The Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Science (CPNSS) is searching for a Post-Doctoral Research Officer in Episodic Memory (Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence & Cognitive Science). Application deadline: 20 October 2023.

LSE is recruiting a Research Officer in Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence / Cognitive Science, to be based in the Centre for Philosophy of Natural and Social Sciences (CPNSS). CPNSS is a research centre promoting research into philosophical, methodological and foundational questions concerning science.

The position is part of Dr Ali Boyle’s UKRI-Funded project, “Episodic Memory: Uniquely Human?” (EMUH). This project draws on insights from philosophy, cognitive science and artificial intelligence to address two central questions: what is the function of episodic memory, and is it uniquely human? The position is tenable for one year.

The Research Officer’s work will focus primarily on the artificial intelligence strand of the project, investigating how artificial implementations of episodic memory can contribute to our understanding of episodic memory’s function and/or distribution in the animal kingdom. The successful candidate will conduct innovative research into these questions. This will include working with the PI and external collaborators to develop episodic memory tests in the Animal-AI platform, a simulated 3D environment enabling comparisons of human, animal and AI behaviour. The ability to build agents or tests for this environment would be an advantage but is not essential.

The successful applicant will:

  • have completed or be close to completing a PhD in a relevant discipline, such as Philosophy, Cognitive Science or Artificial Intelligence by the start date;
  • have strong research interests in the philosophy/theoretical foundations of cognitive science and/or artificial intelligence
  • have the ability to make significant, innovative contributions in this area;
  • conduct research both independently and in collaboration with other members of the EMUH team, including external collaborators.

For more information about the EMUH project, please see: Episodic Memory: Uniquely Human Project (lse.ac.uk)

This is a fixed-term appointment for 1 year. The successful applicant will begin in January 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Please apply via the LSE job portal.