How to Join

The Fine Print

  • Applicants for the Postdoctoral Fellowship must have a doctorate in philosophy or history and philosophy of science, with a dissertation project on or substantial publication in some topic in philosophy of science. Scholars working in all areas of philosophy of science are eligible.
  • Applicants must have their doctorates awarded within five years of the starting date of the Fellowship.
  • Offers of a Postdoctoral Fellowship will be made by January 31 and must be accepted or rejected by April 15. The Postdoctoral Fellowship may not be deferred. At the time of acceptance, an affirmation that the applicant has or will have a status (e.g. US citizenship, appropriate visa status) that allows acceptance of the Fellowship stipend must be provided.
  • The Fellowship may only be held by scholars with the requisite doctorate. Applicants without this doctorate should not apply for a Postdoctoral Fellowship unless they believe it very likely that they will have completed their doctorates by August 15. By that date, applicants must either have the doctorate officially awarded or have satisfied all formal requirements for the doctorate, including an unqualified acceptance of the dissertation manuscript and the unqualified passing of the oral exam. If the applicant has not documented the satisfaction of all these requirements by August 15, the Center will withdraw the offer of a Postdoctoral Fellowship, which will revert to an alternate candidate. Submission of an application for a Postdoctoral Fellowship entails agreement with this condition.
  • Applicants should propose a focused project in philosophy of science to be undertaken and completed during the term of the Fellowship. The criteria for evaluation are academic merit of the proposal and academic strength of the candidate.
  • The term of the Fellowship will be one academic year, coinciding with the Fall and Spring terms at the University of Pittsburgh. The precise dates vary year to year but extend from late August to the end of April.
  • The Fellowship is not renewable.
  • Fellows may remain in residence into the summer months, although the Center is then no longer able to provide a stipend or office support. Fellows intending to remain in residence over the summer should request this possibility in writing, indicating clearly the dates at issue.
  • Postdoctoral Fellows will be expected to reside in Pittsburgh, to undertake research full time in an office in the Center for Philosophy of Science, and to participate in the life of the Center by attending and giving talks, contributing to discussion groups, etc. Postdoctoral Fellows may not undertake remunerated teaching during their tenure as a Postdoctoral Fellow.
  • The Director of the Center for Philosophy of Science shall be by default the supervising faculty member, as required by University guidelines. The Director may be replaced in this role by another faculty member with the agreement of the Postdoctoral Fellow, the faculty member and the Director.
  • Scholars who have held a Postdoctoral Fellowship are not eligible to apply for a Visiting Fellowship that would commence within five years of completion of the Postdoctoral Fellowship.
  • Scholars who have formerly held a Visiting Fellowship are not eligible to apply for a Postdoctoral Fellowship.

Application Materials

  • A cover letter indicating that a Postdoctoral Fellowship is sought.
  • A description of the project to be undertaken during residence (500-1000 words).
  • A curriculum vitae.
  • A sample of your written work.
  • Letters of reference from three knowledgeable scholars. We recommend letters whose content is blinded to the applicant. Email all letters directly to pittcntr@pitt.edu.
  • Documentation affirming that the requisite doctorate was awarded within five years of the intended starting date of the fellowship.
    The Fellowship may only be held by scholars with the requisite doctorate. If the applicant does not have the requisite doctorate at the time of application, the applicant should include documentation establishing that it is very likely that the doctorate will be completed by April 15. This documentation must include a letter from the applicant’s supervisor affirming that completion of the doctorate by April 15 is very likely. For important conditions concerning the completion of the doctorate see The Fine Print.

Become a PostDoc Fellow

We are now accepting applications for 2022-23. Apply by Dec. 9, 2022.
APPLY HERE