Since 2023, he has held the position of Professor of Political Epistemology and co-directs the Center for Research Integrity and Open Science, a collaboration between VU Amsterdam and AUMC. From 2019 to 2023, he served as an extraordinary professor of Christian philosophy at the Faculty of Religion, Culture, and Society at the University of Groningen one day a week. For the past three years, he has been a member of the NWO SGW Domain Board. Additionally, between 2017 and 2022, he was first a member and then the chair of The Young Academy of the KNAW.
His research focuses on how democracies can become more intelligent—and how they can go wrong. ‘In recent years, I’ve taken an increasingly interdisciplinary approach, exploring not only philosophical literature but also political science and communication research. Collaborating with colleagues from other disciplines has shown me firsthand the immense value of interdisciplinary work in the social sciences and humanities,’ says De Ridder.
At the same time, he emphasises the importance of a strong disciplinary foundation. ‘Good interdisciplinary research can only come from a solid grounding in your own field. This is also the guiding principle for my vision of research in our new faculty: collaboration where it adds value, but never as an end in itself.’
Beyond that, he is committed to fostering a research culture that is healthy, honest, safe, and open.
‘Jeroen loves cooking good food, but even more, he loves eating it.’
De Ridder is deeply convinced of the vital role of social sciences and humanities:
‘We should take pride in our expertise and advocate for its full potential. The greatest challenges of our time demand insights from the humanities and social sciences—into history, culture, behaviour, politics, religion, and society.’
