Johannes Jäger

Johannes Jäger is an evolutionary systems biologist and philosopher currently serving as Associate Faculty at the Complexity Science Hub (CSH) in Vienna and Project Leader in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Vienna. He is also a Scholar at the Ronin Institute, reflecting his independent yet deeply collaborative academic profile. His work bridges biology, philosophy, and transdisciplinary innovation.

His research focuses on the evolution of complex regulatory systems, organismic agency, and the nature of innovation in both biological and academic contexts. He is a strong advocate for open science and has developed unique transdisciplinary workshops that foster collaboration across fields. His interests include process philosophy, perspectivism, and the limitations of mechanistic explanation in biology.

The recent publications reflect a consistent engagement with foundational questions in evolutionary theory, systems biology, and philosophy of science. Themes include molecular complexity (Assembly Theory), biological agency, and the evolutionary origins of gene regulatory mechanisms like RNA interference. These works demonstrate a synthesis of theoretical biology and philosophical analysis.

• D’Alembert Research Chair 2020/21 at Institut d’Études Avancées (IEA) Paris
• Fellow of the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin

Johannes leads the John Templeton Foundation-funded project "Pushing the Boundaries: Agency, Evolution, and the Dynamic Emergence of Expanding Possibilities" in collaboration with Prof. Tarja Knuuttila at the University of Vienna. He mentors early-career academics through retreats and workshops focused on academic flourishing and metamodern personal development. He also offers philosophy courses for researchers and facilitates arts-science collaborations.

He is actively involved in public engagement, including a featured episode on the "Brain Inspired" podcast, and leads the arts-science project "The Zone." His educational initiatives and transdisciplinary formats emphasize collaborative knowledge creation and resilience in modern academia.