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PhD student or postdoctoral position in philosophy of mind and cognition, Bochum (Germany), Deadline: 25 Mar 2019

PhD or Postdoc Position in Philosophy
available at the Institute of Philosophy II
Ruhr-University Bochum

Call for Applications

Title of the Collaborative Project: "Constructing Scenarios of the Past: 
The Interdependence of Episodic Memory and the Self-Model"

Thematic Framework for the Position: Philosophy of 
Self-Consciousness/Self-Understanding and/or Philosophy of Memory

At the Institute of Philosophy II of the Ruhr-University in Bochum a 
position for a PhD student (65 % TVL) or a postdoc position (100% TVL) is 
offered in the area of philosophy of mind and cognition in the research 
group of Prof. Albert Newen. The position is available for a period of 
three years (with an assessment after the first year). The project will be 
situated in Bochum and developed in a close collaboration with 
philosophers from other RUB departments. The candidates should be 
interested in working out a project within the thematic framework of the 
position determined by the research project described now:

Project Description

The leading questions of this philosophical project are: How is the 
self-model constituted by episodic memory recall and how is episodic 
memory recall shaped by the self-model? One general idea is that the 
self-model is constituted by memory processes. If we had no memories 
(including short-term memories), then there would be no content in the 
self-model. In the other direction, the self-model constrains episodic 
memory recall by demanding coherence with prior background beliefs in the 
self-model. How can we adequately account for the double role of the 
self-model, as being constituted by the memory systems and as constraining 
episodic recall? The answer has to be found within our general framework 
of a generative view of memory, namely that the recall of an 
autobiographical episode is based on triggering relevant memory traces 
which are used to construct a scenario by enrichment or modification 
through semantic information. The project aims to describe both directions 
of the interdependence of self-model and memory, focusing on strong 
influence of the activated content of the self-model on the construction 
of episodic memory. Thus, a main challenge of this project is the adequate 
description of the whole Self-Memory System with a detailed description of 
the influence of the self-model on recall of autobiographic episodes. This 
theoretical project is realized in close collaboration with an additional 
empirical fMRI project (guided by Prof. Nikolai Axmacher in the same 
Research Group) in which we aim to measure the neural correlates of the 
influence of the self-model on episodic recall. Thus, an interdisciplinary 
perspective is essential for the project.

Requirements for PhD applicants: The applicants for a PhD-position are 
expected to have an excellent M.A. (or Staatsexamen degree) in Philosophy. 
Their area of expertise should be in Philosophy of Mind and they should be 
familiar with at least one of the following areas: Cognitive Psychology, 
Artificial Intelligence or Cognitive Neuroscience.

Requirements for postdoc applicants: Candidates should have an outstanding 
PhD in philosophy and, in the ideal case, an additional degree in 
psychology, cognitive science, linguistics, psychiatry or neurosciences. 
Some substantial expertise in at least one of these areas will be 
expected. Furthermore, the candidate is expected to have proven expertise 
either in ?theories of self-consciousness or self understanding? or 
concerning theories of episodic memory.

Application documents: Please send your application to 
sekretariat-newen@rub.de

Your application should consist of two PDF files. The first one is to 
include your personal documents: letter of motivation, CV, copies of 
certificates and records, list of your publications, talks, conferences 
you attended and courses you held; names of 2 referees. The other PDF 
files to be attached should be (i) in the case of a postdoc application: 
your best two publications (accepted papers count) or the completed 
PhD-thesis (Ii) in the case of a PhD application: the completed master 
thesis or a published paper if available.

The applicant need not speak German at the time of application but he or 
she should be willing to learn German in order to be able to engage in 
everyday conversations soon. Candidates should be prepared to participate 
in weekly meetings of the research group of Prof. Newen in Bochum.

The position is available from 1st of July 2019. The position is available 
for a period of three years (with an assessment after the first year).

Please produce one PDF with all documents and submit them via email until 
25th March 2019 to (hard copy submissions cannot be returned):

sekretariat-newen@RUB.DE
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