The School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science at Leeds is 
offering two studentships for students commencing a full-time PhD in 
Philosophy in October 2013. The students will form part of the ERC-funded 
research project The nature of representation.


??our PhD project will be in the areas of Language or Mind, broadly 
construed. A variety of projects in these areas may be suitable for 
funding in connection with this project. Please feel free to contact the 
project director, Prof. Robert Williams, for more information on this 
opportunity.

email: J.R.G.Williams@leeds.ac.uk.

??ou should be willing to participate in project activities, including 
regular meetings and workshops with project members. You will also be 
expected to assist other members of the project team who will be 
organizing these events.


Project details.

Mental representation - perception and cognition - unites humans and other 
animals. Linguitic representation differentiates humans from other 
animals.

But representation in either form is a phenomenon that cries out for 
explanation. How does one thing-a volley of sensation, a pattern of 
neurons firing in the head, or a sequence of sounds or written 
marks-"stand for" or "represent" another? However we answer this question, 
what are the means by which we find out about it? And for what purposes do 
we need to appeal to representation in the first place?


The Nature of Representation is a five-year project, funded by the 
European Research Council, on the metaphysics and epistemology of 
representation. The project

is located at the University of Leeds under the direction of Robert 
Williams (School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science). The 
project team will include two postdoctoral researchers (2013-17) and two 
PhD studentships (2013-16). Regular workshops will be held on project 
themes.


Major project themes include:

- The explanatory role of representation. For what explanatory purposes do 
we need to appeal to (mental or linguistic) representation?

- Grounding representation. Can we say in nonrepresentational terms what 
the world must be like, in order for there to be representation?

- Representational media. How are the vehicles of representation (e.g. 
words, sentences) to be individuated? Does mental content have such 
vehicles?

- Knowing what's represented. How do we find out about what represents 
what? Studentship Information


??he studentship is tenable for up to 3 years (full-time). Renewal of the 
studentship each year is subject to satisfactory academic progress. 
Applicants should normally have, or expect soon to be awarded, a Masters 
degree in a relevant discipline. International students are eligible to 
apply for this studentship.

  The studentships will comprise of a maintenance allowance of £18,189 p.a. 
In addition to these amounts, the project funding allows significant 
further funding for approved research and travel expenses. Please note 
that you will be liable to pay academic fees for the duration of your 
course (in session 2012/13 the rate for UK/EU students was £3,828 p.a. and 
the rate for international students in session 2013/14 will be £13,100).


The closing date for applications is 1st March 2013. You should also 
arrange for three academic references to be sent to us by this date.


??pplications for the studentships should be made in accordance with the 
standard procedure for applying to do a postgraduate research degree in 
Philosophy at

Leeds. See 
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/info/125152/postgraduate/1987/10_how_to_apply-research_degrees 
for complete instructions and requirements.

Please specify in your application that you wish to be considered for the 
award.


Correspondence regarding the application procedure may be directed to 
prhs_pgenquiries@leeds.ac.uk.

Some information about the positions are available here: 
http://natureofrepresentation.wordpress.com/phd-projects/