Postdoctoral Fellow (EXPIRED)

This is a two-year postdoctoral position in philosophy of language and philosophy of mind. The position is part of a three-year project funded by the Icelandic Research Fund. The Project Leader is Elmar Unnsteinsson (University of Iceland and University College Dublin) and Principal Investigator is Daniel W. Harris (CUNY Graduate Center and Hunter College). 

The title of the project is "Genre and Conversation" and its major task is to develop a theory of basic differences between conversation types. The project has a very broad scope and provides considerable freedom and independence for the postdoctoral fellow to pursue new and interesting research within contemporary philosophy of language and mind. Candidates are encouraged to use the Statement of Research Intent to describe in a generic way the questions and issues they would be most interested to pursue and explain how this builds on earlier projects. The main focus need not be on how those questions and issues are related to the themes of the project.

The project targets foundational questions in planning theory, the semantics-pragmatics interface, and the relation between philosophy of language or mind and philosophy of action. The capacity to recognize and navigate basic genres of conversation is postulated as a component of normal pragmatic competence.

The postdoc will work with Elmar Unnsteinsson and will be an employee of the University of Iceland. The postdoc will also be a Visiting Scholar at University College Dublin and have many opportunities to participate in events or seminars organized in New York. The project is based on a network of collaborators whose core is defined by Reykjavík, Dublin, and New York. Other official participants are Ethan Nowak, Henry Schiller, Jessica Keiser, Sam Berstler, Nat Hansen, and Sarah Fisher.

The application should include:

• An academic CV
• A statement of research intent (up to 500 words)
• A sample of academic writing (e.g., an article or chapter)
• Certificates of academic degrees
• Two or three letters of recommendation with contact information (please ask each referee to email their letter to [email protected])

• A doctoral degree completed within 5 years from the beginning of the fellowship (extensions of eligibility window will be considered for career breaks relating to illnesses, maternity or paternity leaves and other related events).
• Excellent English skills both spoken and written.
• Research background relating to the research focus of the project such as philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, linguistics, and cognitive science is desirable.

Wages according to the current collective agreement by the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs and Félag háskólakennara.

For further information please contact Elmar Unnsteinsson, [email protected], or Eiríkur Smári Sigurðsson, Director of Research, School of Humanities, [email protected].

All applications will be answered and applicants will be informed about the appointment when a decision has been made. We may request more information to help us assess your application. Applications may be valid for six months.