Postdoctoral Associate

The Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science (MCPS) in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota invites applications for a full-time postdoctoral fellowship for a period of two years starting at the beginning the 2025 academic year (late August 2025). The aim of this position is to support researchers within five years of their doctorate in alignment with and contributing toward the mission of the Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science: to promote excellence in research and training in philosophy of science, related empirical studies of science, and science itself. This support is dedicated to a project in philosophy of science (broadly construed) that the applicant proposes.

The MCPS Postdoctoral Fellow is expected to reside in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, undertake research on a proposed project full-time in an office in the MCPS, and participate in the life of the MCPS by attending and contributing each academic term to at least one MCPS research group and participating in the joint weekly colloquium series with the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Program, as well as special events (e.g., academic workshops). Additionally, in consultation with the Director of the MCPS, MCPS Postdoctoral Fellows will: (1) give an academic talk in the MCPS colloquium series on their research in their first semester in residence; (2) teach one undergraduate course on a topic in philosophy of science either in the third or fourth semester of their residence; and (3) co-lead an MCPS interest group in the third or fourth semester of their residence. MCPS Postdoctoral Fellows are not expected to undertake service responsibility for MCPS or the University of Minnesota. MCPS Postdoctoral Fellowships may not be deferred.

Applicants will have been awarded a doctorate in philosophy or history and philosophy of science within five years of the starting date of the position. Additionally, applicants must have had a dissertation project on or substantial publication in some topic in philosophy of science. Scholars working in all areas of philosophy of science, inclusive of philosophical approaches to logic and mathematics, are eligible. This is understood broadly to include general philosophy of science, as well as issues in the history and practice of particular sciences. Applications are encouraged from scholars with newly awarded doctorates in philosophy or history and philosophy of science at early stages of their career who have not yet secured a permanent academic position. Submissions from members of traditionally underrepresented groups are particularly welcome.

The successful candidate will propose a focused project in philosophy of science to be undertaken and completed during the term of the position. The criteria for evaluation are the academic merit of the proposal and the academic strength of the candidate (demonstrated and potential research excellence and leadership), as well as the potential of the applicant to complement existing strengths of fellows and affiliates of the Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science.