Milena Ivanova

Dr. Milena Ivanova serves as an Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Philosophy within the School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry at the University of Queensland. Her research bridges historical analysis and contemporary debates in philosophy of science, with emphasis on aesthetic values, epistemic virtues, and conventionalism in scientific methodology.

Her academic background includes a Master of Arts in History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Athens (2007) and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Bristol (2013). Prior appointments encompass lecturing in the HPS department at the University of Sydney and a visiting fellowship at the University of Queensland, followed by postdoctoral work at the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP).

Milena's research centers on the intersection of aesthetics and scientific rationality, particularly examining Poincaré's and Duhem's contributions to theory choice, conventionalism, and structural realism. She investigates how epistemic virtues function within scientific practice and the role of aesthetic judgments in theory selection, often contextualizing these themes through historical case studies. Her work demonstrates sustained engagement with the relativized a priori and its implications for scientific objectivity.

Analysis of her publication record reveals consistent focus on philosophical foundations of scientific methodology, with recurring themes including the epistemological significance of mathematical beauty, the interplay between conventionalism and realism, and the cognitive dimensions of theory choice. Her scholarship frequently engages with historical figures while addressing contemporary debates in virtue epistemology and scientific rationality.

Dr. Ivanova maintains active scholarly engagement through publications in leading philosophy journals including Synthese, Philosophy Compass, and Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, with her most recent work appearing in 2017. Her academic trajectory demonstrates progression from historical analysis of foundational figures to broader investigations of epistemic frameworks in scientific practice.