TWO FULLY-FUNDED 4-YEAR PHD POSITIONS ON PHILOSOPHY OF PHYSICS (Quantum theory and causality)

The University of Groningen invites applications for

Please forward the job openings to potentially interested students. Deadline for all applications is 7 May 2023. The candidates will carry out research in the context of the NWO-funded VIDI project “Saving Reality with Exotic Causality” led by Dr. Simon Friederich.

Position 1: “Quantum foundations via phase space”.Phase space is the conceptual arena of classical statistical mechanics, and there is a phase space formulation of quantum mechanics. However, in the philosophy of quantum mechanics, the phase space formulation is almost never used. In this project, that neglected route will be pursued. The candidate will investigate what is the most promising phase space-based approach to the interpretation of quantum theory.Supervision: Simon Friederich and Sean Gryb (University College Groningen and Faculty of Philosophy, Groningen). For more details about the position, including on the topic, the conditions of employment and the procedure of application, see https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/work-with-us/job-opportunities/?details=00347-02S000A1PP.

Position 2: “Exotic causality”.Any phase space-based realist interpretation will have to reject some no-correlation assumption underlying no-go theorems that constrain viable interpretations. In doing so, it may have to embrace some form of “exotic causality” such as retrocausality, temporal non-locality, or superdeterminism. The candidate will investigate whether some specific type of exotic causality should be embraced and, if so, which.Supervision: Simon Friederich and Leah Henderson (University College Groningen and Faculty of Philosophy, Groningen). For more details about the position, including on the topic, the conditions of employment and the procedure of application, see https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/work-with-us/job-opportunities/?details=00347-02S000A1PP.