PhD on Philosophy of Science

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow.

The Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences (IE&IS) department combines disciplinary knowledge from the humanities, social sciences and technical sciences to solve the complex problems of industries and society. We collaboratively focus on and create responsible and effective innovations for the research themes: Humans and Technology, Supply Chain Management, Sustainability and Circularity, and Value of Data-Driven Intelligence.

Introduction

The Philosophy & Ethics Group at TU/e connects philosophy with real-world technological and scientific challenges. The team works closely with researchers across many fields, including Human-Technology Interaction, AI, and more. The group’s strengths include Ethics of Technology, Philosophy of Science and Technology, and Epistemology. The group focuses on collaborative, interdisciplinary, and socially meaningful research.

For more information: https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-groups/innovation-sciences/philosophy-ethics

Job Description

We invite applications for a fully funded PhD position in Philosophy of Science at Eindhoven University of Technology. The candidate will study the growing field of Metascience—the science of how science works—and how AI can facilitate or hinder research practices. More specifically, the candidate will work in the intersection of General Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of AI, and Virtue Epistemology. The project is part of a broader research initiative exploring the ways in which AI should be used in science.

The PhD candidate will explore how new technologies are shaping scientific knowledge acquisition, particularly in areas like the academic review process and scientific discovery. The focus will be on ways in which intellectual virtues, such as intellectual justice, curiosity, and trustworthiness, impact these processes.

The candidate will work closely with the supervisors. Experience with empirical methods (such as experiments or surveys) is as an asset, though not a requirement.

Starting Date

September 2025 or shortly after

Supervisors

Dr. Vlasta Sikimić (Daily Supervisor, Philosophy & Ethics Group, TU/e)

Prof. Dr. Wybo Houkes (Promotor, Philosophy & Ethics Group, TU/e)

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct doctoral research under the supervision of Dr. Sikimić and Prof. Dr. Houkes and maintain a regular collaboration with them throughout the project.
• Work on questions related to AI, epistemology, and scientific practice.
• Contribute to teaching activities.
• Help organize academic workshops, seminars, and conferences.

Job Requirements

• A Master’s degree in Philosophy or a closely related field (e.g., Psychology) before the starting date.
• Competence in Philosophy.
• A strong interest in General Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of AI, Virtue Epistemology, and Metascience.
• A collaborative attitude.
• Fluency in English, both spoken and written.
• We strongly encourage applicants from underrepresented groups to apply.

Timeline

Application deadline: May 18, 2025

Notification of first selection: by May 25, 2025

First round of interviews (online): week of June 2, 2025

Second round of interviews (in person): week of June 23, 2025

Conditions of Employment

• A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you: 
• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment. 
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 2,901 max. € 3,707).  
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%. 
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process. 
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.  
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs. 
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates. 

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact Dr. Vlasta Sikimić ([email protected]).

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact H. Huijs-Palmen, HR-Advice IE&IS ([email protected] or +31 40 247 9111).

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• Curriculum Vitae – Please include your education, research experience, and relevant organizational skills.
• Motivation Letter – Please explain your interest in the position and your fit for the project. The letter should show that you are familiar with the work of the supervisors and should include a short research idea (1–2 paragraphs).
• Writing Sample – A short academic text (max. 10 pages), such as part of your thesis or a paper.
• Academic Transcripts – Records of all university-level degrees and/or current studies.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.