OWNS Admission Policy
Admissions will be based on the following criteria:
- Academic potential for neuroethics research, as evidenced by application documents
- Closeness of fit between the applicant’s research interests or professional plans and the scope of the course
- Diversity of different academic and professional backgrounds within the cohort
- Diversity of levels of seniority within the cohort
No prior experience specifically in neuroethics is required, but we are interested to know in what ways applicants’ past educational qualifications or experience in research, healthcare, industry or policy make them suitable for this winter school. OWNS would be particularly suited to applicants from the following disciplinary backgrounds (non-exhaustive list):
- Philosophy
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Healthcare and Biomedical Sciences
Or to applicants with the following professional backgrounds (non-exhaustive list):
- Public policy
- Science and technology
- Healthcare
We also want to know how applicants intend to make use of the skills they will gain from this winter school. Participation in OWNS will be of particular value to anyone wishing to (non-exhaustive list):
- Develop their skills in neuroethics for further academic research (e.g. at doctoral or postdoctoral levels);
- Complement a clinical career with an in-depth understanding of neuroethics research;
- Pursue a career in science and technology (industry or policy), with a good grounding in interdisciplinary research skills relating to neuroethics;
- Develop a deep understanding of neuroethics to complement their field of work.
How to apply
Applications should be made, by 30th June 2025, through the online form on www.owns.org.uk. Applicants will need to provide (combined into one Word/PDF file):
- Summary CV (no more than two pages)
- Details of one referee (in the unlikely event that we wish to contact them)
- Answers to the following questions:
- ‘Why do you want to attend this winter school, and what do you hope to gain from it?’ (max. 250 words)
- ‘What areas of neuroethics have you done work/research in before, and/or what areas of neuroethics are you most interested in pursuing in the future?’ (max. 250 words)
- A short writing sample (500-750 words) engaging with the ethics of any issue in neuroscience, mental health or psychiatry. Please state if this is an excerpt of a longer piece you have previously written, or if you wrote this specifically for this application.
Applications from under-represented groups in neuroscience / neuroethics / bioethics / clinical medicine and related fields are particularly welcome. This includes, but is not limited to, applications from Lower- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). We have a broad view of ‘under-representation’, so if applicable, please also include in your application Word/PDF file:
- A short explanation of your status as an applicant from an under-represented group (max. 50 words)