Professor of Ecology

Employment0.2 FTE

Required backgroundPhD

Organizational unitFaculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies

Application deadline20 August 2023

 

Do you appreciate the added value of Catholic social thought for research and debate on social-ecological issues, and would you like to contribute to this as an endowed professor?

The Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies and the Socires Foundation are seeking an extraordinary Professor of Integral Ecology for their recently established Laudato Si' Institute. As holder of the extraordinary chair, you will function at the intersection of (i) various disciplines including theology and philosophy, (ii) education and research, (iii) academic and public debate, both in the Netherlands and in an international context. In this position, you will work closely with the institute's academic researcher.

As Endowed Professor of Integral Ecology, you will address key questions that lie beyond the technical approach to sustainability issues. The promotion of this integral, trans-disciplinary approach from a Christian perspective is an essential contribution to the many disciplinary, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary sustainability initiatives at Radboud University. 
As Professor of Integral Ecology, you will deepen the dialogical and integral perspective from the insights developed in the Catholic tradition, in dialogue with a multitude of religious and secular worldviews. You will dissseminate this body of thought within and outside the university and engage in collaborations with Dutch and international scientific and social partners. In this way, you also contribute to the Radboud University's  identity as a denominational university. 

Furthermore, you will lead fundamental and applied research, contribute to acquisition and play a role in translating scientific insights for a wide audience.

Profile

• You have a PhD in theology, philosophy, religious studies or another relevant discipline.
• You have an excellent academic record in one of the above fields, with a particular focus on ecology.
• You have a strong international academic network.
• You are willing to come to Nijmegen regularly (one day a week on average or equivalent in longer concentrated periods is negotiable).
• You have the ability to bring people from different disciplines together.
• You have experience developing research projects and preparing and acquiring projects financed by indirect government funding and contract funding.
• As an experienced supervisor, you encourage PhD candidates to flourish academically.
• You have good managerial qualities and know how to connect.

We are

This is an appointment at the Laudato Si' Institute, a new research institute embedded in the Department of Empirical and Practical Religious Studies in the Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies. We are the smallest, but also fastest-growing faculty at Radboud University with some 180 staff and over 1,000 students from home and abroad. The faculty has a strong focus on educational innovation, challenging research themes and developments in society and science. 

Our faculty believes in equal opportunity for all. We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity contributes to the quality of teaching and research. We welcome staff whose diverse backgrounds and perspectives contribute to the diversity of our faculty.

The chair is funded by the Socieres Foundation. Socires (Society and Responsibility) is an independent think tank based in The Hague. In its programmes, Socires deals with complex social issues (so-called wicked problems) in relation to politics, economics and governance. Many of the problems, challenges and crises we face as a society cannot be solved by one party ('the market', 'the government', 'science'). Socires therefore develops forms of dialogue in which multiple actors work together to bring about sustainable change (the multi-actor approach). Today, in 2023, Socires deploys this method in programmes at the intersection of ethics and the financial sector, and on the transition to a Rhineland economy, food security and cooperation between Europe and Africa, and integral ecology and philosophy of life from the encyclical Laudato Si'.

Radboud Universiteit

We are keen to meet critical thinkers who want to look closer at what really matters. People who, from their expertise, wish to contribute to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. This ambition unites more than 24,000 students and 5,600 employees at Radboud University and requires even more talent, collaboration and lifelong learning. You have a part to play!

We offer

• It concerns an appointment for 0.2 FTE.
• It concerns a temporary appointment for 3 years, with the possibility of a 2 year-extension.

Would you like more information?

For questions about the position, please contact Hans Schilderman, professor at hans.schilderman [at] ru.nl.

Practical information and applying

You can apply until 20 August 2023, exclusively using the button below. Kindly address your application to Hans Schilderman. Please fill in the application form and attach the following documents:

• A letter of motivation.
• Your CV, including a publication list and the contact details of at least 2 referees.
• A research proposal (max. 2 pages).
• An article or chapter of a book that reflects your interest in this position.

Interviews will be held mid-September or early October. You would preferably begin employment on 1 January 2024.
We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure. It offers a rough outline of what you can expect during the application process, how we handle your personal data and how we deal with internal and external candidates.