Dr Alex Thinius (A.C.)
Dr. Alex Thinius is a scholar of philosophy and socio-cultural studies, interested in how categories change in socio-cultural practice.
As a teacher, Alex is interested in pro-democratic pedagogies. Before joining the metamedica team at UMaastricht, Alex has taught in philosophy and in cultural analysis at Universiteit van Amsterdam, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, RU Bochum, and Universität Münster.
Alex's most recent work analyzes how researchers in biomedicine renegotiate their understandings of sex and gender. Developing out of Alex’ NWO Rubicon postdoc project, this research is, in part, anchored in the GenderSci Lab (Harvard University) of which Alex has been a member since 2022.
A second research theme focuses on the metaphysics of socio-cultural categories as dynamic processes ("Dynamic Categories"), following up on Alex's PhD research on what gender and genre categories are, completed at the Universiteit van Amsterdam in 2021.
Career history
ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT
- 2024-26 Lecturer, Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA): Dept. Literary Studies and Linguistics, Section Literary and Cultural Analysis; Department of Philosophy, Section Philosophical Tradition in Context
- 2024-25 Lecturer, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen (RU), Dept. Metaphysics and Philosophical Anthropology
- 2023 Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University, GenderSci Lab, Department of History of Science. Funded by an NWO Rubicon individual postdoc research grant.
- 2021-22 Lecturer, UvA: Dept. Literary Studies and Linguistics, Section Literary and Cultural Analysis; Dept. Philosophy, Philosophy and Public Affairs; Amsterdam University College
- 2016-21 Doctoral Researcher, Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis (ASCA), UvA. Funded by an individual PhD research grant
Other Academic Employment
- 2021 Teaching Assistant, UvA, Departments of Theater Studies and Art History
- 2018 Adjunct Lecturer (Lehrauftrag), Department of Philosophy I, Philosophy of Science, Bochum University
- 2016 Adjunct Lecturer (Lehrauftrag), Münster University: Dept. Political Science; Center for Philosophy of Science
- 2011-12 Student Assistant, Münster University, Center for Philosophy of Science
TEACHING PROFESSIONALIZATION (Selection)
- 2022 Dutch “University Teaching Qualification” (BKO), Universiteit van Amsterdam
- 2021 “The Mixed Classroom in Practice”, Diversity Teacher Training, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam & LEARN! Academy
- 2016 “Understanding Roles and Communication”, University of Münster
ACADEMIC AFFILIATIONS
- Since 2025 Diversity Reading List, Section Editor "Social Philosophy" https://diversityreadinglist.org/
- Since 2022 Harvard University, GenderSci Lab, Ongoing Member, Researcher https://www.genderscilab.org/
- 2021-22 UvA, Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis, Dept. of Philosophy, Research Associate
- 2019 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Linguistics and Philosophy, Cambridge MA, Visiting PhD student, supervisor Prof. Sally Haslanger
- 2018 University of Sheffield, Department of Philosophy, Visiting PhD student, supervisor Komarine Romdenh-Romluc
- 2018 Mumbai University, Department of English Literature, supervisor Shoba Venkatesh-Ghosh
EDUCATION
- PhD 2021 Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA). Dissertation “Genders as Genres: Understanding Dynamic Categories” Supervisors Prof. dr. Beate Rössler, Prof. dr. Robin Celikates (FU Berlin)
- MA 2015 Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen (RU). Philosophy (cum laude)
- BA 2012 University of Münster. Double Major in Philosophy and in Cultural- & Social-Anthropology (both rated excellent)
Certificate Courses (Selection)
- 2024 UvA, Institute for Social Sciences, Comprehensive Introduction to Research Methodology and Design (Qualitative, Quantitative, Mixed Methods)
- 2018 Central European University, Budapest, The Biological and the Social Between 1900 and Today
Without Degree
- 2012-14 ArtEZ Conservatory Arnhem, Study Bachelor of Music
- 2011-15 Münster University, BA Study Musicology