Postdoctoral Researcher in Ethical Assessment of Technology-Driven Social Disruption University of Twente in Netherlands

The University of Twente invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher in the ethical assessment of technology-driven social disruption. This position is embedded within the internationally renowned Philosophy Section and the Ethics of Socially Disruptive Technologies (ESDiT) programme, a major research initiative funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research and seven Dutch academic institutions. The ESDiT programme aims to advance breakthrough research at the intersection of ethics, philosophy, technology, engineering, and social sciences, focusing on how new technologies challenge and reshape moral values and ontological concepts.

The postdoctoral project will develop innovative methods for the ethical assessment of socially disruptive technologies (SDTs), including AI, robotics, new energy and climate technologies, and large-scale data infrastructures. The research will address how SDTs transform social practices, roles, institutions, and frameworks for moral evaluation, moving beyond traditional ethical approaches that focus on individual actions or fixed value lists. The project will identify and assess key forms of disruption, such as institutional transformations in governance, coordination, and economic systems; shifts in social and relational structures; and changes in shared frameworks of meaning that shape roles, responsibilities, and expectations. The outcome will be practically applicable and validated methods for ethical assessment that capture multi-level social and normative change.

Methodological development will be informed by selected case studies across technological domains, with particular attention to changes in the organisation of society, coordination and decision-making, and forms of collective and distributed agency. The position involves close collaboration with another postdoc and other scholars in the ESDiT programme, offering opportunities for interdisciplinary engagement and professional growth.

The Philosophy Section at Twente is internationally leading in the philosophy and ethics of technology, participating in the interuniversity 4TU. Center for Ethics and Technology. The Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences (BMS) provides a vibrant, inclusive, and entrepreneurial environment, uniting people and technology to address complex societal challenges. BMS offers educational programmes in psychology, business administration, public administration, communication sciences, philosophy, educational sciences, and health sciences, and supports interdisciplinary research themes such as Emerging Technologies & Societal Transformations, Resilience, Smart Industry, Learning, and Health.

The postdoc position is full-time for three years, starting September 1st (preferred). The gross salary ranges from €3,546 to €5,705 per month, depending on experience, with an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus. Additional benefits include a travel budget for international conferences, professional and personal development programs, and a secondary remuneration package. The university fosters internationalization, responsibility, and independence, and offers a dynamic environment with enthusiastic colleagues.

Applicants must hold a PhD in ethics, applied ethics, political philosophy, philosophy of technology, science and technology studies, or a closely related field. Required qualifications include expertise in ethical theory and analysis (ideally applied ethics), strong analytical and conceptual skills, interest in methodological development, excellent academic writing skills, and a publication record appropriate to career stage. The ability to work independently and collaboratively is essential.

To apply, submit your application online before April 27th, 2026, including a cover letter (maximum 2 pages), CV, writing sample, and contact information for two academic references. For further information, contact Prof. Dr. Philip Brey at [email protected]. For programme details, visit www.esdit.nl.