Associate or Full Professor Philosophy and the City

Welcome to Maastricht University!

Cities are not just places. They are arenas in which the most urgent philosophical questions about power, justice, materiality, and collective life take concrete form. A long-standing tradition in philosophy has engaged urban life as an object of reflection (Simmel, Addams, Dewey and Chicago Sociology, Lefebvre, Sennet etc.). With this position, we aim to build on that tradition and also explore avenues for the cross-fertilization of philosophical insight and the study of concrete urban contexts.
As Associate or Full Professor of Philosophy (depending on your track record and experience), you will join the thriving and collegial environment of the philosophy department at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS), Maastricht University.
FASoS conducts research and education with a focus on societies in transition in four interdisciplinary undergraduate programmes and many Master's and Research Master’s Programmes. This senior academic position contributes to a growing research initiative on urban transformations in post-industrial regions. Our focus is anchored in the transforming cities of the Euregion but aims to generate broad theoretical insights that have relevance the world over.

Associate or Full Professor: Philosophy and the City

Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS)

• Our goal: To contribute to a growing research initiative on urban transformations in post-industrial regions, anchored in the cities of the Meuse-Rhine Euregion and aimed at generating theoretical insights with global relevance.
• Your colleagues: At FASoS, you will join an international community of researchers in the humanities and social sciences. FASoS values interdisciplinary collaboration across its research groups and with external partners in the region and beyond. FASoS has five departments (Philosophy, Society Studies, Literature and Arts, History, and Politics) and four interdisciplinary research programmes (MUSTS, AMC, ESPO, and GTD). This position is situated in the Philosophy department and the MUSTS (Maastricht University Science and Technology Studies) Research Programme.

This is a research-led position as Associate or Full Professor of Philosophy (depending on your track record and experience). We are looking for a colleague with an internationally recognised research agenda at the boundaries between philosophy and fields such as urban studies/urban sociology, heritage studies, cultural and human geography, and critical infrastructure studies.

This position anchors philosophical inquiry to FASoS’s engagement with urban futures, critical infrastructure, the arts and urban culture, urban heritage, and sociotechnical change in the cities of the Euregio (where Maastricht is located) and beyond.

In this role, you will actively engage in national and international academic networks, attract external research funding at both national and European levels, and build a team around this research line.

In addition, you will build lasting partnerships with local and regional urban communities and institutions, establish national and international academic networks, and collaborate across the university, including with the Faculty of Science and Engineering, the Faculty of Law, and the Maastricht Sustainability Institute.

Your work contributes to Maastricht University’s position as a key knowledge centre for the sustainable transformation of urban regions with developing collaborations in local and regional municipalities. You will offer a critical, historical, or conceptual take on urban life and change and bring this body of work into dialogue with UM’s strategic ambitions.

What you do

• Conduct and publish original philosophical research on the city as a site of political, material, artistic, and social inquiry.
• Teach at BA and MA level within the undergraduate and graduate programmes of the faculty and contribute to teaching and curriculum development across the university.
• Supervise BA, MA and PhD students.
• Contribute to research platforms and projects engaging with urban resilience, critical infrastructure, and post-industrial transformation.
• Develop and apply for external research funding.
• Engage with regional partners, including municipalities and civic institutions, where research interests align.
• Contribute to collegial governance and academic service within FASoS and the broader UM community

Are you ready to set the course for the years ahead? Then we’d love to meet you.

What you bring

• Expert in Philosophy and Urban Life/Philosophy and the City: You carry out field-leading research at the boundaries between philosophy and fields such as urban studies/urban sociology, heritage studies, cultural and human geography, and critical infrastructure studies.
• Interdisciplinary thinker: You bring different theoretical and methodological approaches together and can thrive in a context where interdisciplinarity is a leading organizing principle of teaching and research.
• Experienced researcher: You have a proven publication record in high-ranking venues, a strong track record in grant acquisition and the leadership of research teams, and you have an excellent international reputation as a scholar with a distinct research profile.
• Engaged scholar: You actively share your insights beyond academia and collaborate with relevant partners and stakeholders, in the Maas-Rhein Euregion, the Netherlands, and beyond.
• Inspiring teacher: You have demonstrated experience in course coordination, teaching innovation, and thesis supervision. You encourage active student participation and value team teaching within our Problem-Based Learning (PBL) system. You have obtained the Dutch University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) or an equivalent (or are willing to acquire the UTQ within the first two years at FASoS).
• Experienced manager: You have successfully fulfilled senior management roles, such as director of an educational or research program, head of department, and vice-dean of education or research. You have excellent people management skills. (desirable).
• Collegial and community-minded: You contribute to our academic environment through openness, collaboration, and a willingness to take on shared responsibilities.
• Multilingual communicator: You have excellent command of English (C1 level, written and spoken). Non-Dutch speakers are expected to acquire an intermediate level of Dutch (B1) within three years. Dutch language skills are a strong plus.

