PhD Student in Philosophy specialising in Practical Philosophy

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Your work assignments

As a PhD student, you devote most of your time to doctoral studies and the research projects of which you are part. Your work may also include teaching or other departmental duties, up to a maximum of 20% of full-time. 

The primary responsibility of doctoral students is to complete their PhD-thesis during their employment at Linköping University under supervision by senior faculty members. 

PhD students will be required to take a number of taught courses (for a total 60 credits). These courses serve to deepen the students’ specialized expertise and strengthen their philosophical competence overall. It is expected that approximately two-thirds of these courses will be taken outside the students’ area of specialization. The language of instruction of these courses will be typically English.

Doctoral students are also expected to contribute to the Philosophy Division’s research environment. They will actively participate in the division’s research seminars and relevant research activities. Additional duties may include teaching, course design, and other teaching-related tasks. The holder of the position is expected to be present at the division on a day-to-day basis

Your qualifications

You have graduated at MA level or completed courses with a minimum of 240 credits, at least 60 of which must be in advanced courses (see below for more details). Alternatively, you have gained essentially corresponding knowledge in another way.

Applicants from Sweden must have completed course requirements worth at least 240 credits (hp), of which at least 60 credits must be at second-cycle (masters/magister) level. International applicants must demonstrate having completed studies of equivalent quality and quantity. As an additional discipline-specific requirement, applicants must have completed courses amounting to 30 credits on second-cycle level in philosophy, practical philosophy, applied ethics, or theoretical philosophy, including a degree project of at least 15 credits. International students must demonstrate having completed studies in philosophy of equivalent quality and quantity.

The selection of candidates will be based on the above requirements and specifications using the material submitted by the applicants. Of crucial significance is a well-developed research plan that details the applicant’s research objectives and outlines how the applicant intends to carry out their research (e.g., methodology, time plan, structure of the planned thesis, connection to previous research or study).  In order to ensure that PhD students receive adequate supervision, topical connection of the research plan to areas of specialization of faculty at the division will be considered to be an advantage. The evaluation of the top candidates may also include references and interviews as well as additional documentation requested. (For details of the application material to be submitted, please see below.)

 The ability to conduct independent and original research competence is to be demonstrated primarily through the applicant’s published research (if any) or through writings submitted in fulfillment of courses taken by the applicant. These can be submitted as writing sample (see below). Evidence of the ability to plan, conduct, and coordinate research projects, and the ability to secure research grants can further strengthen the application (but are not indispensable at this stage).

 Applicants must be sufficiently proficient in English to be able to conduct research and the other activities listed above. Proficiency in Swedish is an advantage.

Your workplace

The Division of Philosophy and Applied Ethics (https://liu.se/artikel/filosofi) offers courses and awards degrees in philosophy at undergraduate, masters, and doctoral levels. There are eight permanently employed faculty members. Teaching at the department of philosophy encompasses all main branches of philosophy: logic, epistemology, philosophy of science, history of philosophy, moral philosophy, aesthetics, philosophy of religion, and more. We also offer courses at other departments of the university, for example, at the Medical Faculty and the Faculty of Engineering. We have been successful in attracting external research funding and several faculty members lead or are involved in research projects of various kinds and dimensions. Some of our research work is characterized by an interdisciplinary focus and we also have a strong interest in philosophical questions pertaining to the role of science in society broadly understood. We organize a lively advanced research seminar that meets twice a month on average showcasing cutting-edge philosophical work by guest speakers from Sweden and abroad as well as our faculty members. In our numerous interdisciplinary cooperations, we utilize a variety of methodological approaches and work actively with several other departments at Linköping University.

The employment

When taking up the post, you will be admitted to the program for doctoral studies. More information about the doctoral studies at each faculty is available at Doctoral studies at Linköping University

The employment has a duration of four years’ full-time equivalent. You will initially be employed for a period of one year. The employment will subsequently be renewed for periods of maximum duration two years, depending on your progress through the study plan. The employment may be extended up to a maximum of five years, based on the amount of teaching and departmental duties you have carried out. Further extensions can be granted in special circumstances.

Starting date by agreement, but no sooner than 1^st September 2024.  

Salary and employment benefits

The salary of PhD students is determined according to a locally negotiated salary progression.

Our PhD students will receive salaries commensurate with doctoral positions in Sweden (currently 30 500 SEK at the entry-level).

More information about employment benefits at Linköping University is available here.

Union representatives

Information about union representatives, see Help for applicants.

Application procedure

Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button below. Your application must reach Linköping University no later than May 31, 2024.

Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered.

Applications should include (for detailed information please see the online application system):

• BA and MA (or magister) degree certificates
• LADOK transcripts (for Swedish applicants), and/or equivalent academic transcripts (for international applicants)
• CV
• Contact information for two referees
• BA and MA (or magister) theses
• Publications (if any) or writing sample
• A motivation letter (max. 2 pages)
• A research plan (max. 5 pages)

We welcome applicants with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives - diversity enriches our work and helps us grow. Preserving everybody's equal value, rights and opportunities is a natural part of who we are. Read more about our work with: Equal opportunities.




We look forward to receiving your application!





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