Professor of Practical Philosophy with a focus on Ethics

Context of the chair
We are looking for an experienced candidate who specializes in Practical Philosophy, particularly with a focus on Ethics. The candidate works in a core area of ethics in a manner that is distinctly grounded in and in conversation with practical questions and societal structures. They specialise in theoretical and critical work in ethics, while reflectively engaging with societal, political, and practical themes. Qualified applicants are internationally acclaimed researchers, who hold demonstrable expertise in ethical theory, while reflecting on values and normative frameworks pertinent to contemporary societal conditions. The successful postholder has a strong international profile and networks, and a background in interdisciplinary collaborations.

Lines of specialisation that we are interested in include, though are not limited to:

• Feminist ethics
• Climate/environmental ethics
• Medical ethics
• Topics relevant for the Faculty of Humanities Sectorplan themes (such as ethical questions concerning human(e) AI, cultural heritage and identity, language and cultures, and digital citizenship).

Given the significance of ethical reflection across philosophy, the humanities, and other academic disciplines, the ability to connect fundamental questions in ethics with themes beyond the Chair’s specific area of research is a key asset.

The successful candidate will be the chair of the Capacity Group Philosophy and Public Affairs (PPA). PPA examines classical questions in the area of practical philosophy, such as the foundations of ethics and sociopolitical philosophy, in light of contemporary problems and ongoing societal and public debates. It is one of the four capacity groups that make up the Department of Philosophy, alongside Critical Cultural Theory, Logic & Language, and Philosophical Tradition in Context. Overall, the Department of Philosophy has around 50 permanent and temporary staff members, whose philosophical interests and expertise are wide-ranging and cross disciplinary boundaries.

Additional desirable qualities include: the ability to combine different philosophical approaches in/on ethics; the ability to connect historical and contemporary debates; and the ability to consider debates in practical philosophy from perspectives relevant for social and cultural considerations around (though not limited to) science and technology, and/or postcolonial/decolonial, critical race, feminist, Global South, and/or non-ableist perspectives.

Teaching
The successful candidate will teach in a dynamic environment with ample opportunities to develop innovative teaching methods. Together with colleagues, they will play a key role in overseeing and supporting the coordination of large introductory BA courses in ethics and practical philosophy within the Department of Philosophy, as well as various minors that include components of practical philosophy. The postholder will teach courses in ethics at the BA level. They will oversee the development and staffing of the MA course offerings taught by members of the PPA capacity group. This programme consists of research-intensive courses in the field of practical philosophy, including ethics, political and social philosophy, critical theory, philosophy of technology, and philosophy of race, gender, class, and intersectionality. The candidate will teach an MA course in their field of research and supervise and assess a number of MA theses each year. Additional opportunities for involvement in tutoring, guest lecturing, and other educational activities will also be available. You will teach in English and (in due time) also in Dutch.

Research
The research of the successful candidate will be embedded in the Amsterdam School of Cultural Analysis (ASCA), one of the five research schools of the Amsterdam Institute for Humanities Research. The postholder is expected to initiate and maintain broad interdisciplinary collaborations with researchers within the Faculty of Humanities and the UvA, leading to individual or consortium applications for research funding (e.g. ERC, NWO, NWA). The candidate will provide innovative new research impulses for ASCA and the Faculty of Humanities. Since ethical questions and issues are important for numerous disciplines, the postholder should have a demonstrable ability to establish productive connections with other disciplines both within and beyond the department. Many of these issues pertain to the themes outlined in the ‘Sectorplan’ for Humanities in Dutch universities, such as AI and cultural identities. It is desirable that the successful candidate is able to contribute to these themes in a productive manner. Moreover, as new ethical questions emerge in response to societal developments, the postholder should have a disciplinary outlook that enables them to connect ethical discussions to questions addressed more broadly in practical philosophy.

Leadership
The successful candidate will chair the Capacity Group Philosophy and Public Affairs (PPA), which has seven permanent staff members, and a number of temporary lecturers. In this role, they are expected to have regular meetings with the Head of Department and the Chairs of the other three capacity groups. Each year, the successful candidate will coordinate the assignment of teaching tasks within the group in consultation with staff, BA and MA directors, and the administration. Leadership responsibilities also include assuming additional roles within the department (e.g., Head of Department), as well as various roles within the Faculty of Humanities and ASCA. Given the Faculty’s commitment to providing a safe and inclusive environment for staff and students, the successful candidate should demonstrate organisational sensitivity and an appropriate leadership style.

