Applications invited for three-year postdoctoral position

The Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota invites applications for a three-year full-time postdoctoral position in conjunction with the "Consortium for Advancing a Science of Purpose" (CASP) project sponsored in part by the John Templeton Foundation. Note: this is one of two postdoctoral positions associated with the project.

CASP extends and develops innovative research structures and activities in support of interdisciplinary work in the life sciences. It specifically engages a broad community of scholars, bringing together philosophers, theoreticians, and experimentalists to advance how we investigate and understand topics related to the complex theme of teleology (i.e., the study of purposiveness), which includes a variety of contested concepts (e.g., agency, directionality, function, goal-directedness) related to phenomena across spatial and temporal scales.

Applicants should have a Ph.D. in philosophy or a related field with a background in the biological sciences, demonstrated interest in questions surrounding the purposiveness of living systems and teleological reasoning, and evidence or promise of scholarly achievement. Prior experience with multi-institutional grant projects and/or interdisciplinary research teams is preferred.

The successful candidate will: (a) carry out an original philosophical research program under the supervision of Alan Love at the University of Minnesota focusing on the intellectual themes of CASP, and (b) work in close collaboration with the central administrative team at the University of Minnesota in conceptualizing and implementing novel research facilitation activities.

The Postdoctoral Fellow is expected to reside in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, undertake research on topics related to the intellectual themes of CASP full-time in an office on the West Bank of the Twin Cities campus, and collaboratively work with Alan Love and the central administrative team on the CASP project more broadly.

Postdoctoral Fellows are not expected to undertake service responsibility while in the role.

Find out more and apply online using Job ID: 373380.