Postdoctoral Researcher on the Politics of Sociotechnical Futures (Hype Studies)

Welcome to Maastricht University!
This position offers the opportunity to develop your own research agenda, contribute to teaching, and foster international collaboration. It is particularly suited to scholars interested in the social and political dynamics through which technologies gain meaning, legitimacy, and influence.

Postdoctoral Researcher on the Politics of Sociotechnical Futures (Hype Studies)

Technologies and infrastructures are not only material systems but also objects of public expectations, political visions, and societal debate. This position contributes to the faculty's broader research and teaching agenda on technology, society, and democracy by examining how sociotechnical futures are imagined, negotiated, governed, and contested. Among the many forces that shape sociotechnical futures, hype plays a distinctive role in mobilising attention, resources, expectations, and forms of collective action. Hype Studies is an emerging multidisciplinary field dedicated to unpacking the sociotechnical, affective, economic, and political dynamics of hype (see Galanos et al., 2026).


This postdoctoral position sits at the intersection of research and community-building. The successful candidate will develop an original research project of their own design where their research might focus on advancing theories or methods for studying hype, analysing ongoing technoscientific developments, or exploring how controversies become objects of hype within innovation cultures, politics, markets, or media. Alongside developing a research project, the successful candidate will play an active role in supporting and growing the Hype Studies Network, a rapidly expanding and vivid international community of researchers, artists, journalists, and policymakers.

See: https://hypestudies.org/ and https://zenodo.org/records/18764034 for more information

The position is embedded in the Philosophy Department and will be supervised by Dr. Dani Shanley. The successful candidate will also be affiliated with MUSTS (Maastricht University Science, Technology and Society Studies), giving them access to a vibrant interdisciplinary research environment. The position will involve teaching, with a primary focus on the Bachelor's programme in Digital Society. This is a 24-month, full-time appointment (1.0 FTE; 0.75 research / 0.25 teaching). The successful candidate will work closely with the Hype Studies core team, whose members are spread across Europe. This is an ideal role for someone who is as energised by building communities and collaborative infrastructures as by their own intellectual work.

What you do

• Contributing to the development of the theoretical and/or empirical foundations of Hype Studies as a field.
• Undertaking interdisciplinary research on how technological developments shape political institutions and public attitudes.
• Advancing research on political, technological, and societal transformations, collaborating with academic and non-academic stakeholders to generate meaningful impact.
• Supporting the coordination and administration of the Hype Studies Network, helping to organise network events, workshops, and public-facing activities.
• Contributing to grant writing and funding applications on related projects.
• Teaching in the Bachelor's programme Digital Society, and contributing to other courses and thesis supervision (where needed).
• Engaging with interdisciplinary and international research communities through MUSTS and beyond.

What you bring

We are looking for a collegial and self-directed researcher who will be comfortable operating in an emerging, interdisciplinary field and who will bring genuine enthusiasm for community-building alongside academic rigour. You will be required to communicate clearly with diverse audiences (from students to network partners to funding bodies) and will need to be proactive in identifying and pursuing opportunities. We welcome candidates from a range of disciplinary backgrounds, including philosophy, science and technology studies, sociology, media studies, or related fields.

Candidates should meet the following requirements:

• PhD in Philosophy, Science and Technology Studies, Sociology, Media Studies, or a closely related field (obtained or near completion).
• A demonstrable research interest in hype, expectations, promises, or related dynamics in science, and technology & society.
• A strong academic publication record, appropriate to career stage.
• Experience with or interest in interdisciplinary and collaborative research environments.
• Ability and willingness to contribute to undergraduate and/or postgraduate teaching.
• Experience with event organisation, network coordination, science communication and/or contributing to grant or funding applications (desirable).
• University Teaching Qualification (desirable).
• Strong written and spoken English communication skills.
  
  

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

• A 24-month contract (0,8 - 1,0 fte).
• A gross monthly salary between €4728,00 and €6433,00 (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 Dr. Dani Shanley at Danielle.Shanley@maastrichtuniversity.nl.

The end date of the publication is July 10th 2026.
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.