PhD 'Resistance to Isaac Newton in the Dutch Republic'

PhD 'Resistance to Isaac Newton in the Dutch Republic'

Category: Academic Staff & Researchers

1 - Working at the VUB

For already 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and connectedness. These values are strongly present on our campuses, in our students as well as our staff. At the VUB, you'll find a diverse collection of personalities: pure innovators and especially people who are 100% their authentic selves. With about 3.500 employees , we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer in Brussels , an international city with which we are all too happy to be connected, and around which our four campuses are located.

Our education and research are grounded in the principles of free research with an eye on human progress. We disapprove of every purely authoritative argument and guarantee the free formation of judgement that is necessary for this basic principle to be incorporated in the community.

The VUB is autonomous and managed democratically. As such, we guarantee fundamental freedoms within our university, as well as the right of the university community to be involved in making and checking university policy.

The mission of the university includes:

the development, the transfer and the application of high-standing academic education and scientific research, free from any prejudice;

community integration of this in a spirit of social compassion;

critical development of everyone in light of the responsibilities borne in the community.

2 - Position description

The Faculteit Letteren en Wijsbegeerte , Department History, Archeology, Arts, Philosophy and Ethics , is looking for a PhD-student with a doctoral grant.

More concretely your work package, for the preparation of a doctorate , contains:

You will do research on the subproject ‘Resistance to Newton in the Dutch Republic'. This subproject deals with the resistance to Isaac Newton's natural philosophical work in the Dutch Republic during the eighteenth century. When properly motivated, you may choose to prepare a PhD dissertation on the reception of Newton's natural philosophy in the Dutch Republic during the eighteenth century more broadly. This subproject is part of the EOS 'RENEW18: Responses to Newton's Mathematical-Experimental Paradigm in 18th-Century Philosophy'. In addition to conducting independent research, you are expected to participate in the organization of common activities such as team meetings, talks, workshops, and conferences. The working language is English. The starting date is negotiable.

For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base.

3 - Profile

What do we expect from you?

You have a master degree in Philosophy, History or in another MA degree that is relevant to the subproject.

- familiarity with early modern science and philosophy

- excellent hermeneutical and analytical skills

- excellent command of written and spoken English

- being able to read Latin texts is a plus

- familiarity with archive work is a plus

You have not performed any works in the execution of a mandate as an assistant, paid from operating resources, over a total (cumulated) period of more than 12 months.

4 - Offer

Are you going to be our new colleague?

You'll be offered a full-time PhD-scholarship , for 12 months (extendable up to max. 48 months, on condition of the positive evaluation of the PhD activities), with planned starting date 01/09/2023. The starting date is negotiable.

You'll receive a grant linked to one of the scales set by the government.

IMPORTANT: The effective result of the doctorate scholarship is subject to the condition precedent of your enrolment as a doctorate student at the university.

At the VUB, you're guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.

As well as this, you'll enjoy various benefits:

Full reimbursement for your home-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, or compensation if you come by bike;

Cost-free hospitalisation insurance ;

The space to form your job content and continuously learn via VUB LRN;

Excellent facilities for sport and exercise ;

Ecocheques ;

Delicious meals at attractive prices in our campus restaurants ;

An open, family-friendly work environment where attention is paid to work- life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract).

5 - Interested?

Is this the job you've been dreaming of?

Send us ONLINE and at the latest on 01/06/2023 :

your CV,

letter of motivation

a writing sample

a research proposal (1-2 pages) explaining how you will setup and carry out the envisioned research

the highest degree you've attained (not applicable for VUB alumni).

Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Prof. dr. Steffen Ducheyne at [email protected] or on +32-2-629-2661.

Would you like to know what it's like to work at the VUB? Go to www. vub.ac.be/vacatures and find all there is to know about our campuses, benefits, strategic goals and your future colleagues.