[artinfo] PhDs in Twente (NL)

[Geert Lovink]

>The Department of Philosophy of the University of
>Twente in the Netherlands is looking for
>
>Two Ph.D. Students (M/F, fulltime)
>
>Two PhD students for the international research project:
>
>Evaluating the Cultural Quality of New Media
>Towards a Philosophy of Human-Media Relations.
>
>Women are strongly encouraged to apply.
>
>The two PhD positions are part of a prestigious
>and exciting international research project in
>philosophy named "Evaluating the Cultural Quality
>of New Media". This five-year project, which will
>include five researchers and will involve
>collaboration with leading international scholars
>and research centres, has as its aim to develop a
>framework for better normative analyses of new
>media and new media culture, especially in
>relation to their contribution to the quality of
>life ("the good life"4) and the quality of
>society. Project leader is Dr. Philip Brey. Two
>postdocs have already been appointed to the
>project: dr. A. Briggle, PhD, University of
>Colorado and dr. E. Spence, PhD, Sydney
>University.  The project will be part of a new
>international Centre of Excellence in Ethics and
>Technology of the departments of philosophy of
>Twente University, Delft University of Technology
>and Eindhoven University of Technology.
>
>Applications are accepted for three different projects:
>
>Ph.D Project 1 - The Quality of Virtual Environments and Tools
>
>This subproject aims to perform a philosophical
>analysis of the implications of the ever
>increasing virtualization for the quality of life
>and of society. Virtualization is defined as the
>digital production of interactive structures,
>whether graphical or symbolic, that mirror things
>and events in the physical world. What are the
>implications of this process for moral and social
>identity, embodiment, and conceptions of reality,
>and how can these implications be normatively evaluated?
>
>Ph.D. Project 2: The Quality of Computer-Mediated Social Relations
>
>This subproject focuses on computer-mediated
>social relations and practices in friendships,
>love relationships, and community life.
>Increasingly, the social world is held together
>by electronic networks. More and more,
>communication, social relationships, and
>community formation take place over such
>networks. The aim of the project is to perform a
>philosophical analysis of the implications of
>this trend for the quality of life and of society.
>
>Ph.D. Project 3: Societal Appraisals of the Cultural Quality of New Media
>
>This subproject will perform a study of
>appraisals of new media that are made by
>representatives of major ideologies or
>worldviews, with the aim of assessing how they
>relate to conceptions of the good life and the
>good society held by these ideologies.  It will
>study liberal, communitarian, conservative,
>religious and postmaterialist evaluations of new
>media, and will try to assess which ideologies
>see themselves as winners and losers in the
>development of a new media culture.  It will also
>provide critiques of current ideological stances on new media.
>
>Only the two best candidates out of all
>applicants will be offered a position.  Selection
>will only be based on the quality of the
>candidate, and not on his or her preference for a
>particular project, except that the two PhD
>appointments will be for different projects.  You
>may apply for more than one project if you wish.
>
>Profile
>
>For all three projects: a Master's degree or
>equivalent degree in philosophy. Consideration
>will also be given to candidates with a
>multidisciplinary Master's degree on a topic
>relevant to the project and some background in
>philosophy, and to exceptional candidates with
>only a bachelor's degree in philosophy.
>Demonstrable interest in philosophical issues
>relating to information technology and new media.
>Good analytical skills. Good communication skills
>in English, in writing as well as orally.
>Creativity, open-mindedness, and an ability to develop new ideas.
>
>Offer
>
>A four-year full-time Ph.D. position starting
>November 1, 2006. The gross salary is Euro 1.933,-
>in the first year going up to 2.472,- in the
>fourth year (Euro 25.552,- and 32.677,- per annum,
>respectively, including vacation pay). Each Ph.D.
>position comes with a budget of up to 8,000,-
>for travel and conference attendance.
>
>Information and application
>
>A description of the overall project, the three
>subprojects and a FAQ can be retrieved from
>http://www.ceptes.nl/vici.
>Applicants are advised to read these texts
>carefully before applying. For questions not
>answered on the website you can contact the
>project leader, dr. Philip Brey (e-mail:
>p.a.e.brey at utwente.nl).
>
>Your application should contain the following
>documents: a letter of application which explains
>your interest in the position and explains your
>qualifications (this letter should contain some
>suggestions on how you would want to approach the
>project you apply for); a curriculum vitae which
>includes the name and e-mail address/telephone
>number of one of your professors, preferably the
>supervisor of your master's thesis; a copy of
>your master's thesis; copies of publications, if
>any; an academic transcript that contains a list
>of subjects taken and grades received (this may
>be an unofficial version or scanned copy; we can
>request the original later). Optionally, you can
>also include letters of recommendation from your professors.
>
>Your application can be sent by e-mail
>(preferred) or by normal post to dr. ir. J.F.C.
>Verberne (e-mail: pz-gw at gw.utwente.nl),
>managing director of the Faculty of Behavioural
>Sciences, University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500
>AE Enschede, the Netherlands. Please mention the
>vacancy number: 06/072-1 (project 1), 06/072-2
>(project 2), or 06/072-3 (project 3).  Your
>application should be in by October 2, 2006. Job
>interviews will be held between October 9 and 13.