Postdoctoral Researcher

• Apply before 19/01/2026 (DD/MM/YYYY) 23:59 (Brussels Time)
• Department: LW01 - Wijsbegeerte en Moraalwetenschap
• Occupancy rate:50%
• Number of positions: 1
• Type of employment: Contract of limited duration
• Term of assignment: 6 maand
• Wage scale: PD1 to PD4 (doctoral degree)
• Required diploma:PhD

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15,000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. With its 11 faculties and more than 80 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

YOUR TASKS

• At least 85% of your assignment will be spent on academic research. You will be a senior researcher in the ERC-funded DIME project \"Disruptive innovation in healthcare requires disruptive innovation in medical ethics\" ), working with the PI, another postdoctoral researcher and 2 PhD students.

Several recent medical innovations do not conform with the way medicine traditionally operates, but rather blur the boundaries of medicine and/or side-line the doctor-patient relationship as an essential aspect of healthcare. Examples of this are healthcare apps, direct-to-consumer genetic testing, disease surveillance, electronic patient records, telehealth and certain types of clinical decision support systems. The project postulates that several of these new innovations will fundamentally change the very concept of medicine and thus turn out to be disruptive innovations.

Given that medical ethics are tailored to 'traditional' medicine, we should be critical about its current ability to cope with these changes and question whether the discipline of medical ethics is sufficiently equipped to guide new, disruptive innovations in healthcare towards their great potential in terms of improving patients' access to good quality healthcare, while also safeguarding patients/users for the risks that come with them, not only in terms of health, but also in terms of infractions against firmly rooted values such as patient autonomy, the duty of care, confidentiality or privacy. If the medical ethics toolbox is ill-equipped to deal with these challenges, we urgently need to rethink or replace procedures, principles or theories in order to remedy this problem.

DIME is addressing these challenges by focussing on three main objectives:
(1) To establish where the most prominent ethical disruptions are located and therefore in which areas reorientations of ethical principles are most urgently needed.
(2) To develop normative arguments regarding which fundamental procedures, principles or theories in medical ethics ought to be reinforced, adapted or replaced in the face of disruptive innovations to better cope with the challenges ahead.
(3) To critically analyse the shifting moral responsibilities in healthcare as a consequence of disruptive innovations. You will be working on tasks (1) and (2). In this final phase of the project, it will be your duty to bring together the scientific output that has already been generated in the course of the project into a final, coherent deliverable, that is, an open access book.

• You will also help with the organisation of the final conference.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• You hold a thesis-based doctorate in Moral Sciences, Philosophy or equivalent.
• You have a passion for research and for medical ethics.
• You have an impressive track record in medical ethics (publications, awards).
• You are able to work independently and take initiative, yet you are also a team player.
• You have excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• You possess strong analytical skills.
• You are willing to provide support for the organization of conferences, workshops and meetings of the DIME project and the METAMEDICA platform.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• We offer you a part-time (50%) contract of definite duration for the period from 1/2/2026 to 31/7/ months).
• Your contract will start on 1/02/2026 at the earliest.
• Your remuneration will be determined by salary scale PD1 to PD4 (if you hold a doctorate). Click here for more information about our salary scales.
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits.
• You will work in the inspiring environment of the Bioethics Institute Ghent (gathering bioethics expertise at Ghent University) and the METAMEDICA platform (gathering expertise on legal and ethical implications of innovation in health care).

INTERESTED?

Apply online through the e-recruitment system before the application deadline (see above). We do not accept late applications or applications that are not submitted through the online system.

Your application must include the following documents:

• In the field 'CV': your CV and a transcript of your academic record (merged into one pdf file)
• In the field 'Cover letter': your application letter in pdf format
• In the field 'Diploma': a transcript of the required degree (if already in your possession). If you have a foreign diploma in a language other than our national languages (Dutch, French or German) or English, please add a translation in one of the mentioned languages.

Note that the maximum file size for each field is 10 MB.

As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Heidi Mertes , Important: do NOT send your application by email, but apply online.

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