Education

University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (Sept. 2003-Present)
-- PhD, History and Philosophy of Science (anticipated 2010)
-- MA, Philosophy (2008)
-- MA, History and Philosophy of Science (2008)

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (1996-1999, 2003)
-- BS, Computer Science (2003; with honors, emphasis in AI)
-- Dual Major in Philosophy, Minor in Psychology
-- BS, Neuroscience (1999)

Publications

"Two Conceptions of Subjective Experience." J. Sytsma & E. Machery.

[abstract] [preprint ]

"Reflections on Reflexive Monism"

[abstract] [preprint ]

"The Case of the Divergent Descriptions: An Experimental Investigation of Semantics, Cross-cultural Style." J. Sytsma & J. Livengood.

[abstract] [preprint ]

1.

(forthcoming) "How to study Folk Intuitions about Phenomenal Consciousness." J. Sytsma & E. Machery. Philosophical Psychology.

[abstract] [preprint ]

2.

(2007) "Language Police Running Amok." Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, 27(1): 89-103.

[abstract] [preprint ]

5.

(forthcoming) "Philosophy and the Brain Sciences." P. Machamer & J. Sytsma, Iris.

6.

(2007) "Neuroscience and Theoretical Psychology: What’s to worry about?" P. Machamer & J. Sytsma, Theory & Psychology, 17(2): 199-216.

7.

(2005) "Knowing Causes: Descartes on the World of Matter." P. Machamer, J. McGuire, & J. Sytsma, Philosophica, 76: 11-44.

8.

(2005) "Neuroscience and the Nature of Philosophy." P. Machamer & J. Sytsma, Iride, 46: 495-514. (In Italian, translated by Alessandro Pagnini.)

Presentations

1.

"Folk Psychology and Phenomenal Consciousness"

a. Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology 101st Annual Meeting, symposium on Experimental Philosophy of Consciousness, April 2009.

b. Consciousness Online: The First Cyber Consciousness Conference, February 2009.

2.

"Is phenomenal consciousness a problem for the brain sciences?" Philosophy of Science Association biennial meeting, November 2008.

3.

"The Case of the Divergent Descriptions"

a. American Philosophical Association Pacific Division 83rd Annual Meeting, April 2009.

b. Western Michigan University Second Annual Graduate Philosophy Conference , December 2008.

c. University of Pittsburgh HPS Work in Progress Talks, November 2008.

d. 24th Regional Conference on the History and Philosophy of Science, October 2008.

4.

"Two Conceptions of Subjective Experience"

a. The Society for Philosophy and Psychology, 34th Annual Meeting, June 2008

b. Toward a Science of Consciousness 2008, Poster Presentation, April 2008.

Winner of the William James Prize at SPP 2008: This prize is awarded to the best contributed paper by a graduate student.

5.

"The Proper Province of Philosophy"

a. Arts & Sciences Grad Expo 2008, March 2008.

b. 1st annual Interdisciplinary Approach to Philosophical Issues Conference: "At the Crossroads of Philosophy and Psychology," September 2008. Featured Presentation.

6.

"Minimal Rationality," commentary on "On Maximal Rationality," by Errol Lord. Pitt/CMU Graduate Student Philosophy Conference, March 2008.

"The NCC and the Individuation of Qualia," University of Pittsburgh HPS Work in Progress Talks, June 2007.

"ACME Corporation Eats a Burrito," Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness 2007, June 2007.

9.

"Information Supply and Demand," Cognitio, June 2007.

10.

"Knowing Causes: Descartes on the World of Matter," Descartes Day II, May 2006, Featured Paper.

11.

"Recreating Descartes," Descartes & Pascal, Tampa/USF, January 2006.

12.

"The Triptych Self," 20th Annual University of Minnesota Philosophical Society Conference, 2003.

13.

"Axonal Propagation of Impulses in Peripheral Afferents," University of Minnesota Biological Sciences Research Symposium, 2000.

Teaching Experience

Summer, 2009: Problem Solving: How Science Works, University of Pittsburgh

Spring, 2009: Artificial Intelligence and the Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh

Fall, 2008: Morality & Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

(syllabus )

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Spring, 2007: Principles of Scientific Reasoning, University of Pittsburgh

(syllabus )

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Fall, 2006: Problem Solving: How Science Works, University of Pittsburgh

(syllabus )

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Fall, 2005: Science & Psuedoscience, University of Pittsburgh

(syllabus )

2001-2003: Instructor (Web and Multimedia Programming), Electronic Easel Training Center, St. Paul, Minnesota

1999-2003: Instructor (Web and Multimedia Programming), Tempting Ideas , Minneapolis, Minnesota

Spring, 2006: Darwinism & its Critics, TA for Professor Sandra Mitchell, University of Pittsburgh

Fall, 2004: Mind & Medicine, TA for Professor James Lennox, University of Pittsburgh

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1997-1999: TA, General College Writing Center, University of Minnesota

Service

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April 2009: Chair, symposium on "Experimental Philosophy of Consciousness," Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology 101st Annual Meeting

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2006 - present: Academic Administrator, PhilSci Archive, University of Pittsburgh

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2006 - present: Web Design/Development, Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh

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2004 - present: Referee, Annual CMU/Pitt Graduate Student Philosophy Conference

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2008 - 2009: Mentor, Teaching Assistants and Teaching Fellows in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh

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2008: Member of Local Arrangements Committee and Liaison to History of Science Society office for the Philosophy of Science Association Biennial Meeting and History of Science Society Annual Meeting (Pittsburgh, PA)

2007 - 2008: Mentor, Teaching Assistants and Teaching Fellows in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh

2005 - 2006: Webmaster, Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh

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2005: Assistant to the Director, Center for Philosophy of Science

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2004 - 2005: Web Designer/Developer, 7th & 8th Annual CMU / Pittsburgh Graduate Student Philosophy Conference

Honors & Awards

2009: Graduate Student Paper Prize, American Philosophical Association Pacific Division 83rd Annual Meeting

2008: Travel Award, 24th Regional Conference on the History and Philosophy of Science

2008: William James Prize, Society for Philosophy and Psychology 34th Annual Conference (awarded to the best contributed paper by a graduate student)

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2007 - 2008: Wesley Salmon Fund Grant, University of Pittsburgh For experimental work on "The Case of the Divergent Descriptions: An Experimental Investigation of Semantics, Cross-Cultural Style"

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Fall, 2008: GPSA Travel Grant, University of Pittsburgh

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Spring, 2008: GPSA Travel Grant, University of Pittsburgh

2007 - 2008: Arts and Sciences Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh

Spring, 2007: Letter of Commendation for Teaching Evaluations, Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh

Fall, 2007: GPSA Travel Grant, University of Pittsburgh

2006: Faculty of Arts and Sciences Travel Grant, University of Pittsburgh

2003 - 2004: Andrew Mellon Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh

2003: Honors, Cum Laude, Institute of Technology

1997 - 1999: Honors Program, College of Biological Sciences

1998: Snyder Memorial Scholarship, College of Biological Sciences

1998: Lando Scholarship in Computer Science, Institute of Technology

1998: Grant in Biophysical Computation, National Science Foundation and Minnesota Supercomputing Institute

1997: Grant in Scientific Computing & Graphics, National Science Foundation and Minnesota Supercomputing Institute

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1997: Lower-Division Honors, College of Liberal Arts

Professional Memberships

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American Philosophical Association

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Philosophy of Science Association

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Society for Philosophy and Psychology

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Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology

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Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness

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History of Science Society