Jan Baedke

Jan Baedke is a Junior Professor for History and Philosophy of Science at the Department of Philosophy I, Faculty of Philosophy and Education, Ruhr University Bochum. He serves as Principal Investigator of the German Research Foundation (DFG) funded research group 'The Return of the Organism in the Biosciences: Theoretical, Historical, and Social Dimensions' (ROTO), which investigates conceptual, methodological and anthropological challenges related to the organism concept's resurgence in contemporary biosciences.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Philosophy, Ruhr University Bochum (2014), Dissertation: 'Causal explanation in epigenetics: Modeling complex biological systems'
• M.A. in Philosophy and M.Ed. in Biology and Philosophy, Ruhr-University Bochum (2010)

Professor Baedke's research spans the history and philosophy of the life sciences, with particular focus on organism-centered biology, philosophical anthropology, and evolutionary theory. His work critically examines the 'Extended Evolutionary Synthesis,' the history of theoretical and developmental biology in the 19th and 20th centuries, neo-Kantianism's relationship to biological thought, and anthropological issues including the concept of race in science. He explores how values shape scientific practice and the role of visual representations in scientific understanding, with special attention to epigenetics and organism-environment interactions.

His recent publications reveal a growing focus on organismal agency, the philosophical implications of postgenomic research, and the intersection of biological and social concepts, particularly regarding race and the human microbiome, while maintaining historical depth through studies of theoretical biology's development.

Among his notable recognitions:

• Best Dissertation Award ('GdF Award') from Ruhr-University Bochum (2015)
• Fellow of the Global Young Faculty (Foundation Mercator) (2015-2017)

As Principal Investigator of the DFG-funded ROTO research group, Baedke coordinates an interdisciplinary team examining the theoretical, historical, and social dimensions of the organism concept's resurgence in contemporary biosciences. His book 'Above the Gene, Beyond Biology: Toward a Philosophy of Epigenetics' (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2018) established him as a leading voice in philosophy of epigenetics, and his upcoming monograph 'The Organism' (Cambridge University Press, 2025) promises to further develop his work on organism-centered biology. Recent edited volumes include 'The Riddle of Organismal Agency' and 'New Perspectives on Neo-Kantianism and the Sciences' (both Routledge, 2024).