CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN PHILOSOPHY OF PHYSICS
The Rotman Institute of Philosophy is inviting applications for a postdoctoral fellowship in foundations of physics, contingent upon availability of funding (we will update this page with further information as it becomes available). The position will be supervised by Chris Smeenk, perhaps in collaboration with a colleague at Western. Applicants should intend to pursue research in a field that aligns with his current interests, including philosophy of physics, history and philosophy of space-time theories, as well as connections between physical theory and general questions in methodology, epistemology, and metaphysics.
The Rotman Institute of Philosophy is an independent research institute at one of Canada’s premier research universities. It has close ties to one of Canada’s leading departments of philosophy, and draws faculty members from a variety of fields. Ongoing research focuses on a variety of philosophical problems arising in contemporary physics, biology, cognitive neuroscience, medical science, and health policy.
ABOUT THE POSITION:
The standard appointment is a two-year term with the possibility of renewal for a third year, assuming agreement by both parties, and sufficient funding.
The Associate will have an office within the Rotman Institute. She or he will be required to involve themselves fully in the research life of the Institute by conducting research leading to peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations, and by participating in conferences, research groups, reading groups, and outreach activities.
Candidates must have had a PhD in philosophy or a related field conferred within five years of the start of the appointment. All PhD requirements must be completed by the starting date. The start date will be negotiated, but will likely be in the summer of 2024. The stipend is $45,000 CAD.
FORMER POSTDOCS:
Postdoctoral Associates at the Rotman Institute have gone on to great things.
- Alida Liberman was awarded the Young Ethicist Prize for best paper by a non-tenured philosopher at the Rocky Mountain Ethics Congress just after her term at the Rotman Institute (2016). Her paper, “Wrongness, Responsibility, and Conscientious Refusal in Health Care.”, was the first applied ethics paper to win the prize.
- Rachael Brown (2013-14) won the Sir Karl Popper Prize in 2014, for the best paper appearing in the British Journal for the Philosophy of Science.
- Kerry McKenzie (2013-14) was hired as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at UC San Diego after her term as a Rotman postdoc.
Learn about all our former postdocs on our alumni page.
Review of applications will begin on February 15, 2024 and will continue on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:
To be considered for this position, applicants must submit the following:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Research Statement (1 page)
- Writing Sample (no more than 8000 words)
- Application form (see link below)
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Combine your supporting documents (curriculum vitae, writing sample, and research statement) into a single pdf file.
2. Complete the Rotman postdoctoral associate application form. The form includes a space for you to upload your supporting documents file.
3. After an initial review of application materials, candidates who are short-listed for the position will need to arrange to have three letters of reference sent directly by their referees. Please be prepared to have these letters submitted upon request.
Applicants should have fluent oral and written communication skills in English. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. Western University is committed to employment equity and welcomes applications from all qualified people, including (but not limited to) women, visible minorities, Indigenous people, and people with disabilities.
If you have any questions regarding the application process, please send an email to rotman.institute@uwo.ca.