Researcher Position (24 months) in Applied Ontology & Sustainability, PTH Brixen (Italy)

Researcher (24 months, fulltime employment)  

The Philosophical-Theological College Brixen (PTH) in Bressanone/Italy is the oldest institution of higher education in South Tyrol, with a focus on philosophical and theological education and research. We are searching for a Researcher (24 months, fulltime employment) within the project “Climate, Plastics and Sustainability: Ontology and Operationalisation” (ClimOO), funded by the Autonomous Province Bolzano/South Tyrol.

The project is a joint research effort of the PTH Brixen (lead partner), Eco Research Bolzano, the Laimburg Research Centre, and Fraunhofer Italia, and will involve an interdisciplinary group of researchers from these institutions.

In the subproject hosted at the PTH Brixen, we will help to analyse how climate and environmental impacts are defined in existing standards and good practices, and how climate change and (micro)plastic pollution in agriculture are operationalised. We will use these results to develop a reference ontology to integrate the data collected by the various methods identified.

Necessary requirements for the position at the PTH are:

a) Master degree or equivalent in Philosophy or another relevant subject; a PhD or other research experience will be an asset.

b) Expertise in at least one of the following areas: philosophy of science, applied ontology, knowledge representation, environment and sustainability.

c) Ideally working knowledge of first-order logic, the Web Ontology Language (OWL), the Basic Formal Ontology (BFO) and the Protégé editor.

d) Proficiency in written and spoken English. Communicative skills in German and/or Italian will be a plus.

e) Willingness for (and ideally experience in) interdisciplinary cooperation

f) Ability to do independent research as well as to work in a team

g) Organisational skills

The successful applicant should take up the position on 2. June 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Women and applicants from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply.

Applications with letter of motivation, academic CV including contact details of up to three references, and a writing sample should be sent as a single PDF by email till 21. March 2025 to ludger.jansen at pthsta.it. For further inquiries, please contact Prof. Dr. Ludger Jansen, ludger.jansen at pthsta.it.

Applications must be received before 21 March, 2025