Post Doctorate Fellow - The Bertrand Russell Research Centre

The Bertrand Russell Research Centre and the Philosophy Department at McMaster University invite applications for a 1-year postdoctoral fellowship in the history and philosophy of psychology.

Philosophy of mind that engages research in cognitive psychology is flourishing. But approaching philosophical questions in an empirically-informed way is not a new thing on the intellectual stage. Empirical psychology gained a foothold as an independent scientific discipline around the turn of the 20th century. For reflection on mind conducted before that time, it can be intriguingly difficult to draw a clean line between the philosophical and the (natural) scientific.  

We are building a new project at McMaster aimed at excavating philosophically-rich empirical work on mind from prior centuries. The project aims to address two key questions.

1. What can today’s philosophers of mind and cognitive scientists learn from forgotten, empirically-informed work from the past?

2. How did the rise of an independent science of mind influence the subsequent development of analytic philosophy?

Over the next several years, the Bertrand Russell Research Centre will host a series of workshops and conferences aimed at encouraging new research on these issues. The successful applicant to this position will support this project by conducting original research that addresses one or both of these questions, and by helping with conference organization (along with supporting publications that might flow from these events).

About us:

The Bertrand Russell Research Centre is devoted to the study of Russell and the history of analytic philosophy more generally. We produce the Collected Works of Bertrand Russell, The Collected Letters of Bertrand Russell, and the journal Russell. McMaster is home to the Bertrand Russell Archives, which holds by far the largest collection of Russelliana in the world, including manuscripts, notebooks, photographs, recordings, his personal library, and over 100,000 letters. Russell himself came to champion the philosophical relevance of empirical psychology, so research proposals that connect to Russell are especially welcomed.

Position Duties and Responsibilities:

The incumbent of this position will be responsible for producing research that addresses the project’s core questions, for assisting with grant writing, and for helping organize project-related events.

Salary range:  $80,000-$90,000, including benefits and pension contributions.

Start date: September 2025

Location: Department of Philosophy, McMaster University

Supervisor:

• Alexander Klein (Canada Research Chair, Professor of Philosophy, Director of the Bertrand Russell Research Centre, McMaster University)

Requirements:

• The candidate must have a Ph.D. in philosophy, history and philosophy of science, cognitive psychology, or related areas.

• The candidate must have an independent research proposal compatible with the project outline.  

How to Apply:

Interested applicants should submit the following:

(1) Two-page cover letter outlining a research project the applicant would like to pursue;

(2) Curriculum vitae (please indicate your PhD dissertation title, abstract, and supervisor); and

(3) The names and contact information of up to three references.

The files should be combined into a single PDF file. Please apply on-line.