Hello PiBM network members!

Welcome to the new version of our newsletter. As you can see, we are testing out a new format that, we hope, will be easier to read across multiple devices. Format aside, this month's content is as stimulating as usual: various opportunities for students, a rather long and eclectic list of PiBM publications, and the usual reports on events to keep you up to date.

If any of you by chance have strong reasons NOT to continue with this format, please let me (Jonathan) know privately and we will take them into consideration going forward. 

For now, please enjoy this month's input!

MAs/PhDs/Post-docs

3-year postdoc on biological individuality @ Jagiellonian University, Krakow

The successful candidate will be part of the project team for the NCN Opus grant "BIOlogical Perspectivism and Individualisation (BIOPI). Understanding What a Perspective Is for Organisms, Species, and Ecosystems" and will work on problems related to one or more of the research directions studied within the project. The project aims to understand and develop our comprehension of biological individuality of organisms, species, ecosystems, etc. by emphasizing that perspectivism should be conceptually expanded. In philosophy of science, perspectivism is conventionally understood as the epistemological principle that perception of and knowledge of something is always bound to the interpretive perspectives of those observing it. Usually, however, the application of perspectivism is limited to humans. The project breaks off with this tradition and aims to argue that non-human beings (as different as cells and ecosystems) have their perspectives and this should be taken into account when we develop frameworks for individuating biological entities.

Deadline for applying is: 30 December 2024.

For more details, visit:

https://www2.ncn.gov.pl/baza-ofert/?akcja=wyswietl&id=226513

Forthcoming postdocs @ Macquarie

The Theory and Method in Bioscience Group at Macquarie University received a new grant from John Templeton Foundation, 'Cognition All the Way Up' (2025-7), exploring the connections between transitions in cognition and transitions in individuality. Lead Investigator Pierrick Bourrat, Co-investigators Andrew Barron and Paul Griffiths. The grant will employ two postdoctoral fellows. Stay tuned for more details!

Applications open for PhilInBioMed MA @ Bordeaux

The Master “Philosophy in Biology and Medicine” at Bordeaux is looking for interested candidates for the next academic year (starting September 1, 2025).

This program (presented here: www.philinbiomed.org/teaching) is aimed at philosophy students who have a strong interest in working with scientists, or scientists who have a strong interest in working with philosophers, especially - but not exclusively - in the fields of cancer, immunology, microbiota, systems biology, nutrition, neuroscience and aging. Students will have the opportunity to be involved in research in scientific labs and to be integrated into a very dynamic international community of philosophers and scientists.

Please keep in mind that the Master's program is exceptionally inexpensive but very competitive (as we only recruit 5 students per year). The program is 100% in English.

A letter of motivation, CV, and a writing sample (~10 pages) concerning a relevant topic should be sent to mael.lemoine@u-bordeaux.fr by March 24, 2025. Late applications may be accepted but will not be eligible for regular consideration.

Shortlisted candidates will be offered Zoom interviews during the month after the deadline. Candidates will be informed of their acceptance by May 28th 2025 at the latest.

Interested students can contact us from now on or at their earliest convenience, using the following address: mael.lemoine@u-bordeaux.fr.

Thanks for forwarding this information to anyone you think might be interested, and thanks again to those who have already done so!

Publications

Cao, D., Garai, S., DiFrisco, J. & Veenvliet, J. (2024). “The logic of monsters: development and morphological diversity in stem-cell-based embryo models.” Interface Focus 14: 20240023.

https://doi.org/10.1098/rsfs.2024.0023

Cui, Z., Dong, Y, Sholl, J., Lu, J., & Raubenheimer, D. (2024). “The Rhesus Macaque as an Animal Model for Human Nutrition: An Ecological-evolutionary Perspective”, Annual Review of Animal Bioscience. Online version:

https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-animal-111523-102354

MacCord, K. & Maienschein, J. (2024). “Forwards, not back: Regeneration is a better ideal for health than restoration”, Aeon.

https://aeon.co/essays/regeneration-is-a-better-ideal-for-health-than-restoration

McColgan, Á. & DiFrisco, J. (2024). “Understanding developmental system drift.” Development 151 (20): dev203054.

https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.203054

Pavlicev, M., DiFrisco, J., Love, A.C., and Wagner, G.P. (2024) “Metabolic complementation between cells drives the evolution of tissues and organs.” Biology Letters 20: 20240490.

https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2024.0490

Perets, E.A. (2024). "What Would It Take to Put a Philosopher in Every Scientific Laboratory?". In: Hyun, I., Lunshof, J.E. (eds) Human Brain Organoids. Collaborative Bioethics, vol 4. Springer, Cham.

