JACOB NEAL

My primary research interests are in philosophy of the molecular life sciences—biophysics, biochemistry, and structural and molecular biology. These disciplines offer untapped potential for history and philosophy of science. My research, which examines epistemological, methodological, and historical questions that arise in these sciences, explores ways of adapting debates in philosophy of science to fit the molecular and often biomedical context of research in these fields.

My research has three major strands. The first examines explanatory practices in molecular and structural biology. I focus on a late twentieth century development: changes in explanations of protein function associated with the shift from static to dynamic representations of proteins. The second strand evaluates reduction, unification, and other strategies for dealing with the epistemic and methodological challenges raised by scientific work located at the intersection of biology, physics, and chemistry. The third considers conceptual issues in the evolution of proteins by exploring how new knowledge of protein dynamics poses a problem for existing accounts of biological function.

I received my PhD in History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Pittsburgh in 2021. Prior to joining Pitt HPS, I completed an MSc in Philosophy of Science at the London School of Economics (LSE). I also have an MA in Philosophy from the University of Memphis, MS and BS degrees in Biochemistry and Structural Biology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and the University of Richmond, as well as a BA in Gender Studies from the University of Richmond.