud Center for Natural Philosophy (RCNP) of Radboud University. As a member of both ISiS and RCNP, you will work in an interdisciplinary team and collaborate with philosophers, historians, social scientists, and natural scientists.
Your daily activities will consist mainly of conducting research in the Philosophy of Physics and general Philosophy of science. Further, you will participate in seminars, reading clubs and group activities organised by ISiS and RCNP. You will engage with the literature on the Philosophy of Physics and analyse physics publications and the practice of Physics more generally from a philosophical perspective. Based on your abilities in both physics and philosophy, you will study and discuss philosophical and foundational problems in physics, especially relating to quantum (field) theory, general relativity, and statistical physics/thermodynamics. In particular, the philosophical research should be informed and advanced by at least one of these fields and potentially also inform and advance future physics research in these fields. Collaboration with other PhD candidates and faculty members will be encouraged. You will be part of a strong and coherent national and international network of researchers. The position includes funding for travelling to international conferences and visiting collaborators worldwide.
You will be expected to write a PhD thesis, eventually publish first-author papers, and present your work at international conferences and workshops. You will collaborate closely with a postdoctoral researcher in the same project. Part of your workload will consist of teaching activities at our institute and assisting staff members in their courses at the BSc and/or MSc level (about 0.1 FTE).
Profile
- You preferably hold (or are on track to obtain) Master's degrees in Philosophy and either physics or mathematics (with at least a physics minor). Strong candidates with one relevant Master's in one field and one relevant Bachelor's degree in the other might also be considered. Further academic qualifications in Philosophy and history or physics are an advantage.
- You have a demonstrable interest in the mission of the Radboud Center for Natural Philosophy to improve ties between mathematics, physics, and the history and Philosophy of science.
- You have a demonstrable interest in the mission of the Institute for Science in Society to analyse, assess, and improve the societal embedding of science.
- You are communicative, curious, critical, enthusiastic, proactive, and willing to learn.
- You are willing and able to work in a team as well as independently.
- You possess excellent written and oral English communication skills.
We are
You will be part of the Institute for Science in Society (ISiS) at Radboud University (Nijmegen, Netherlands). ISiS is an interdisciplinary research institute within the Faculty of Science, whose aim is to encourage the societal and philosophical reflection on science through dialogue and collaboration between the various research institutes of the faculty. Its mission is to analyse, assess and improve the societal embedding of new developments in science and technology through research, education and outreach, and to understand how society is shaping science and vice versa. ISiS hosts approximately 20 PhD candidates, who together organise several academic (PhD colloquium, reading groups) and social activities. Take a look here to learn more about the research performed at the institute.
Your research will also be embedded in the new Radboud Center for Natural Philosophy, created by 2022 Spinoza Prize laureate Klaas Landsman. RCNP is a forum for the exchange of ideas across mathematical physics, theoretical physics, the Philosophy of science, and the history of science. Its general research focus is on determinism, randomness and emergence in modern physics. The members of RCNP include Klaas Landsman, Henk de Regt, Marij van Strien, Kian Salimkhani and Manus Visser, and at least two other PhD candidates.
PhD candidates at Radboud University are given plenty of opportunities for continuous development and strong support both during their PhDs and afterwards (to find a job in academia or industry). See here for more information. Moreover, the PhD Organisation Nijmegen (PON) organises educational and social activities, focusing in particular on the wellbeing of PhD candidates.
Nijmegen is the oldest city in the Netherlands and students form a large part of its population: old city, young vibe (see here). In a recent article, the BBC called it 'the progressive city that few know'. It was awarded the title of European Green Capital in 2018 (see here ).
Nijmegen offers plenty of events during the year (e.g. the InScience Film Festival, the 4Days Marches, concerts and art events) The rural areas surrounding Nijmegen offer various opportunities for outdoor recreation. The city also has the advantage of being close to international airports (Schiphol, Eindhoven).
Radboud University
At Radboud University, we aim to make an impact through our work. We achieve this by conducting groundbreaking research, providing high-quality education, offering excellent support, and fostering collaborations within and outside the university. In doing so, we contribute indispensably to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. To accomplish this, we need even more colleagues who, based on their expertise, are willing to search for answers. We advocate for an inclusive community and welcome employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. Will you also contribute to making the world a little better? You have a part to play.
If you want to learn more about working at Radboud University, follow our Instagram account and read stories from our colleagues.
We offer
- Employment for 0.8 (5 year contract) - 1.0 FTE (4 year contract).
- The gross starting salary amounts to €2,770 per month based on a 38-hour working week, and will increase to €3,539 from the fourth year onwards (salary scale P).
- You will receive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
- You will be employed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract) or 3.5 years (5 year contract).
- You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Care Services. Our Dual Career and Family Care Officer can assist you with family-related support, help your partner or spouse prepare for the local labour market, provide customized support in their search for employment and help your family settle in Nijmegen.
- Working for us means getting extra days off. In case of full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the legally allotted 20.
Additional employment conditions
Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.
Would you like more information?
For questions about the position, please contact Kian Salimkhani, Assistant Professor at kian.salimkhani@ru.nl. Alternatively, you can contact Henk de Regt, Professor at henk.deregt@ru.nl.
Practical information and applying
You can apply until 19 March 2024, exclusively using the button below. Kindly address your application to Kian Salimkhani. Please fill in the application form and attach the following documents:
- A letter of motivation describing your background in the Philosophy of Physics and Philosophy of science and/or metaphysics and your intended research project.
- Your CV including the contact details and email address of two academic references (one being your Master's thesis supervisor).
- A transcript of grades (showing the grades you achieved for your Bachelor's and Master's degree courses).
- An abstract of your Master's thesis (even if it is not yet completed).
The first round of interview will take place in week 14. You would preferably begin employment on 1 September 2024.
We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure. It offers a rough outline of what you can expect during the application process, how we handle your personal data and how we deal with internal and external candidates. If you wish to apply for a non-scientific position with a non-EU nationality, please take notice of the following information.
