Assistant Professor in Political Philosophy

Welcome to Maastricht University!
At Maastricht University, philosophy plays a vital role in understanding a world marked by political tensions, technological upheaval, and societal transformations. Here, you contribute to education and research that help make sense of the evolving political landscape in Europe and beyond. You join an international academic community where critical thinking, collaboration, and curiosity drive everything we do — and where your philosophical perspective helps students and colleagues engage thoughtfully with today’s most pressing democratic challenges.

Assistant Professor in Political Philosophy

• Our goal: Strengthen our research and teaching in political philosophy, with a focus on inequality in contemporary European democracies.
• Your colleagues: A diverse and international group of philosophers working across political philosophy, philosophy of technology, and philosophy of art and culture at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS).

The department of philosophy at Maastricht University is looking for an Assistant Professor in political philosophy, with a research focus on inequality in contemporary European democracies. We are searching for someone enthusiastic about connecting normative theory with real-world challenges, working across disciplinary boundaries, and contributing to collaborative research.

You have a research profile in contemporary political philosophy or political theory. You contribute to normative and conceptual debates about inequality in contemporary European democracies and the interaction between different dimensions of such inequality (e.g. social, cultural, economic, and political). Potential focal points of your contribution may include but are by no means limited to theorizing (responses to) the challenges posed to contemporary democracies by concentrated economic power, precarization, the resurgence of inegalitarian political ideologies, and the political economy of financialized capitalism. You are capable of connecting your normative and conceptual research to empirical scholarship.   

You will join our “Europe: Society, Politics, and Global Order” research programme. You will teach across our BA and MA degree programmes. You will also be part of the Dutch national-level humanities and social sciences sector plan “Societal Inequality and Diversity”, in which you liaise with colleagues from other traditions of inquiry, such as qualitative social research or psychology.

What you do

• Engage in field-leading research in political philosophy, publishing in international journals, presenting at conferences and organising research activities within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
• Deliver top-quality education through co-teaching and coordinating courses; supervising BA and MA students in their theses and leading student research projects
• Apply for external research funding at the national and European level.
• Actively collaborate with colleagues from across departments in interdisciplinary teaching and research activities.

What you bring

• A PhD in political philosophy, political theory or social philosophy or a closely related field.
• A growing publication record, appropriate to your career stage, in internationally recognized venues.
• Experience teaching and supervising students at undergraduate level, and ideally at the graduate (MA) level.
• Excellent command of English (C1 level) and the ability to teach in English.
• A collaborative mindset and enthusiasm for interdisciplinary education and research.
• Willingness to obtain the Dutch University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) and to acquire Dutch language skills up to B1 level within three years.

Candidates from under-represented groups in academia and philosophy are particularly encouraged to apply.

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

• An 18-month contract with the prospect of a permanent contract, subject to positive assessment.
• A gross monthly salary between €4.728 and €6.433 (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 options for hybrid working.
• The freedom and space to shape your work independently and develop your ideas.
• A close-knit community of colleagues committed to support, collaboration, and innovation.
• A solid pension scheme through ABP, company fitness arrangements, and access to extensive 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 scholarly community. We provide interdisciplinary education in the humanities and social sciences across four main BA/MA pillars: Arts and Culture, European Studies, Digital Society, and Global Studies/Development. Our research focuses on social, political, and cultural change across four interdisciplinary programmes: Europe: Society, Politics, and Global Order (ESPO), Maastricht University Science, Technology, and Society Studies (MUSTS), Globalization, Transnationalism, and Development (GTD), and Arts, Media, and Culture (AMC) — with room to grow, explore, and shape your own academic path.

About the Department:
You will be based in the Department of Philosophy at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.  Members of the philosophy department teach in the interdisciplinary BA and MA Programmes at FASoS and across Maastricht University.

Research in the Department of Philosophy has three main foci:

• Philosophy of Technology, particularly the ethics and politics of new and emerging technologies, and the history of the philosophy of technology.
• Political Philosophy, including oligarchic power, political realism, democratic theories, environmental politics, gender, and critical theory.
• Philosophy of Art and Culture, with a focus on artistic research, aesthetics and the philosophy of music, theories of culture and cultural change, and critical theory.

Interested?

Want to know more about this position or what it’s like to work at our university? Contact Darian Meacham at d.meacham@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
You can also apply directly using the button below.

Please upload the following documents:

• 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 Motivation Letter
• A Research & Teaching statement containing the elements outlined below. 
• Teaching evaluations (if available);
• A writing sample (preferably a published article or book chapter)
• The contact information of up to three referees (including e-mail, phone number, and relationship to the applicant)

Your Motivation Letter and Research and Teaching Statement should include the following elements: 

Clearly explain why you are a strong fit for the position of Assistant Professor in Political Philosophy at the Faculty of Arts and Social Science, Universiteit Maastricht and how you meet the expectations for a tenure-track appointment at our university. Please address the following elements:

1. Motivation and Fit

• Explain your motivation for applying to our department and university.
• Describe how your expertise in political philosophy aligns with our existing strengths, research themes, and curriculum.
• If applicable, indicate your interest in contributing to interdisciplinary initiatives, research groups, or societal impact activities.

2. Research Profile and Agenda

• Summarize your research profile, including your main areas of specialization (AOS) and competence (AOC) within political philosophy.
• Highlight your most significant 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 collaborations.
• Comment on how your research could contribute to our department’s political philosophy group and to broader debates in political philosophy surrounding inequality in contemporary European democracies.
• If relevant, briefly describe experience with grant acquisition, research leadership, or 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 political philosophy or adjacent fields, and support an inclusive learning environment.
• Indicate which courses in our curriculum you feel prepared to teach and where you could contribute new course offerings or other curricular innovations.
• Mention any experience with supervising theses, mentoring students, or developing new courses.

4. Contribution to Academic Community

• Describe your experience with academic service, such as committee work, organizing workshops or conferences, peer review, or departmental contributions.
• If applicable, mention experience fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion.

5. 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.

The first interview round is planned for 27 March 2026. The second interview round will take place on 20 April 2026.

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 to internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Maastricht University is committed to nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population strengthens the quality of our research and education. We encourage you to apply.