PhD Position: History and Philosophy of Modern Physics

1. Introduction

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). 

2. Job description

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%).

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Practical information and applying

You can apply only via the button below. Address your letter of application to dr. Marij van Strien. In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application.

The first interviews will take place on Wednesday 2 July. You will preferably start your employment on 1 September 2025.

We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure. It describes what you can expect during the application procedure and how we handle your personal data and internal and external candidates. If you wish to apply for a non-scientific position with a non-EU nationality, please take notice of the following information.