Assistant Professor in Philosophy (PHIL_01) (EXPIRED)

The Post and the Department 

The Department of Philosophy at Durham University seeks to appoint an outstanding philosopher with research interests in the ethics and politics of AI, data analysis, and the philosophy and foundations of computing. The applicant must be able to teach ethical issues in some of the above areas (e.g., ethics of AI, data ethics, ethics of technology) both to students of philosophy and of other disciplines (e.g., data or information science or computing). This is a new post arising from the very successful recent launch of an interdisciplinary master’s programme in data science. It will involve teaching and supervising projects across disciplinary boundaries within this programme, as well as in core areas of philosophy.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing department that pursues research that is world-leading and world-changing. The Philosophy Department at Durham University has concentrations of research expertise across the discipline, with four main research clusters: Aesthetics, Ethics and Politics; History of Philosophy; Mind, Language and Metaphysics and Science, Medicine, and Society. It is home to the Centre for Humanities Engaging Science and Society (CHESS) and has strong links with other interdisciplinary research centres and institutes at Durham.

At postgraduate and undergraduate level, our students can choose from a wide range of teaching, spanning the whole discipline of philosophy and the history and philosophy of science and medicine. The Department’s undergraduate programmes are to be found among the top 10 in national rankings for philosophy (The Guardian, The Complete University Guide and The Times). The Department has one of the largest PhD programmes in the UK, and many of our students go on to pursue highly successful academic careers.

Benefitting from strong student recruitment, the Department has expanded significantly in recent years, investing in key research areas including philosophy of health and medicine, and environmental philosophy. We are using this opportunity to create a scholarly community that is open, representative, and diverse: our commitment to this is expressed through the work of the Department’s Diversity and Inclusion Group, and our recent Athena Swan Bronze award. We have strengthened our research culture by consolidating and deepening current areas of strength with new appointments; further developing our collaborations with researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from other disciplines and beyond academia; and using external funding and University research centres and institutes to support innovative research and the environment it needs to flourish.

This post offers an exciting opportunity to make a major contribution to the development of internationally excellent research and teaching at Durham, while allowing you unrivalled opportunities to progress and embed your career in an exciting and progressive institution. For more information, please visit our Department pages: https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/philosophy/

Assistant Professors at Durham 

Assistant Professors on the Education and Research track are encouraged to focus on research and teaching but also to engage in wider citizenship to enhance their own development, support their department and wider discipline, and contribute to the wider student experience. 

Academic colleagues are supported to publish high-quality research in their area of interest with a focus on quality in high-impact outputs including monographs, essays in edited volumes, and book chapters, rather than quantity. We will fully support your research needs including practical help such as resources to attend conferences and to fund research activities, as well as a generous research leave policy and a designated mentor.  

Durham University is also committed to ensuring excellent teaching quality, stimulating learning environments, and innovative curricula for all of our students. You will be supported to develop your teaching expertise and to develop innovative teaching. 

We are confident that our recruitment process allows us to attract and select the best international talent to Durham. We, therefore, offer a reduced probation period of 1 year for our Assistant Professors and thereafter, subject to satisfactory performance, your position will be confirmed as permanent 

Assistant Professor in Philosophy 

Applicants must demonstrate research excellence in ethics and politics of AI, data analysis, and the philosophy and foundations of computing, along with the ability to teach our students to an exceptional standard and to fully engage in the services, citizenship and values of the University. The University aims to provides a working and teaching environment that is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate these key principles as part of the assessment process. 

Key responsibilities:  

• To pursue research that is high quality in terms of originality, significance and rigour.  

• To develop clear plans for the pursuit of national and international funding opportunities to support research and end-user engagement; 

• To play a role in relevant teaching and research supervision, and contribute to ongoing curriculum development; 

• Contribute to enhancing the quality of the research environment in the Department, the wider University and beyond through collaborative research activity;  

• Demonstrate a willingness to contribute to the administrative work, citizenship and values of the Department;  

• Contribute to attracting and supervising research students, and enhance the Department’s commitment to its vibrant and inclusive postgraduate culture

• To play a role in relevant teaching and supervision, and contribute to ongoing curriculum development; 

• To deliver lectures, seminars and tutorials at undergraduate and taught postgraduate levels, as well as engaging in related activity such as assessment; 

• To fully engage in and enhance the values of the Department; 

• To contribute to attracting and supervising research students, and to enhance the Department’s commitment to its vibrant and inclusive postgraduate culture.  

• Carry out such other duties as specified by the Head of Department. 

Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion 

Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key component of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do.  We also live by our Purpose and Values and our Staff Code of Conduct.  At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all colleagues undertake activities that are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI. 

We welcome and encourage applications from those who are currently under-represented in our work force, including people with disabilities and from racially minoritised ethnic groups.

If you have taken a career break or periods of leave that may have impacted on the volume and recency of your research outputs and other activities, such as maternity, adoption or parental leave, you may wish to disclose this in your application. The selection committee will take this into account when evaluating your application.

The University has been awarded the Disability Confident Employer status. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.