[Air-L] PhD opportunity in Philosophy of Technology / TU Darmstadt

[Miriam Fahimi]

*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 at tu-darmstadt.de). For 
inquiries related to the position and its associated activities, please 
contact Prof. Dr. phil. Alexander Friedrich 
(friedrich at 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 
<https://www.career.tu-darmstadt.de/HPv3.Jobs/TU-Darmstadt/stellenangebot/50339?lang=en-US>