Associate / Assistant / Full Professor in Philosophy of Mind
University of Helsinki, Faculty of Arts
Finland

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Founded in 1640, the University of Helsinki is one of the best multidisciplinary research universities in the world. The University of Helsinki is an international academic community of 40,000 students and staff members. It operates on four campuses in Helsinki and at 15 other locations. The high-quality research carried out by the university creates new knowledge for educating diverse specialists in various fields, and for utilisation in social decision-making and the business sector.

The University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Arts (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-of-arts ) is Finland’s oldest and largest unit of teaching and research in the arts in terms of the organisation and selection of its discipline. It is also a significant international community fostering research, education and cultural interaction.

The Faculty of Arts of the University of Helsinki invites applications for a

PROFESSOR OR ASSOCIATE/ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN PHILOSOPHY OF MIND

The position is part of the University of Helsinki profiling action on ‘Mind and Matter – foundations of information, intelligence and consciousness’, aiming to strengthen new interdisciplinary research areas at the university, and the appointed candidate is expected to co-operate with the other tenure track professors in this area. Mind and Matter consists of seven tenure track positions: "Social and legal implications of AI", "Natural and artificial cognitive systems", "Experimental mind and brain research", "Philosophy of mind and matter", "Artificial and human intelligence", "Implications of the use of AI on learning and education", and "Foundations of quantum information, logic, and computing”. The position will be hosted by the discipline of Theoretical Philosophy, which has a research focus on Logic, History of Philosophy, Epistemology, and Philosophy of Science.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

We are inviting applications from candidates with an international research profile in philosophy of mind with an interdisciplinary approach that seeks to answer traditional philosophical questions in a way informed by empirical sciences ranging from physics to cognitive science. In addition, the candidate must provide evidence of both readiness to collaborate in interdisciplinary research teams in one of the areas mentioned above, and to contribute to the daily life and teaching of the host discipline (Theoretical Philosophy). The University of Helsinki, and the Mind and Matter action in particular, offer excellent potential collaborators in the relevant areas. The successful candidate must demonstrate the ability to teach and develop teaching in a wide range of topics in both theoretical and empirically informed philosophy of mind at both undergraduate and graduate levels. The appointee will participate in doctoral education at the Faculty of Arts, collaborate with other groups in the Mind and Matter action, actively apply for research funding for her or his research group, and participate in the interaction between science and society at large.

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful applicant may be appointed to a permanent professorship or a fixed-term associate/assistant professorship (tenure track system), depending on his/her qualifications and career stage. Further information on the career path and a description of the tenure track model at the University of Helsinki, please see www.helsinki.fi/en/university/working-at-the-university/tenure-track-at-....

A full professor must hold a doctoral degree in Philosophy and have high-level academic qualifications and experience in heading scientific research. The professor must also be able to provide research-based teaching of high quality, supervise dissertations and theses as well as show evidence of international cooperation in the field.

An assistant/associate professor must hold a doctoral degree in Philosophy and have demonstrated ability for independent scientific work as well as skills to teach the in the discipline Theoretical Philosophy. Furthermore, the successful candidate is expected to have competence and motivation for scientific career proven by scientific publications and other academic activities.

The research profile of the candidate is also expected to be complementary to but connected with the research done at the Faculty of Arts, especially Philosophy.

When considering applicants’ qualifications, attention will be paid to:

• applicant’s expertise in the research field (philosophy of mind)
• experience in interdisciplinary research related to the study of the brain and the mind
• scientific publications of a high quality
• experience in successfully leading research projects and success in obtaining external research funding (these criteria will be considered relative to the applicant’s career stage)
• experience in teaching and supervision of students, pedagogical training, as well as other teaching merits
• international research experience
• vision for development of the applicant’s own research work and the research field in general
• leadership and interaction skills
• language skills
• assessor statements
• interview

To successfully attend to the duties of the position, the appointee must be fluent in English. If the appointee is not proficient in Finnish, he/she is expected to acquire moderate proficiency within a reasonable time after the appointment. Support for language studies is offered.

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

The University will offer the appointee an attractive career opportunity in a top-level research and teaching environment, possibilities for international collaboration, and the opportunity for the appointed assistant/associate professor prerequisites to grow into a full professorship. Annual gross salary for an assistant/associate professor amounts to 50,000 - 68,500 euros and for full professor to 64,000 - 96,000 euros.

The University of Helsinki offers comprehensive services to its employees, including occupational health care and insurances, sports facilities, and opportunities for professional development. The International Staff Services office (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/university/working-at-the-university) assists employees from abroad with their transition to work and life in Finland.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants are requested to enclose with their applications a single PDF file that includes the following documents in English:

1) A curriculum vitae
2) A report (max. 5 pages) on pedagogical expertise
3) A report (max. 5 pages) on the applicant’s research activities (including activities in scientific communities, the acquisition of research funding and international scholarly work)
4) A report (max. 2 pages) on how the applicant intends to develop his or her research and focus his or her activities, if appointed
5) A numbered list of publications.

For instructions see https://www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-of-arts/faculty/instructions-to-appli....

Applicants are kindly asked to prepare for the situation in which, after the closing of the application period, the Faculty may request them to submit up to 10 publications of their choice to be sent to the assessors.

Please submit your application through the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the link below. Applicants who are employees of the University of Helsinki are requested to leave their application via the SAP HR portal https://saphr.it.helsinki.fi/irj/portal.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further information on the position and the working environment may be obtained from Professor Gabriel Sandu, gabriel.sandu(at)helsinki.fi. Further information on the recruitment process may be obtained from Hanna Lotti, HR Specialist, hanna.lotti(at)helsinki.fi.

In case you need support with the recruitment system, please contact recruitment(at)helsinki.fi.