Postdoctoral Researcher

This full time role is available 1st February 2025 to 30th December 2028.

The post

We wish to recruit an outstanding and highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate with expertise in the philosophy of science, in particular where it overlaps with ethics, and with either a special interest in race and racism or a desire to develop in that specialty. You will conduct original research, organize events, undergo training, and assist the ERC-funded project “Human Genomics without Racism – A Philosophical Approach” (HUGERA) led by the Principal Investigator Dr. Celso Neto at Egenis (Centre for the Study of Life Sciences), University of Exeter.

The project will develop an account of how racism can infiltrate and co-opt core methodologies of Human Genomics. You will work closely with the PI to (i) offer an epistemological reconstruction of those methodologies; (ii) examine their assumptions and practices in light of philosophical theories of racism; and (iii) assess ethical risks, as well as epistemic and non-epistemic forms of injustice related to those assumptions and practices.

The project is highly interdisciplinary, including partners from Science and Technology Studies, Anthropology, Human Genomics, and the Philosophy of Race. You will engage with these partners, working closely with another Postdoctoral Research Associate with expertise in Anthropology/Sociology of Race. Together, the PI and the two Postdocs will co-author papers, organize workshops, public talks, a podcast, and edited volumes.

You will be part of the Department of Social and Political Sciences, Philosophy, and Anthropology at the University of Exeter. The Associated will be housed at Egenis, a vibrant research centre at the University of Exeter. You will be expected to participate in the regular activities of the centre. 

About you

You should have:

• PhD or equivalent qualification/experience in philosophy
• Training and experience in philosophy of science, with a special interest in issues around values in science, and/or around race and racism
• Openness to interdisciplinary methods and related fields of research, such as history and philosophy of science (HPS), science and technology studies (STS), and critical race theory
• Sufficient specialist knowledge to develop collaborative and interdisciplinary research projects, and outputs; and communicate complex information clearly across specialisms and with wider public (including in podcast format)

You will be able to:

• Conduct both individual and collaborative research, receiving appropriate support to disseminate this research in peer-reviewed papers, edited volumes, international conferences, and a podcast
• Fully participate in our research team activities, including the organization of events, planning fieldwork, and recording a podcast
• Develop partnerships with scientists and scholars across disciplines and geographies
• Fully participate in the Egenis research community, experiencing a rich interdisciplinary environment of scholarship around the Life Sciences

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

What we can offer you

• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research
• Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
• Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career

• A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26wks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6wks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy

• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon

The University of Exeter

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024).  We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today.  More than 99 percent of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).

We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students. Read about our world leading research – Green Futures and how we are transforming education for a changing world. We are located in a beautiful part of the country and Exeter (a fast growing tech hub) is one of only a few UK cities to have been designated as a UNESCO Creative City

Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are available for interviews and workplaces.