Submissions are now being accepted for a full-time Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the Open University of Israel. This position is for 2 years (with a possible extension to a third year) and is part of the research project “The Projectability of Meta-Inductive Reasoning in Theoretical Physics”, funded by the Israel Science Foundation.
Position Details
- Fully funded position for 2 years (with a possible extension to a third year)
- Flexible starting date, no later than November 2025.
- No teaching responsibilities.
- Some travel grants are available for conferences and research visits.
- Opportunity to engage with active research communities in philosophy of science and theoretical physics in Israel.
Qualifications
- PhD in Philosophy of Science or Theoretical Physics, approved no more than 5 years prior to the starting date.
- Demonstrated ability to conduct collaborative and independent research in the philosophy of physics.
- Familiarity with either gravitational theories or quantum field theories is advantageous, as well as background in the history of contemporary physics.
Project Description
This project focuses on the methods of contemporary theoretical physics, examining how theoretical methods are projected from established theories to new domains—a process referred to as “meta-induction.” The research will investigate meta-induction as both a justificatory strategy and a methodology of theory construction in theoretical physics. The project aims to develop criteria for assessing the rational projectability of theoretical methods, apply these to key case studies (such as symmetry principles, the Higgs mechanism, supersymmetry, and Einstein’s principle of equivalence), and investigate the implications on broader questions in the epistemology of contemporary physics.
Application Process
Interested candidates should submit the following to [email protected]:
- Curriculum vitae (including a list of publications)
- A relevant writing sample
- Short cover letter relating to the candidate’s possible contribution to the project, that also includes the names and email addresses of two possible referees.
Application Deadline: April 20, 2025
For informal inquiries, please contact Guy Hetzroni at [email protected].
