Post doctoral position Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies (EXPIRED)

As part of the inter-university research consortium, "Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies (ESDiT)" the Human-Technology Interaction group of Eindhoven University of Technology is looking to hire a postdoc for a three-year project on “A qualitative investigation of STEM perspectives on relevant ethical knowledge, concerns, and practices associated with socially disruptive technologies.”

The aim of this postdoc project is to perform a multi-method empirical investigation and philosophical analysis of the ethical practices and mechanisms (e.g., safeguards, guidelines) employed by current scientific thought leaders in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields, CEOs, entrepreneurs and technical experts in relevant high-tech/biotech industries in order to create ethical awareness, assess ethical drivers and barriers, and raise ethical concerns. This includes the current form of ethical knowledge within high-tech environments, the role that ethical considerations play in pursuing, altering or discontinuing certain technological pursuits, and the extent to which ethical notions, considerations and practices are impacting current and future technology R&D, including the societal introduction and use of high-tech products and services. There will be a special emphasis on the extent to which currently used ethical concepts, methods and recommendations connect well with the practices in STEM industry and policy regarding the disruptive or transformative potential and actual effects of technology.

The postdoc will pursue independent research that engages these topics in a way that supports key research goals of the ESDiT consortium. This will involve cooperation with STEM representatives from inside and outside the ESDiT consortium, as well as cooperation with the other concurrent postdoc projects in the consortium, which are devoted to (1) distinguishing characteristics of socially disruptive technologies, (2) the nature of ethical conceptual change, and (3) methods of practical philosophy of emerging technologies.

The postdoc will pursue independent research that engages these topics in a way that supports key research goals of the ESDiT consortium. This will involve cooperation with STEM representatives from inside and outside the ESDiT consortium, as well as cooperation with the other concurrent postdoc projects in the consortium, which are devoted to (1) distinguishing characteristics of socially disruptive technologies, (2) the nature of ethical conceptual change, and (3) methods of practical philosophy of emerging technologies.

This postdoc position is primarily a research appointment, focused on performing research and publishing research results, but the postdoc will be expected to contribute to relevant educational programmes at the intersection of the Human-Technology Interaction and Philosophy and Ethics groups (max. 0,1 - 0,2 FTE). The postdoc will be appointed within the Human-Technology Interaction group, which is part of the Department of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences (See “Organization” below)

This postdoc position will be part of the Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies (ESDiT) programme, a ten-year international research programme of seven academic institutions in the Netherlands that has started in January 2020. This programme has a combined budget of €27 million, and is funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) in the Gravitation funding scheme for excellent research, and by matching funds from the participating institutions. The duration is from January 2020 to December 2029.  The programme has the aim of achieving breakthrough research in at the intersection of ethics, philosophy, technology/engineering and social sciences, and to position its consortium at the top of its field internationally. A key objective is to investigate how new technologies challenge moral values and ontological concepts (like “nature”, “human being” and “community”), and how these challenges necessitate a revision of these concepts.  The programme includes four research lines, “Nature, Life and Human Intervention”, “The Future of a Free and Fair Society”, “The Human Condition” and “Foundations & Synthesis”.  This postdoc position will be situated within the Foundations & Synthesis research line.

More information about the research lines and the consortium as a whole is available here: www.esdit.nl