Part-time academic post - Faculty of Philosophy and Letters - Field: Theory of knowledge and philosophy of science

Start date: 01/02/2025

The University of Liège is the biggest French-speaking public university in Belgium. It has more than 5,700 members of staff in four campuses, including 3,600 teachers and active researchers in all fields of the human and social sciences, science and technology, and health sciences. It hosts nearly 27,000 students of 123 different nationalities in one of the most multicultural and dynamic cities in Europe, less than an hour from Brussels and Cologne, two hours from Paris and three hours from London and Amsterdam.

Actively involved in the social and environmental transition, Uliège supports students in their roles as responsible citizens (training in sustainable development, Green Office, etc.) and promotes ethical, multidisciplinary and open research. ULiège is committed to the region in which it operates and contributes towards its socio-economic development. It has developed numerous partnerships, notably with the CHU de Liège. International and united, it participates in the European University of Post-Industrial Cities, UNIC initiative and has one of the most extensive collaborative networks in the world.

ULiège offers attractive career prospects in a high-quality working environment, promoting well-being, diversity and equality of opportunity.  Since 2011, it has been proud to hold the European label Human resources strategy for researchers (HRS4R) which reflects its commitment to open, transparent and merit-based procedures. In addition, it recognises the quality and diversity of research in line with the recommendations of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA). ULiège encourages the internationalisation of its academic staff and facilitates the arrival of international researchers through its EURAXESS centre.                                                                                           

Job description

A part-time (50%) indivisible post in the field of the “Theory of knowledge and philosophy of science”, within the Department of Philosophy. This post includes teaching and research activities as well as services to the Community.

Teaching activities

The provisional list of courses covered by this post is as follows:

• Introduction to metaphysics and the theory of knowledge, Bachelor’s in philosophy, Block 1, 30h Th, 5 ECTS, first term.
• Philosophy of science, Part: Philosophy of Science Seminar, Master’s in Philosophy, 45h SEM, 5 ECTS, co-teaching (22.5h/tenured teaching staff), all year round.
• Questions in the philosophy of science, Master’s in Philosophy, 30h Th, 5 ECTS, co-teaching (10h/tenured teaching staff), second term.
• Epistemology of health sciences, Master’ in Health Sciences and Master’s in Nursing, 15h Th, 1 ECTS, second term.
• Elements of philosophy of science, Bachelor’s in Chemical Sciences and Bachelor’s in Geological Sciences, 15h Th, 2 ECTS, second term.
• Philosophy and Ethics of Bioengineering, Bachelor’s in Engineering Sciences, specialisation in bioengineering, 24h Th, 1 ECTS, co-teaching (12h/tenured teaching staff), first term.

Total: 99.5 hours of teaching for nearly 400 students×. The two courses scheduled in the first term will be included in the course load from the 2025–2026 academic year.

The job-holder will be expected to teach these courses and use all the resources available to ensure that they are well organised.

Research Activities

The job-holder will be expected to

• develop research, particularly in the field of the Theory of Knowledge and the Philosophy of Science.

• maintain scientific collaboration with colleagues in the Department of Philosophy.

• publicise the results of their research in communications and national and international scientific publications.

Services to the community

The job-holder will be expected to participate actively in all administrative tasks related to their membership of the academic body of the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities of the University of Liège.

More detailed specifications will be drawn up in consultation with the successful candidate, the Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities, the Chair of the Department of Philosophy and, where appropriate, the Director of the chosen research unit.

Qualifications required / profile

• Hold a doctorate
• Demonstrate teaching skills.
• Be able to teach in French.
• Demonstrate a record of scientific research in the field of the Theory of Knowledge or the Philosophy of Science.

Selection procedure

After assessing the applications, short-listed candidates will be asked to give a public lecture In French on a subject defined in advance by the Appointments Committee. This lecture will be followed by an interview, also in French.

Our institutional policy is based on diversity and equality of opportunity. We select candidates on the basis of their qualities regardless of age, sexual orientation, origin, beliefs, disability or nationality.

Applications

Applications should be made using the online form available on the following website: https://my.uliege.be/portail/go_xt.do?a=o%7C11004%7Ce%7C575837. To be eligible, applications must be submitted no later than 30/04/2024 (before midnight Belgian time).

Documents required:

• Cover letter.
• Curriculum vitae (download model HERE).
• Complete list of publications*.
• A short description of past research and the research plan, including its planned integration into the University of Liège (max. two pages)*.
• A description of any prior teaching experience and a teaching plan (max. 2 pages)*.
• A copy and a summary of the five most significant publications*.

These documents must be uploaded in PDF format to the online application platform (see link in the "APPLICATIONS" section). Documents marked with * must be compiled into a single PDF. It is also possible to provide a download link for these.

Recruitment conditions

The position is awarded either for a fixed term of four years, or, in certain exceptional circumstances, immediately on a permanent basis.

If a fixed term contract is awarded, an evaluation will be carried out at the end of the third year.

• If the evaluation is negative, the person’s appointment will end after the fourth year.

• If the evaluation is positive, the person will be appointed permanently.

Information

Information concerning the job description and the required profile can be obtained from the President of the Department of Philosophy: Mr Arnaud DEWALQUE - Tel: +32 (0)4 366 55 93 – a.dewalque@uliege.be

Further information can be obtained from the Administrative Service of the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters: Ms Chantal RIGAL – tel.: +32 (0)4 366 54 54 – Chantal.Rigal@uliege.be

Remuneration:

Salary scales and how they are applied are available from the human resources department of the University: Ms Ludivine DEPAS – tel.: +32 (0)4 366 52 04 – Ludivine.Depas@uliege.be