What we offer
At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer:

• A 18-month contract (1,0 FTE) with the prospect of a permanent contract based on mutual satisfaction.
• A gross monthly salary between € 6.835 and € 10.441 (depending on your role) based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week). 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
• 29 vacation days (based on full-time), four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day), and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours.
• Flexible working hours, a home office allowance, and the option to work from home.
• Freedom and space to shape your work independently and develop your ideas.
• A close-knit community of colleagues to collaborate and grow with.
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to various university sports facilities.
• An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe.

About the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS)
FASoS is a close-knit, international community of thinkers, doers, and connectors. We offer interdisciplinary education in cultural and social sciences, and our research focuses on societies in transition. Creativity and collaboration are central; ranging from European integration, digitalization, and culture to innovative educational projects. FASoS is small-scale, informal, and diverse, with room to follow your own path.

Interested?
Want to know more about this position or what it’s like to work at our university? Reach out to Katleen Gabriels at [email protected]. The end date of the publication is 30 November 2026. Interviews will be held in Early 2027.

Start Date for the position is September 2027.

If you apply, please upload the following documents:

• Your PhD degree certificate;
• A full CV (including a complete list of publications with clear differentiation between peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed publications and an overview of teaching experience, funding acquisition, management experience, and outreach activities);
• A research & teaching statement;
• A document on leadership experience and vision;
• Teaching evaluations;
• A writing sample (a published article or book chapter);
• The contact information of up to three academic referees (including e-mail, phone number, and relationship to the applicant);
• A motivation letter (2 to 3 pages); Clearly explain why you are a strong fit for the position of Associate or Full Professor in Philosophy at FASoS and how you meet the expectations for a, 18-month tenure-track appointment at our university. Please address the following elements:

1. Motivation and fit
   • Explain your motivation for applying to our department and faculty;
   • Describe how your expertise in “philosophy and urban life” aligns with our existing strengths, research themes, and curriculum;
   • Indicate your interest in contributing to interdisciplinary initiatives, research groups, or societal impact activities.
2. Research profile and agenda
   • Summarize your research background, including your main areas of specialization (AOS) and competence (AOC) within philosophy;
   • Highlight your most significant scholarly contributions to date (e.g., published papers, book projects, working papers);
   • Provide a concise overview of your research agenda for the next 3–5 years, including planned publications, funding applications, and potential internal and external collaborations;
   • Describe experience with grant acquisition, research leadership (such as PhD and postdoc supervision), and societal engagement.
3. Teaching experience and philosophy
   • Outline your teaching experience, including courses taught, levels (BA/MA), formats (lectures, seminars), and responsibilities (course coordination, assessment);
   • Describe your teaching philosophy, especially how you engage students in questions related to cultural studies, and support an inclusive learning environment;
   • Indicate which courses in our curriculum you feel prepared to teach and what your contributions could be to further develop these courses;
   • Mention any experience with supervising theses, mentoring students, or co-developing new courses.
4. Leadership experience and vision
   • Provide an overview of leadership roles (e.g., head of department, research program leader, (vice-)dean) that you have fulfilled;
   • Describe your key values and strengths as a leader;
   • Include examples that demonstrate your leadership style.
5. Contribution to Academic Community
   • Describe your experience with academic service, such as committee work, organizing workshops or conferences, peer review, or other contributions;
   • If applicable, mention experience fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion.
6. Contact Information and referees
   Provide your full contact details and include links to:
   • Your ORCID profile or other relevant links;
   • The names of up to three academic references who can speak to your qualifications for the vacancy.

Apply now via the button below. We look forward to getting to know you!

About Maastricht University
At Maastricht University, we collaboratively seek solutions to help move the world forward. We do this with 23,300 students and 5,400 employees across 5 regional locations, 6 faculties, and more than 70 research institutes. We encourage you to push boundaries and discover new opportunities for yourself and the world around you. Together, we can find the answers for tomorrow.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

At Maastricht University, we prefer to contact potential candidates directly. We therefore kindly ask that no agencies or intermediaries submit offers or approaches.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.