Two Postdoctoral Positions in Philosophy of Physics (Three Years, each)
Where: University of Graz, Austria
Starting date: January 1, 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter
Duration: Three years
Gross annual salary (100%, before taxes): €70,200.20
Extent of employment: 75%-100% (both positions are expected to be 100%, subject to final approval)
Application deadline: November 20, 2026
The PI of the FWF ASTRA project “The Phenomenological Turn: From Epistemology to Quantum Mechanics”, Prof. Philipp Berghofer, is hiring two Postdoctoral researchers: one position on QBism, with a focus on how such an agent-centered interpretation can be grounded in the philosophical framework of phenomenology; the other position on the quantum reconstruction program, with a focus on interpretational implications.
At the University of Graz, the successful candidates will be embedded in a research community of philosophers of physics, physicists, and phenomenologists. By early 2027, Philipp Berghofer’s research group will consist of six researchers working on the philosophy/foundations of physics. This group, in turn, is part of the section Classical Phenomenology, led by Prof. Sonja Rinofner-Kreidl.
The positions are research-focused (no mandatory teaching) and do not require proficiency in German. Funding is available for conference travel and research-related expenses.
Requirements
Required qualifications
- PhD in philosophy or physics (completed before the application deadline)
- Demonstrated research expertise relevant to one of the advertised positions
- Excellent research and writing skills
Preferred qualifications
Position 1:
- Demonstrated expertise in QBism
- Familiarity with phenomenology
Position 2:
- Demonstrated expertise in the reconstruction of quantum theory based on information-theoretic principles
- Familiarity with interpretations of quantum mechanics
The successful candidates are expected to pursue an independent research agenda closely connected to the project’s themes and to contribute actively to the group’s research activities.
How to Apply
If you are interested, please send the following documents to [email protected]
1. Cover letter expressing the candidate’s interest and detailing their expertise
2. CV (at the end, the CV should include the names and email addresses of three academic references who can be contacted if required)
3. One writing sample, preferably a published paper, article-length research manuscript, or chapter
We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and especially encourage applications from members of groups currently underrepresented in the philosophy and foundations of physics.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact [email protected]
Summary of the Project
The wider research context of the FWF ASTRA project “The Phenomenological Turn: From Epistemology to Quantum Mechanics” concerns the epistemological significance of experiences and the philosophy of quantum mechanics. The overarching aim of the project is to advance both epistemology and philosophy of physics by bringing experience-first epistemologies into dialog with agent-centered approaches to quantum mechanics. More specifically, the project seeks to develop a phenomenological-epistemological framework for reconstructing, interpreting, and understanding quantum mechanics. The hypothesis driving this project is that all epistemic justification and every piece of knowledge can be traced back to epistemically foundational experiences. Building on this idea, the project investigates whether quantum mechanics is best interpreted as providing the formalism that allows an experiencing subject to answer the question: Given my previous experiences, what should I expect to experience next?
Collaboration partners:
Elijah Chudnoff (University of Miami)
Steven French (University of Leeds)
Christopher Fuchs (UMass Boston)
Markus Müller (IQOQI: Vienna)
Project link:
https://www.fwf.ac.at/en/research-radar/10.55776/AST1252624
