Call for PhD position in our new research group “Reasoning, Rationality and Science”

Information flow, in particular in the digital age, is based on, and contributes to fragmented social landscapes which can lead to epistemically problematic belief formation processes. This raises the question which socio-epistemic mechanisms underlie such processes and what can be done to mitigate their harmful effects. In order to obtain a better understanding of such mechanisms, the PhD project may focus on some of the following issues:

• the emergence of epistemically pernicious phenomena such as echo chambers, epistemic bubbles, etc.
• the role of epistemic and non-epistemic reasons in social contexts
• the role of higher-order evidence in social opinion dynamics
• an epistemological assessment of interventions such as fact-checking
• the role and emergence of cognitive biases in social reasoning contexts
• the social emergence of nonmonotonic and argumentative aspects of reasoning
• etc.

We are especially interested in applicants who intend to employ formal methods, such as:

• agent-based models and simulations,
• Bayesian and similar quantitative models of reasoning,
• argumentation theory,
• formal logical methods,
• methods from artificial intelligence,
• etc.

The selected candidate (m/f/d) will be supervised by Dunja Šešelja and Christian Straßer and enjoy a vibrant local research environment at RUB. The candidate is expected to actively contribute to seminars, workshops, reading groups, etc. A traveling budget covering expected costs will be provided. The candidate is expected to teach a course for philosophy students (in English or German) 2h/week, on a topic related to the research project.

The load of teaching will be calculated according to § 3 of Lehrverpflichtungsverordnung (state of North Rhine-Westphalia).

You are required to hold a Master’s degree or equivalent degree in Philosophy, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a discipline related to the listed research themes. Other Master’s degrees than Philosophy will be considered if you have a demonstrable experience with the tackling of analytical/conceptual problems.

You should have an interest in (some of) the above listed research themes. Your research will be written and presented in English, so you need a very good command of English. Knowledge of German language is not required.

We welcome candidates (m/f/d) with a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives and we especially encourage candidates (m/f/d) from underrepresented groups to apply. At the Ruhr University Bochum, we wish to promote careers of women in areas in which they are underrepresented, and we would therefore like to encourage female candidates to send us their applications. Applications by suitable candidates with severe disabilities and other applicants with equal legal status are likewise most welcome.

Please send your application with the following documents (bundled in one PDF document):

1. a letter of motivation explaining your interest in the position and your qualifications for it;
2. applicants are welcome to, but do not have to submit a research project.
3. your curriculum vitae;
4. a writing sample (Master thesis, seminar paper or equivalent);
5. names and contact information of two persons willing to provide references;
6. optionally, you can submit a research statement, elaborating on your ideas for a research focus in line with (some of) the above themes.

Applications must be sent by 31 August 2022, 23:59 CEST as a bundled PDF document to the following e-mail address: rrs-philosophy@rub.de. Please indicate “Application for PhD position 2022 with call number 888” in the subject line. If you have any questions, please contact us at dunja.seselja@rub.de and christian.strasser@rub.de.

Travel expenses for interviews cannot be refunded.

For information on the collection of personal data in the application process see: https://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/information-collection-personal-data-application-process.