[PHILOS-L] Final Reminder: Postdoctoral Position in Philosophy of Biology or Physics at KU Leuven (two years fully funded)

[Alejandro Fábregas Tejeda]

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Final Reminder: Postdoctoral Position in Philosophy of Biology or Physics at KU Leuven, Belgium (two years fully funded)

 

We are looking for a researcher experienced in the Philosophy of Biology or the Philosophy of Physics (or both) to join the project “Boundaries of Life: The Role of Self-Organization in the Transition from Non-Living to Living Systems.” This project investigates the emergence of lifelike structures from active matter, bridging the gap between nonliving and living systems. Through an interdisciplinary approach that combines philosophical inquiry with experimental and computational biology, this project uses the lens of self-organization and active matter to explore the boundary between living and nonliving systems, and to discover which properties are central to the formation of lifelike behaviors.

 

A full call for applications can be found here: https://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/jobs/60592158?lang=en

 

This project is led by four PIs, philosopher of biology Grant Ramsey and philosopher of physics Sylvia Wenmackers from the Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science, Bart Smeets from the Department of Biosystems, and Lendert Gelens from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. It will involve philosophical work on the boundary between living and nonliving systems (especially in active matter systems), empirical work (in the Gelens lab) using extracts made from Xenopus frog eggs and embryonic cells assembled in controlled environments, and modelling work (in the Smeets lab) that probes the nature and dynamics of lifelike properties and self-organizing dynamics.

 

The postdoctoral researcher is expected to help develop a framework to understand the nature and objectives of synthetic biology and artificial life research more generally, addressing how the activities and products of these fields contribute to our comprehension of life. This framework will guide subsequent in silico and in vitro experiments and will use the results to rethink how we should characterize life in general. Moreover, the postdoctoral researcher will aid in developing an accessible web-based tool to enable users to explore the emergence of life from its components, based on findings from this project.

 

The successful candidate will be housed in the Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science in the Institute of Philosophy at KU Leuven, Belgium. There will be some additional responsibilities linked to the Institute and Centre, including some teaching duties (1-2 courses per year).

 

Profile

The applicant must have a PhD degree in a relevant subject. The PhD can be in Philosophy of Science, though applicants with a PhD in Biology or in Physics, but who have experience in the philosophy of biology or the philosophy of physics, will also be considered. Candidates possessing relevant experience with developmental biology, active matter systems, self-organization dynamics, and synthetic biology or artificial life research will be given special consideration.

 

Interested?

The applicant should submit a cover letter, a brief project proposal (1000-1250 words) that fits with the advertised project, a CV (including a list of 2-3 references with contact information), and a writing sample. The application deadline is 16, February 2026, 23:59 (CET) and must be submitted via this portal: https://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/jobs/60592158?lang=en

 

Start date: Flexible, but ideally no later than October 2026.

 

For any questions concerning the application, the project, or the position, do not hesitate to contact Prof. Grant Ramsey (grant....@kuleuven.be).

 

- - - 

Alejandro Fábregas-Tejeda

 

Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science,

Institute of Philosophy, KU Leuven

Kardinaal Mercierplein 2 - box 3200

BE-3000 Leuven / Belgium

Email: alejandro.fa...@kuleuven.be 

https://www.alejandrofabregastejeda.com/ 

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