This is what you will be doing

• Teaching in the field of practical philosophy;
• Supervising Bachelor and Master students, as well as PhD candidates;
• Contributing to innovation of the curriculum and to the development and improvement of the broader teaching programmes in the department;
• Maintaining your own research profile while also developing a research agenda together with the PPA Group;
• Actively pursuing external funding for research, notably funding from research councils, national as well as European;
• Carrying out HR and mentorship responsibilities within the Capacity Group Philosophy and Public Affairs in accordance with the UvA flexible leadership approach;
• Carrying out administrative and management tasks within the Department, wider Faculty and university tasks.

This is what we ask of you

You are willing to play an active role across the full spectrum of the Department of Philosophy’s activities, including teaching, research, and governance. You also contribute significantly to academic and public debates.

You are a collegial team player with strong social skills: a creative, open-minded philosopher who feels at home in a diverse academic community.

Required

• PhD in Philosophy;
• Excellent international academic reputation and publication track record;
• Experienced and enthusiastic teacher at all levels of academic training and experience in developing teaching programmes at Bachelor and Master levels;
• Demonstrable experience in academic leadership, HR responsibilities and governance;
• Established track record of seeking external research funding;
• Experience with supervising PhD projects and junior researchers;
• Extensive national and international network with academic, political and cultural institutions;
• Experience with collaborative projects and able to establish productive connections with other academic disciplines within as well as outside the department;
• Able to contribute to knowledge exchange and societal impact in public as well as academic settings;
• A University Teaching Qualification (UTQ). If you have not attained a UTQ you are required to start with the UTQ track upon commencement of your employment contract and obtain the qualification within three years of employment; (*)
• good command of Dutch and English. If you do not speak Dutch, an active and passive command must be acquired within the first two years of employment and the state examination for Dutch as a Second Language programme II must be passed. (*)

(*) The Faculty will assist in this process.

For more information, go to the following website on being a professor at the UvA.

This is what we offer you

We offer permanent employment upon appointment. The employment contract is for 38 hours per week. The preferred starting date is 1 February 2027.

The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week, is in accordance with professor salary scale 2, plus 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance). A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

More information about working at the UvA can be found here: About working at the UvA | Work at the University of Amsterdam

What else do we offer?

• The opportunity to collaborate in interdisciplinary teams;
• Excellent opportunities for study and personal development;
• An inspiring academic and international working environment in the heart of Amsterdam.
• The opportunity to collaborate with leading researchers at research institutes that - partly as a result of their interdisciplinary approach - are world renowned.

More information for employees moving from abroad can be found here: Practical information for international employees | Work at the University of Amsterdam

This is where you will be working

The Faculty of Humanities provides education and conducts research with a strong international profile in a large number of disciplines in de field of language and culture. Located in the heart of Amsterdam, the faculty maintains close ties with many cultural institutes in the capital city. Research and teaching staff focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and are active in several teaching programmes.

More about the UvA

The University of Amsterdam is ambitious, creative and committed. An inspiration to students since 1632, a vanguard player in international science and a partner in innovation.   The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest range of courses on offer. An intellectual hub with 42,000 students, 6,000 staff and 3,000 PhD students. Connected by a culture of curiosity.   Your application and contact

If you recognize yourself in the profile and are interested in the position, we look forward to receiving your application.

Your application should include the following information:

• a cover letter (max. 2 A4 pages);
• a detailed CV;
• a list of publications.

Please submit the required information as a single PDF file.

The vacancy closes on 6 May 2026. Only complete applications received within the response period will be considered.

The first round of interviews will be held in the course of mid June 2026. A trial lecture and research presentation may be part of the application process.

Questions?

For content-focused questions about the position or department, you can contact us during office hours at:

• Prof. dr. Monique Roelofs, Head of the Department of Philosophy
• [email protected]

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion As an employer, the UvA maintains an equal opportunities policy. We value diversity and are fully committed to being a place where everyone feels at home. We nurture inquisitive minds and perseverance and allow room for persistent questioning. With us, curiosity and creativity are the prevailing culture.   Read more   Studies show that women and members of underrepresented groups only apply for jobs if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Do you meet the educational requirements but not yet all of the requested experience? The UvA encourages you to apply anyway.