1 PhD Researcher in Ethics of Innovative Methods of Animal Research in Netherlands | Utrecht University

Job description

Animal testing has deepened our understanding of diseases and improved their treatments, yet it has also fueled ethical debates about acceptability and trustworthiness of research with animals. Therefore the Ethics Institute of Utrecht University initiated a research project on innovative methods of animal research. This interdisciplinary project includes partners from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UU), Radboud University Nijmegen and private partners and is funded by the Netherlands Foundation for Scientific Research (NWO). The project aims to get grip on the ethical, scientific and institutional problems related to innovations in bio-medical animal research and aims to build improved translational strategies.

As a PhD you contribute to the workpackages that focus on the ethical and institutional problems that may frustrate changes in science and therefore discourage further innovation. This entails a systematic analysis of (a) the (plurality of) normative assumptions with respect to animal research and health innovation in the research chain and in society, (b) an analysis of distribution of responsibility in the research chain and (c) the role that uncertainty and trust play in the ethical assessment of animal research and of responsible innovation.

Requirements

• You have completed a Master in Applied Ethics or Practical Philosophy (or comparable degree);
• You have the ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• You have experience in combining practical problems with ethical and conceptual work;
• You have a pro-active attitude and excellent communication and collaborative skills;
• Interest in interdisciplinary work and societal challenges is required;
• Knowledge of the Dutch language and of the practice of animal and health research will be considered an advantage.

Conditions of employment

You will be offered a full-time PhD position, initially for a period of 18 months. Upon good performance, the contract will be extended for another 30 months (4 years in total). The gross monthly salary starts at € 2,125 in the first year, ending at € 2,717 in the fourth year. Utrecht University offers a pension scheme, a holiday allowance of 8% per year, an end-of-year payment of 8.3% and flexible employment conditions. Conditions are based on the Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch Universities.

Organisation

Utrecht University strives for excellence in teaching and study performance. This also holds for the clearly defined research profiles with respect to four core themes: Dynamics of Youth, Institutions, Life Sciences and Sustainability. Utrecht University has a strong commitment to community outreach and contributes to answering the social questions of today and tomorrow.

The Faculty of Humanities has around seven thousand students and nine hundred staff members. It comprises four knowledge domains: Philosophy and Religious Studies, History and Art History, Media and Culture Studies, and Languages, Literature and Communication. With its research and education in these fields, the Faculty aims to contribute to a better understanding of the Netherlands and Europe in a rapidly changing social and cultural context. The enthusiastic and committed colleagues and the excellent amenities in the historical city centre of Utrecht, where the Faculty is housed, contribute to an inspiring working environment.