Fully funded PhD fellowship (3 years) in metaphysics of physics

Are you interested in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of metaphysics and physics, then you might be the PhD fellow we are looking for. 

Many metaphysical theories are deeply reliant on the fundamental existence of space and time. What is a world, metaphysics, for instance, asks? One standard answer is that a world includes everything that is related in space and time. The problem is that physicists’ work to combine quantum mechanics and gravity has led to a growing consensus that spacetime is not fundamentally real. Inside black holes, for instance, space and time seem to cease to exist. Is the interior of black holes therefore not in the world? In this PhD, you will help answering questions like this.

You will do so as part of a project led by Dr. Rasmus Jaksland. The project's guiding idea is that the role that spacetime plays in metaphysical theories can instead be played by quantum entanglement. Entanglement is a strange kind of coordinated behavior between quantum systems. The hypothesis of the project is that entanglement can be understood as an irreducible, external relation. And the aim is to use it to construct entanglement-based accounts of what a world is, how elements of a world get individuated, and what laws of nature are. As the PhD fellow on this project, you will participate in this work.

The fellowship is fully funded and your gross salary will normally be NOK 550 800,- per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary. The employment period is 3 years for the doctoral work. The fellowship comes with generous travel funds that can, for instance, be used for international conferences and research stays abroad.

To apply for the fellowship, you must have a relevant master's degree in philosophy, physics, mathematics, or equivalent. Your course of study must normally correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master's level. Master's students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position.

The application must include: 

• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees
• CV 
• Writing sample (maximum 10000 words/25 pages). The writing sample can be any published or unpublished work by you that you think reflects your general academic qualifications
• A text where you reflect on your preferred take on the topic of the project and how your academic background and skills make you qualified for contributing to the project (maximum 1600 words/4 pages). This text is not expected to be a full research proposal, but rather a reflection on your academic interests and ability in relation to the themes of the project. A more detailed project description can be obtained upon request at [email protected].
• Names and contact information of two relevant referees.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview in the second half of June.

Further details on selection criteria and instructions for how to apply can be found here: https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/301262/phd-fellow-in-metaphysics-of-physics.