My research in philosophy of biology and related domains attempts to understand scientific practice and concept use from a methodological, epistemological, and semantic point of view. This includes investigating the change and diversity of scientific practices, as well as critically scrutinizing the intersection of science and society based on environmental and social values.
I am particularly interested in evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo), molecular biology, systems biology, cognitive science, and (most recently) neuropsychiatry.
Use the page navigation to read about my research and teaching. Syllabi for my current courses can be found below. My Curriculum Vitae in pdf format.
Academic Appointments
| 07/2017 – |
Professor of Philosophy, University of Alberta |
| 04/2014 – 03/2024 |
Canada Research Chair in Philosophy of Biology, University of Alberta |
| 01/2023 – 06/2025 |
Director of Graduate Programs, Department of Philosophy, University of Alberta |
| 09/2022 – 12/2022 |
Visiting Fellow, Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh |
| 07/2015 – 06/2022 |
Associate Chair (Graduate Studies), Department of Philosophy, University of Alberta (on leave 07/2019 – 12/2019) |
| 08/2019 – 12/2019 |
Visiting Fellow, Centre for Advanced Study at the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, Oslo |
| 2012 – 2017 |
Associate Professor of Philosophy (with tenure), University of Alberta |
| 03/2015 – 05/2015 |
Visiting Scholar, Sydney Centre for the Foundations of Science, University of Sydney |
| 09/2014 – 12/2014 |
Visiting Fellow, Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh |
| 2008 – 2012 |
Assistant Professor of Philosophy, University of Alberta (hired in 2006, appointment deferred to take up and complete a postdoctoral fellowship) |
| 2006 – 2008 |
Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Alberta |
Education
| 2000 – 2006 |
Ph.D. in History and Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh
(Co-Supervisors:
Paul Griffiths and Anil Gupta.
Dissertation: A Theory of Conceptual Advance)
|
| |
M.A. in Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh (awarded 2005) |
| 1995 – 1999 |
M.Sc. equivalent in Mathematics, University of Konstanz (Germany) |
Current Courses
PHIL 488 (Current Research in Philosophy) / PHIL 594 (Selected Problems in Philosophy) –
Intuitions, Conceptual Engineering, and Experimental Philosophy, Fall 2024 (Tue, Thu 12:30–1:50pm) [syllabus]
Upcoming Courses
PHIL 317 – Philosophy of Biology, Winter 2025 (Tue, Thu 11:00am–12:20pm) [syllabus]
Distinctions and Board Memberships
Executive Editor of the
Canadian Journal of Philosophy, 2013–
Associate Editor of the
Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution, 2012–
Editorial Board Member (Academic Editor) of PLOS ONE, 2018–
Editorial Board Member (Consulting Editor) of Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, 2017–
Editorial Board Member of Annals of the History and Philosophy of Biology, 2014–
Editorial Board Member of Bionomina: International Journal of
Biological Nomenclature & Terminology, 2010–2019
Second Vice-President of the Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science, 2022–2025
Advisory Board Member of the Canadian Society for the
History and Philosophy of Science, 2021–2022 and 2011–2014
Membership Development Committee Member of the International Society for the
History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology, 2013–
Membership Development Committee Co-Chair of the International Society for the
History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology, 2017–2023
Council Member (At-Large Director) of the International Society for the
History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology, 2017–2021
Martha Cook Piper Research Prize, University of Alberta, 2011 ($3,000)
Faculty
of Arts Research Excellence Award, University of Alberta, 2011
Dorothy J. Killam Memorial Postdoctoral Fellow Prize, University of Alberta, 2006 ($2,500)
M.Sc. equivalent in Mathematics (Minor: Philosophy) with distinction (“ausgezeichnet”, outstanding), University of Konstanz, 1999
Grants and Fellowships
Canada Research Chair in Philosophy of Biology, Canada Research Chairs Program (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada), 2019–2024 ($500,000)
CRC Research Support Grant, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta, 2019–2024 ($92,500)
Insight Grant,
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, 2016–2023
($132,028, rank 7 out of 59 philosophy applications nationwide, grant #435-2016-0500,
“Standards, aims, and values: biological explanation and beyond”)
Canada Research Chair in Philosophy of Biology, Canada Research Chairs Program (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada), 2014–2019 ($500,000)
CRC Research Support Grant, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta, 2014–2019 ($42,473)
Killam Research Fund SSHRC 4A Grant, University of Alberta, 2015–2016 ($5,000)
SSHRC 4A Grant, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta, 2012–2013 ($3,000)
SSHRC 4A Grant, University of Alberta, 2011–2012 ($7,500)
Standard Research Grant,
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, 2008–2012
($66,652 incl. teaching release stipend, rank 3 out of 92 philosophy applications nationwide, grant #410-2008-0400,
“Integrating different biological approaches: a philosophical contribution”)
Endowment Fund for the Future Capital Recruitment Grant, University of Alberta, 2009 ($6,200)
Killam Research Fund Conference Travel Grant, University of Alberta, 2007 ($1,700)
Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Alberta, 2006–2008 ($88,000)
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Center for Philosophy of Biology, Duke University, 2006–2007 (declined)
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Center for Philosophy and Ethics of Science, University of Hannover, 2006–2007 (declined)
Andrew Mellon Predoctoral Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh, 2005–2006 ($19,600)
KLI Junior Fellowship, Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research, 2002 ($3,280)
Andrew Mellon Predoctoral Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh, 2000–2001 ($21,300)