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-72371-1_7

Swiatczak, B., Greslehner, G.P., & Zach, M. (2024). “How Technical Advances Changed the Concept of Antibodies.” Immunological Reviews.

https://doi.org/10.1111/imr.13425

Upcoming Conferences and PiBM Events

Evolving Individuality 2024 @ Macquarie

Conference is organised by the Theory and Method in Bioscience Group, now based at Macquarie University, and will take place from December 1-4.

This conference seeks to bring together biologists and philosophers of biology to discuss biological individuality from an evolutionary perspective, encompassing topics from the origins of life and complex organisms to the emergence of animal cognition.

For the list of speakers and link to register, please visit:

https://pierrickbourrat.github.io/EvolvingIndividuality/#program

EPSA25 @ Groningen

The European Philosophy of Science Association invites submissions for its next conference, EPSA25, to be held in Groningen (the Netherlands) from 27 to 30 August 2025. You will find all the details regarding submission guidelines and rules on their dedicated webpage.

Please note that the deadline for all submissions is by  31 January 2025, 11:55pm GMT. 

Past & Upcoming PiBM Seminars

Andreas Wagner (Zurich), Entangled adaptive landscapes facilitate exaptation (in-person)

Andreas presented his recent research at Bordeaux on November 21st. You can find more about the event here:

https://www.philinbiomed.org/event/andreas-wagner/ 

Aude Bernheim (Institut Pasteur, Paris), "Evolution of immunity across domains of life"

While not technically part of the PiBM seminars, Aude visited Bordeaux and presented her fascinating research on November 21st. You can find more about Aude's research here:

https://research.pasteur.fr/en/member/aude-bernheim/

Aurora Nedelcu (Univ. New Brunswick, Canada) (virtual), "Cancer and the evolution of multicellularity: limitations of current views and paradigms"

In the next PiBM seminar, Aurora Nedelcu will present her research on cancer and multicellularity on 16 December, from 17:00-18:30 (Paris time). You can find all the relevant details here:

https://www.philinbiomed.org/event/aurora-nedelcu/

Dr. Aurora Nedelcu is a Professor of Biology at the University of New Brunswick (Canada). She received her BSc (Biology) from Babes-Bolyai University (Cluj-Napoca, Romania) in 1988. Prior to coming to Canada to start her PhD, Dr. Nedelcu has worked for several years as a Biology teacher in a Secondary School, as a Research Scientist in an Electron Microscopy Lab, and as an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry.

Abstract

The evolution of multicellularity requires the integration of single cells into new functionally, reproductively and evolutionary stable multicellular individuals. As part of this process, a change in levels of selection occurs, with selection at the multicellular level overriding selection at the cell level. The stability of multicellular individuals is dependent on a combination of mechanisms that control within-group evolution, by both reducing the occurrence of somatic mutations as well as supressing somatic selection. Nevertheless, mutations that, in a particular microenvironment, confer mutant cell lineages a fitness advantage relative to normal somatic cells do occur, and can (but not always) result in cancer. This talk will highlight several views and paradigms that relate the evolution of multicellularity to cancer. Cancer is generally understood as a disease of multicellularity, and is interpreted in different frameworks: (i) a breakdown of cooperative behaviors (i.e., cheating) underlying the evolution of multicellularity, (ii) a disruption of molecular networks established during the emergence of multicellularity to impose constraints on single-celled units, or (iii) an atavistic state resulting from reactivating primitive programs that originated in the earliest unicellular species. Several assumptions are common in all the views relating cancer as a disease to the evolution of multicellularity. For instance, cancer is considered a reversal to selfish unicellularity, and cancer cells are thought to resemble unicellular organisms and benefit from ancestral-like traits. I will discuss potential limitations of current views and paradigms and show how different perspectives can provide novel insights with potential therapeutic implications.

Going forward

To compose the next issue, I kindly ask you to send me, (jrsholl.edu@gmail.com), your inputs about all things Philosophy in Biology and Medicine and that, where possible, the shareable items be focused on or closely related to the “philosophy in science” (PinS) approach.

Given that December tends to be a shorter month, we will have to see whether there is sufficient material for a newsletter. That said, please send you input and we will see what can be done.

Thank you again for the input and collaboration, and all the best to everyone across the PiBM world as your respective semesters come to a close!