Job advertisement PhD position at Wageningen University and Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation (Amsterdam), The Netherlands How safe should donor blood be? - PhD project in public health ethics Donated blood is screened for infectious agents to protect patients against infection. Such screening measures are effective in reducing risks to a minimum, but the quest for safety comes at a cost. For example, the incremental cost-effectiveness of specific screening tests can be more than 1,000,000 euro/QALY, which is very high even compared to the most expensive medical treatments. How far should one go in preventing infection risks? This research project analyses this question from an ethical point of view. The project includes (a) clarification and review of the normative assumptions and arguments in current blood screening policies, (b) philosophical analysis of core concepts like precaution, safety, reasonable risk and responsibility, and (c) normative ethical analysis of obligations to maintain and promote blood safety. The study combines philosophical analysis with (focus group) interviews of stakeholders. The goal is to develop a sensible idea of obligatory and reasonable precautions against infection; and to define practical criteria for blood donor screening that are to be recommended to Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation. For this PhD research project we seek a graduated (MA level) philosopher/bioethicist with excellent skills in normative and conceptual analysis in practical ethics. The successful candidate will have a good mix of relevant skills and qualities, including: - curiosity and passion for studying practical philosophical problems, notably in relation to public health - excellence in academic writing - good communicative skills, notably capability to discuss ethical issues and arguments with medical professionals and policy makers - eagerness to work in a multidisciplinary context. Preferably (s)he has knowledge of ethical discussions about risk and safety, and some experience with interviews and/or focus group studies. We offer – a PhD position (AiO) at Sanquin, based upon a 12 months contract which, if successful, will be extended to cover 4 years in total. – Salary as defined in “CAO” of Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation. – PhD training and supervision according to the regulations of the Netherlands School for Research in Philosophy (Onderzoekschool Wijsbegeerte). – Supervision by professor Hans Zaaijer (Sanquin and University of Amsterdam, Blood-borne Infections) and dr Marcel Verweij (as of May 1st 2013: professor of philosophy, Wageningen University). – Excellent conditions for research in public health ethics: lively debate, enthusiastic colleagues with an international focus, and a fruitful work environment at the Chair Group Philosophy at Wageningen University and at Sanquin (Amsterdam). Application procedure Send your application letter, curriculum vitae and grade average to Sanquin – HRM (werk@xxxxxxxxxx , see below) before April 1st, 2013. Please refer to ‘MK 05-13’ in all correspondence. More information About the project itself: h.zaaijer@xxxxxxxxxx About the application procedure: Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation Human resources management Plesmanlaan 125 1066CX Amsterdam werk@xxxxxxxxxx Marcel Verweij joint editor-in-chief Public Health Ethics http://phe.oxfordjournals.org/ coordinator Master Applied Ethics Ethics Institute, Department of Philosophy Utrecht University Janskerkhof 13a, 3512 BL, Utrecht, The Netherlands phone: +31 30 2539208