Philosophy of Automated Science Ref: 5859

Supervisors

Stephan Guttinger - University of Exeter - Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

Professor James Wakefield - University of Exeter - Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Project Description:

Over the last few years science has seen a rapid increase in talk about – and implementation of – automated workflows. This drive for more automation is in part fuelled by the emergence of powerful new AI agents that can operate as AI (co-) scientists. The promise of such AI-driven automation (ADA) is particularly prominent in laboratory-based disciplines, such as the life sciences.

However, the move towards ADA poses several epistemic and methodological challenges for science. The goal of this fully funded PhD Studentship is to use methods and resources from philosophy of science to investigate these challenges. A particular focus will be on the question of how the process of learning from error, which is central to scientific progress, might be affected by a move to ADA.

The PhD Studentship forms part of the Error-Reasoning Agents (ERAs) project, which aims to develop the tools required for assessing the error-reasoning ability of AI systems and to thereby foster the careful and effective introduction of AI agents into the research process.

The PhD candidate will be based at the Egenis Centre for the Study of the Life Sciences, a leading centre for interdisciplinary research on the biosciences and related disciplines. Egenis has a long tradition of pursuing a practice-focused approach to philosophy and offers a lively and diverse academic community that brings together philosophers, scientists, and social scientists.

Specific research tasks the candidate will pursue include the analysis of case studies from the biological sciences; engagement with current literature in philosophy of science and AI; as well as field work in bioscience laboratories at the University of Exeter. The student will also have funding available to travel to conferences to present and discuss their findings.

Suitable candidates will preferably have a background in both philosophy and the natural sciences, but the latter is not required. An interest in interdisciplinary communication and engagement as well as an understanding of how AI is currently deployed in science are desirable but not essential.

Entry requirements

Applicants should have at a minimum a good first degree (at least 2:1, or international equivalent) in either Philosophy or the natural sciences, and have obtained, or are currently working towards a Master's degree at Merit level, or international equivalent, in Philosophy or History and Philosophy of Science (HPS).

If English is not your first language you will need to meet the English language requirements and provide proof of proficiency. Click here for more information.

·       Applicants would be expected to start their studies in September 2026.

·       Recipients are expected to commit to engagement beyond their doctoral studies through contributing to the research environment of their discipline and the Faculty by participating in research activities, accessing skills development training and opportunities and career development etc. Continued funding would be dependent on satisfactory evidence of this engagement having taken place.

Please note that these studentships are only open to applicants who will start their study in September 2026, not those who have already started.

Applications will only be supported for campus-based programmes as this studentship is not open to Distance-Learning programmes.

How to apply

Apply now

To apply, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button above. You will be asked to submit the following by 12:00 (Noon) GMT Tuesday 26 May 2026:  

·       A covering letter outlining your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake the project

·       We encourage you to include in your covering letter a 250-word (max) statement outlining how your background will enrich our diverse and inclusive research community. You are encouraged to reflect on your own experience, interests and/or proposed research for the statement. Please note this is optional

·       A 200-500 word statement on your fit with the department/Faculty research culture and your prospective supervision team.

·       A CV

·       Proof of academic track record (transcripts/certificates)

·       Two references, at least one to be an academic reference

·       Proof of your English language proficiency, if relevant

Please submit all documents, apart from your references and degree transcripts, as one combined file and submit this against the research proposal section of the application form.

All application documents must be submitted in English. Certified translated copies of academic qualifications must also be provided.

Please quote reference 5859 on your application and in any correspondence about this studentship.

Reference information
It is your responsibility to ensure that your referees email their references to PGRApplicants@exeter.ac.uk, as we will not make requests for references directly; you must arrange for them to be submitted by 26 May 2026. Please note that applications with missing documentation will not progress to shortlisting.

References should be in the form of a letter. Referees must email their references to us from their institutional email accounts. We cannot accept references from personal/private email accounts, unless it is a scanned document on institutional headed paper and signed by the referee.

Summary