Research Associate in Philosophy

College of Arts and Humanities

School of Humanities

Research Associate in Philosophy

Vacancy Ref: 190693

Salary: Grade 7, £41,064 - £46,049 per annum

To make a leading contribution as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow for the project “Navigating the Neural Frontier: Embedding Ethics and Epistemology in Neurotech”, funded by the UKRI and based at the University of Glasgow’s COGITO Epistemology Research Centre) in collaboration with UofG Centre for Neurotechnology. The successful candidate will produce high-quality research in epistemology in accordance with the project’s aims. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the formulation and submission of research proposals as well as to undertake organizational tasks in the service of managing the project under the direction of Prof J Adam Carter and Dr Emma C Gordon at COGITO.

Project overview:  "Navigating the Neural Frontier: Embedding Ethics and Epistemology in Neurotech"

This PDRA’s position is part of a major UKRI cross-council interdisciplinary project bringing together philosophers and scientists to address the ethical and epistemological challenges posed by rapidly advancing neurotechnology. The project supports postdoctoral researchers based at both the Cogito Epistemology Research Centre and the Centre for Neurotechnology, with regular opportunities for collaboration across the two centres to achieve the project's integrated research goals.

The successful candidate will contribute to developing innovative theoretical frameworks at the intersection of epistemology, ethics, and emerging neurotechnology. Core research areas include: a theory of trust in contexts where memory can be technologically enhanced and where brain-computer interfaces mediate the transmission of information; a neuroauthenticity framework examining whether and how memory modification affects authentic self-knowledge and self-understanding; and an epistemic risk assessment framework examining how neurotechnological design choices affect sensitivity to defeating evidence, evidence retention, and rational belief revision. The postdoc will have the opportunity to explore foundational questions about epistemic agency, testimonial credibility, and the conditions for knowledge in technologically augmented minds—questions that are both philosophically rich and increasingly urgent as neurotechnology advances from laboratory to real-world application.

The position involves collaboration with neuroscientists and includes a structured cross-disciplinary training component, offering the opportunity to engage directly with cutting-edge empirical research on memory enhancement and brain-computer interfaces. This provides a unique environment for developing philosophical frameworks that are both theoretically sophisticated and empirically grounded.

For informal enquiries, please contact Prof J Adam Carter, [email protected].

This post is full time (35 hours per week) and has funding for up to 30th September 2027 with an anticipated start date of 1st April 2026.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.