Postdoctoral Position in Philosophy of Biology or Physics at KU Leuven, Belgium (two years fully funded)
(ref. BAP
Laatst aangepast: 03/12/25
We are looking for a researcher experienced in the Philosophy of Biology or the Philosophy of Physics (or both) to join the project "Boundaries of Life: The Role of Self-Organization in the Transition from Non-Living to Living Systems." This project investigates the emergence of lifelike structures from active matter, bridging the gap between nonliving and living systems. While life is often defined by compartmentalization, information processing, and self-replication, the underlying principles governing its emergence remain unclear. Through an interdisciplinary approach that combines philosophical inquiry with experimental and computational biology, this project uses the lens of self-organization and active matter to explore the boundary between living and nonliving systems, and to discover which properties are central to the formation of lifelike behaviors.
Responsibilities
What is life? This enduring question has captivated thinkers for centuries, inspiring diverse approaches to defining life and distinguishing it from nonlife. Schrödinger famously addressed the issue from the perspective of physics and, more recently, philosophers of biology outlined a variety of approaches to understanding life. These range from capturing life's essential features to questioning if 'life' itself is a valid, objective category.
While there is no consensus, most scientists agree that living organisms must have compartmentalized components, need to encode and process information, catalyze reactions, and be able to reproduce. Life emerges from complex interactions among components, yet the boundary between the nonliving and the living remains unclear and deeply intriguing. The challenge of defining life is important not just for understanding life on Earth, but for our search for possible extraterrestrial lifeforms. It is a topic requiring diverse expertise, including physics, biology, and philosophy of science.
This project is led by four PIs, philosopher of biology Grant Ramsey and philosopher of physics Sylvia Wenmackers from the Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science, Bart Smeets from the Department of Biosystems, and Lendert Gelens from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. It will involve philosophical work on the boundary between living and nonliving matter (especially in active matter systems), empirical work (in the Gelens lab) using extracts made from Xenopus frog eggs and embryonic cells assembled in controlled environments, and modelling work (in the Smeets lab) that probes the nature and dynamics of lifelike properties and self-organizing dynamics. The goal is to rethink the question "what is life?" using this unique combination of skills within the framework of synthetic biology and artificial life research.
The postdoctoral researcher is expected to help develop a framework to understand the nature and objectives of synthetic biology and artificial life research more generally, addressing how the activities and products of these fields contribute to our comprehension of life. This framework will guide subsequent in silico and in vitro experiments and will use the results to rethink how we should characterize life in general. Moreover, the postdoctoral researcher will aid in developing an accessible web-based tool to enable users to explore the emergence of life from its components, based on findings from this project. This initiative aims to engage the public and gather insights into their perceptions of artificial life and its boundaries.
The successful candidate will join the project, "Boundaries of Life: The Role of Self-Organization in the Transition from Non-Living to Living Systems," and will be housed in the Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science in the Institute of Philosophy at KU Leuven, Belgium. (See for an overview of the Centre.)
As a part of this project, the postdoc will be expected to write and publish journal articles, present their work at conferences, aid in designing our interactive web-based platform, and organize one or more workshops. While the postdoc will be embedded within the Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science, they will also be expected to collaborate with the labs of Bart Smeets (Department of Biosystems) and Lendert Gelens (Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine). There will be some additional responsibilities linked to the Institute and Centre, including some teaching duties (1-2 courses per year).
Profile
The applicant must have a PhD degree in a relevant subject. The PhD can be in Philosophy of Science, though applicants with a PhD in Biology or in Physics, but who have experience in the philosophy of biology or the philosophy of physics, will also be considered. Candidates possessing relevant experience with developmental biology, active matter systems, self-organization dynamics, and synthetic biology or artificial life research will be given special consideration.
The candidate must be able to teach philosophy and may be asked to teach 1-2 courses per academic year.
The candidate is expected to reside in—or be within commuting distance of—Leuven, Belgium by the start of the contract, and participate in the activities of the Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science, including colloquium talks.
Offer
The candidate will work under the supervision of professors Grant Ramsey and Sylvia Wenmackers in close collaboration with professors Bart Smeets and Lendert Gelens and with Dr. Alejandro Fábregas Tejeda. The position is funded for a two-year period, and in addition to the salary, some funds will be available for conference travel.
Start date: Flexible, but ideally no later than October 2026.
Interested?
The applicant should submit a cover letter, a brief project proposal words) that fits with the advertised project, a CV (including a list of 2-3 references with contact information), and a writing sample.
For any questions concerning the application, the project, or the position, do not hesitate to contact Prof. Grant Ramsey ).
You can apply for this job no later than February 16, 2026 via the online application tool
KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.
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Tewerkstellingspercentage: Voltijds
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Locatie: Leuven
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16/02/2026 23:59 CET
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Tags: Filosofie