Organisation
Since its foundation in 1614, the University of Groningen has enjoyed an international reputation as a dynamic and innovative center of higher education offering high-quality teaching and research. Balanced study and career paths in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 30,000 students and researchers to develop their own individual talents. Belonging to the best research universities in Europe and joining forces with prestigious partner universities and networks, the University of Groningen is truly an international place of knowledge.
The Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Groningen is a vibrant, international community of excellent researchers and teachers. It consistently receives the highest evaluations both for research and for teaching among philosophy departments in The Netherlands. The Faculty has three departments: History of Philosophy, Theoretical Philosophy, and Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy.
The positions are part of the Spinoza Prize Project of Prof Lodi Nauta, who has received the Spinoza Prize 2016 from The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).
Job description
The postdocs will carry out research in the Department of the History of Philosophy; they will also be involved in the activities of the Groningen Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Thought, which is based in this department (https://www.rug.nl/filosofie/organization/history/gcmemt/). Their research will focus on medieval philosophy and/or early-modern philosophy (up to the Enlightenment) in line with the focus area of the group: the transition from medieval to early-modern thought. (See the websites of the individual researchers). They are also expected to teach some courses, co-supervise PhDs, organize workshops and lectures, and assist in the daily running of the department. Together they will coordinate the Spinoza Prize Project. They are expected to submit a research proposal to NWO in the course of their fellowship. Knowledge of Dutch is no requirement.
Qualifications
Applicants should have:
• PhD in the history of philosophy
• a strong publication record (depending on career stage)
• a clear research plan, and a clear idea on how this fits in with the overall research profile of the group
• creativity and hands-on mentality in developing ideas for the Spinoza Prize project
• an excellent command of English, both in writing and in speaking
• intellectual drive, enthousiasm and open-mindedness to collaborate with colleagues within philosophy and to supervise PhD’s
• record of some teaching (depending on career stage)
• international network or record of international collaboration is an advantage.
Conditions of employment
The University of Groningen offers a salary depending on education and experience, between € 3,427 and € 4,691 gross per month for a fulltime appointment (salary scale 11 Dutch Universities). The salary will be supplemented by a holiday allowance of 8% per year and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%. Both posts are fulltime, and will be for 4 years.
The starting date is 1 January 2017 or as soon as possible thereafter.
Application
You may apply for this position until 20 October 2016, 23.59 h. / before 21 October 2016 Dutch local time by means of the application form (click on “Apply” below on the advertisement on the university website).
Application should include the following:
- cover letter that includes a statement on the applicant’s potential contribution to the department and the Spinoza Prize Project, and an explanation on how to meet the selection criteria for the post
- CV and list of publications
- a statement describing current and future research (no more than 2 pages)
- the names and contact details of three academic referees and an indication whether we can contact them at this stage
- a sample of written work of most relevance to this position, not more than 8,000 words; it can be a published or unpublished sample and can be an extract from a longer piece.
Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.
Queries about this position should be addressed to Lodi Nauta. All enquiries will be treated strictly confidentially.
Information
For information you can contact:
- Lodi Nauta,, +31 50 3636946, w.nauta@rug.nl
(please do not use for applications)