项目介绍

2025年5月17日

Are you a creative, independent thinker with an interest in the history and philosophy of physics? Apply now for a PhD position at Radboud University, where  you will conduct research at the intersection of modern physics and philosophy within both the Center for the History of Philosophy and Science (CHPS) and the new Radboud Center for Natural Philosophy (RCNP). 

You will conduct research in the history and philosophy of modern physics with a focus on philosophical discussions around physics in the nineteenth or twentieth century. Your research can, for example, concern the philosophical implications drawn from physical theories such as classical mechanics, statistical mechanics or quantum physics, or the roles of physics in the history of philosophy. Possible topics include conceptions of causality, chance, emergence, or chaos theory.

The project will be supervised by Dr Marij van Strien and Prof. Klaas Landsman will be your PhD supervisor. As a member of both CHPS and RCNP, you will work in an interdisciplinary team and collaborate with philosophers, historians of philosophy, philosophers of science, and theoretical and mathematical physicists. You should be willing to contribute to the general research programme of both CHPS, which studies philosophy and science as historically intertwined fields, and RCNP, which seeks to improve ties between mathematics, physics, and the history and philosophy of science.  

Your daily activities will mainly consist of conducting research in the history of modern physics and philosophy. You will be expected to write a PhD thesis, eventually publish papers, and present your work at international conferences and workshops. Further, you will participate in seminars, reading groups and other activities of CHPS and RCNP. Collaboration with other PhD candidates and faculty members will be encouraged. You will be part of a strong and coherent network of researchers.

You will devote 75% of your time to research for and writing your PhD thesis. The remaining 25% will be spent on training and academic service to the Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies, including teaching (about 10%).

Profile

• You preferably hold (or are on track to obtain) an Master’s degree in Philosophy and in Physics, or one relevant a Master’s degree in the one field and one relevant Bachelor’s degree in the other. Further academic qualifications in philosophy and the history or physics are an advantage.
• You have a demonstrable interest in the mission of the Radboud Center for Natural Philosophy: to improve ties between mathematics, physics, and the history and philosophy of science.
• You have a demonstrable interest in the mission of the Center for the History of Philosophy and Science: to study the history of philosophy and the history of science as historically intertwined phenomena.
• You are communicative, curious, critical, enthusiastic, proactive, and willing to learn.
• You are able to conduct independent research and work in a collaborative research environment.
• You have an excellent command of English (spoken and written) and possess good writing skills.

We offer

• We will give you a temporary employment contract (1.0 FTE) of 1.5 years, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, your contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4-year contract).     
• You will receive a starting salary of €2,901 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €3,707 in the fourth year (salary scale P).
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
• We offer Dual Career Coaching. The Dual Career Coaching assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

Additional employment conditions

Work and science require good employment practices. Radboud University’s primary and secondary employment conditions reflect this. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself. For example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports membership. In addition, you receive a 34% discount on the sports and cultural activities at Radboud University as an employee. And, of course, we offer a good pension plan. We also give you plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

We are

The Radboud Center for Natural Philosophy (RCNP) is dedicated to research at the intersection of mathematical physics, theoretical physics, the philosophy of science, and the history of science. Its current research focus is on the themes of determinism, randomness and emergence in modern physics.

The Center for the History of Philosophy and Science (CHPS) investigates the evolution of natural philosophy from Antiquity to the 21st century. In the global academic landscape, CHPS is unique in approaching the history of philosophy and the history of science as historically intertwined phenomena. For this reason, it has attracted staff, PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers from various countries, functioning as an international hub for scholars interested in the combination of the history of philosophy and the history of science.

Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies
Staff and students in the Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies reflect on the great challenges of our time, exploring concepts, belief systems and worldviews. In this way they provide philosophical and religious context to the societal debate and contribute to the analysis and solution of major societal challenges. The faculty has over 180 staff, organized in eight academic departments and four support departments. Our academics collaborate in six research centres and teach more than 1,000 students.

Our staff and students are committed. The lines of communication are short and each individual student and staff member is given ample attention. You can find more about our mission and vision on the ‘About PTRS‘ page.

Radboud University
At Radboud University, we aim to make an impact through our work. We achieve this by conducting groundbreaking research, providing high-quality education, offering excellent support, and fostering collaborations within and outside the university. In doing so, we contribute indispensably to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. To accomplish this, we need even more colleagues who, based on their expertise, are willing to search for answers. We advocate for an inclusive community and welcome employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. Will you also contribute to making the world a little better? You have a part to play.

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