*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/503... *_Contact_* If you have any questions regarding the application, please reach out to our project manager Dr. Anne Timm (anne.timm@tu-darmstadt.de). For inquiries related to the position and its associated activities, please contact Prof. Dr. phil. Alexander Friedrich (friedrich@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/503... <https://www.career.tu-darmstadt.de/HPv3.Jobs/TU-Darmstadt/stellenangebot/50339?lang=en-US>