Postdoctoral Fellow in the Foundations of Mind

Prof. E. J. Green, Miller Associate Professor of Philosophy with secondary appointment in Psychological and Brain Sciences, together with the Foundations of Mind Group at Johns Hopkins University, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Foundations of Mind for a target start date of Sept 1, 2024.

The Foundations of Mind Group is a vibrant interdisciplinary group, connecting faculty, post-docs, and graduate students across the university who are interested in theoretical questions about the mind-brain. Its core faculty are appointed in the Departments of Philosophy, Psychological and Brain Sciences, Cognitive Science (including Linguistics), as well as the Zanvyl Krieger Mind-Brain Institute. The group collaborates, co-teaches, co-advises, organizes reading groups, and sponsors talks and other events. Collaborations among group members have recently appeared in journals such as Mind & Language, The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Science, Psychological Review, Linguistics and Philosophy, and Analysis. Recent Foundations of Mind postdocs have published in Philosophy of Science, The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, and Mind & Language, among other venues.  Current members include Professors Steven Gross, Chaz Firestone, Barbara Landau, Ian Phillips, Elanor Taylor, Lisa Feigenson, Shari Liu, Michael McCloskey, Hanna Pickard, Justin Bledin, Jonathan Flombaum, Paul Smolensky, Christopher Fetsch, Marina Bedny, Ed Connor, Christopher Krupenye, Kyle Rawlins, Howard Egeth, and Justin Halberda.

While a PhD in philosophy is preferred, applicants from other fields (e.g., psychology, cognitive science, or neuroscience) with significant philosophical interests will also be considered. Their research agenda should address topics related to the interests of Prof. Green and/or other members of the group. The research should combine perspectives from more than one of the group’s constituent disciplines, and should yield publications that embody this interdisciplinary perspective.

The ideal candidate will also help to organize workshops on topics at the intersection of philosophy and the mind-brain sciences. The candidate will have opportunities to collaborate with Prof. Green and other members of the group. Although teaching is not required, the candidate will have the opportunity to teach (or co-teach) one course during each year of the Fellowship.

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its faculty, staff, and students. To that end, the university does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or other legally protected characteristic. The university is committed to providing qualified individuals access to all academic and employment programs, benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability, performance and merit without regard to personal factors that are irrelevant to the program involved.

Qualifications
Applications are welcome from candidates who will have their PhD by Sept 1, 2024. Applications will be evaluated based on the applicant’s previous accomplishments, the promise of their proposed research project, and the applicant’s ability to contribute to the intellectual life of the Foundations of Mind group at both an individual and collective level.

Terms of Appointment
The position is anticipated to begin on Sept 1, 2024. It is expected to be a 2-year position, assuming satisfactory performance in the first year. In some circumstances, renewal for a third year may be possible. The position is fully funded. Applicants are expected to be in residence for the duration of the appointment and they may not be employed by another institution during that term. Johns Hopkins offers competitive salary and employee benefits.