Head of Philosophy Department

Department of Philosophy, 

Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Carnegie Mellon University

 Located in historic Baker Hall, and founded in 1985 under the leadership of Nobel Laureate Herb Simon, Turing Award Winner Dana Scott, American Academy of Arts and Sciences member Clark Glymour, and visionary President Dick Cyert, the Philosophy Department at Carnegie Mellon is heavily interdisciplinary, fully connected to Carnegie Mellon’s strengths in computing, statistics, mathematics and AI, and oriented around a commitment to analytic rigor.  The department seeks a new Department Head to lead it for the next 5-10 years.  

 Although the department teaches a wide range of undergraduate courses and majors, its research is focused on a relatively small number of areas:  

●      Rational Choice

●      Philosophy of Science and Social Science

●      Causation

●      Logic (both mathematical and philosophical)

●      Formal Epistemology

●      Ethics

●      Linguistics  

Research is often collaborative and grant-funded, with research expenditures averaging between $1 million and $2 million / year. Many faculty in the department have joint appointments in other disciplines,[1] and faculty in general are expected to engage substantively with other disciplines. Faculty in Philosophy have taken leadership roles in the university at large,[2] and the department is an interdisciplinary hub for a number of initiatives across the university.

 In undergraduate education, the department offers six minors and four majors, several of which are in collaboration with other departments:  

●      Philosophy

●      Logic and Computation

●      Ethics, History & Public Policy

●      Linguistics

In graduate education, the department supports two Master’s programs and three PhD programs:

●      Philosophy

●      Logic, Computation, and Methodology

●      Pure and Applied Logic

The department also runs an innovative interdisciplinary summer school in Logic and Formal Epistemology for upper-level undergraduate students from across the country and around the world.  

Department Heads at Carnegie Mellon have substantial autonomy, authority, and responsibility.  The Head of Philosophy oversees a multi-million-dollar budget, which includes reserves that can be accumulated and spent on strategic priorities. They are responsible for faculty searches and staff hiring, reappointment, promotion and tenure cases, oversight of all academic programs, and compliance with university and government policies. Department Heads receive support from the college in fundraising and communications to advance the department’s strategic goals. 

The opportunities for the next Head in leadership are substantial. There will be several hires to replace retiring faculty members, and opportunities to contribute to university-wide initiatives on AI, civil discourse, critical reasoning, ethics, and other topics central to the department. The Head has an opportunity to shape the broad strategic vision for the department in collaboration with its faculty and is expected to work with the other 9 Department Heads in Dietrich College, the Dean, and the faculty within Philosophy to implement this vision. 

[1] Including in Mathematical Sciences, Machine Learning, Social and Decision Sciences, Statistics & Data Science, Neuroscience, and Software and Societal Systems.

[2] Scheines is the Bess Family Dean of the College and the Director of the Simon Initiative; Avigad is the Director of the Hoskinson Center and an interdisciplinary NSF Institute on Math and AI, ICARM; London is co-Director of the K&L Gates Initiative in Ethics and Computational Technologies; Zollman is the Director of the Institute for Complex Social Dynamics; and Kelly is the Director of the Center for Formal Epistemology.  

Qualifications

Applicants should be accomplished in one or more of the department’s research areas at a level sufficient to be appointed as a full professor with tenure at Carnegie Mellon. They should also be a dedicated educator. They should have a demonstrated ability to collaborate productively, ideally with experience in college-wide or university-wide initiatives. They should be able to manage budgets, oversee staff, and lead meetings effectively. Finally, they should have a strategic vision compatible with the existing department, the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Carnegie Mellon in general. 

Application Instructions

Preference will be given to candidates who submit their materials before February 28th.

Applicants should submit the following materials:

●      Cover Letter (1 page)

●      Curriculum Vitae

●      Statement of Administrative Philosophy and Leadership (2-3 pages), including experience with faculty development, curriculum oversight, budgeting, and shared governance

●      Research Statement (2-3 pages) outlining scholarly contributions, current agenda, and future directions

●      Teaching Statement (2-3 pages) describing teaching philosophy, mentoring experience, and approach to undergraduate and graduate education

Applicants advancing beyond the initial review will be asked to provide three letters of reference, and possibly additional materials. 

Confidential discussions about this opportunity may be arranged by contacting the search committee co-chairs, Peter Spirtes ([email protected]) and Christopher Phillips ([email protected]).