PhD position – Philosophy – in ERC Synergy Grant Project “The Cultures
of the Cryosphere”
TU Darmstadt, 4 years, pay group E13 TV, 65%, all genders
Deadline: 18 October 2025
The Institute of Philosophy at TU Darmstadt invites applications for a
research associate in the ERC Synergy Grant project “Cultures of the
Cryosphere. Infrastructures, Politics and Futures of Artificial Cooling”
(CultCryo).
About us
CultCryo investigates the deep entanglement of modern life with
artificial cold, examining how refrigeration, freezing, and
cryopreservation have given rise to 'cryogenic cultures'—social
formations dependent on cooling infrastructures across domains such as
food supply, climate control, biomedicine, and computing. Based on
historical, geographical, linguistic and ethnographic findings, CultCryo
develops a philosophical analysis of cryogenic cultures across
conceptual, normative, and cultural dimensions. The project started in
September 2024 and will run for six years until August 2030. Further
information can be found under: https://cryocultures.org/.
The research consortium of the ERC project consists of four
international research groups at the Technical University of Darmstadt,
the University of Paderborn, the University of Duisburg-Essen, and the
Australian National University Canberra, as well as three participating
project partners at the University of Hamburg, the University of
Halle-Wittenberg, and the Institute for Social-Ecological Research
Frankfurt.
Your tasks
1. Philosophical research primarily focused on one of the designated
thematic areas:
- Conceptual history: The interrelation and change of concepts such
as fertility, freshness, health, vitality, perishability,
durability, preservationthrough cooling technologies; their roles in
cultural practices, figures of thought and discourses related to
nutrition and reproduction.
- Normativity: Ethical, value-theoretical, ecological, and
biopolitical issues regarding the function and use of global cold
chains, cold storages, and cryobanks in food industry or
biomedicine; foundations, arguments, and criteria for their
analysis, regulation, justification, and critique.
- Philosophy of technology: Cooling technologies as formative for
'cryogenic cultures' and related life-forms; embedding of values and
practices in technological artefacts and infrastructures; interplay
of technological and cultural constitution; possibility of their
philosophical analysis and critique.
2. Presenting and publishing research findings; contributing to
conferences, journal articles, and book chapters.
3. Participation in project events in the form of workshops,
conferences, and excursions with international partners (including
research trips to the USA, Asia, and Australia)
4. Intellectual participation in research discussions of the project
and the Institute
PhD thesis
This position offers the opportunity to pursue a doctoral degree in
philosophy. We invite dissertation projects that are closely aligned
with the themes of our project, while also welcoming independent
research proposals that explore philosophical issues relevant to the
project's topic. Please note that the funded working time (65%) is
allocated to project-related tasks; any dissertation work beyond the
project's scope is to be pursued alongside employment. In any case, the
PhD thesis remains an individual qualification project with a clear
philosophical profile.
Your profile
1.
*University Degree (Master/Diploma) in philosophy*; or a closely
related discipline with substantial philosophy coursework
(additional coursework may be required).
2.
*Experience or research interests* in Philosophy of Technology,
Science and Technology Studies, Ethics of Technology, Cultural
Studies, Conceptual History, or Discourse Analysis.
3.
*Proficient English language skills*(C1) are required; German
language skills are desirable, or a willingness to acquire them.
4.
*Strong teamwork and collaboration skills* willingness to travel for
project-related activities.
Your Application
Please include a brief outline (approx. 5 pages) of your dissertation
project with your application documents, indicating its possible
relevance to the project topic. Applications must be submitted by 18
October 2025 via the application portal of TU Darmstadt:
https://www.career.tu-darmstadt.de/HPv3.Jobs/TU-Darmstadt/stellenangebot/50339?lang=en-US
Contact
If you have any questions regarding the application, please reach out to
our project manager Dr. Anne Timm (anne.timm@tu-darmstadt.de). For
inquiries related to the position and its associated activities, please
contact Prof. Dr. phil. Alexander Friedrich
(friedrich@phil.tu-darmstadt.de).
Official job post
For official job announcement (code T402-2025) please refer to:
https://www.career.tu-darmstadt.de/HPv3.Jobs/TU-Darmstadt/stellenangebot/50339?lang=en-US
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