About Me

me   Howdy!

I am currently an Associate Professor of Instruction in Humanities and Cultural Studies at USF.  My expertise and interests are in intellectual history and science studies broadly understood; more particularly, I work on topics at the intersection of philosophy, medicine, and science, from roughly 1600-1800.  I am also interested in history and philosophy of science more generally, especially feminist philosophy of science, and the history of philosophy of science (HOPOS).

My current work focuses on the history of recipes and pharmacy, as well as the role of teleology in William Harvey's philosophical anatomy (see the Research section for more info). Harvey is best known for his work on the heart, an organ full of social, philosophical, and scientific significance (not to mention the heart of many puns):
Cor animalium, fundamentum est vitae, princeps omnium, Microcosmi Sol, a quo omnis vegetatio dependet, vigor omnis & robur emenat.  Rex pariter regnorum suorum fundamentum, & Mirocosmi sui Sol, Republicae Cor est, a quo omnis emenat potestas, omnis gratia provenit.
(Harvey 1628, Dedication to Charles). 
[The heart of living things is the foundation of their life, the Prince of all their parts, the sun of their microcosm, that upon which all growth depends and whence all vigor and strength emenates. Equally, the King is the foundation of his kingdom, the sun of his microcosm, the heart of his state, from whom all power flows and all grace emenates]
(My translation)

Employment

2018 - now: Associate Professor of Instruction, University of South Florida, Department of Humanities and Cultural Studies
2013 - 2018: Teaching Professor, University of South Florida, Department of Humanities and Cultural Studies
2012 - 2013: Lecturer, East Tennesse State University, Department of Philosophy and Humanities.
  

Education

University of Pittsburgh
Ph.D., History and Philosophy of Science, 2012
 "William Harvey, Soul Searcher: Teleology and Philosophical Anatomy" (Advisors: Peter Machamer and James Lennox)
M.A., History and Philosophy of Science, June 2007.
M.A., Philosophy, June 2011

Carleton College
B.A., Philosophy, Magna Cum Laude, June 2004

Honors and Awards

2004 – 2005: Andrew Mellon Pre-Doctoral Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh
Summer 2006: Society for the Social History of Medicine Travel Bursary
2006 – 2007: HPS Departmental Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh 2008 – 2009: HPS Departmental Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh
March 2009: FC Wood Grant, Philadelpha College of Physicians
Summer 2009: Wes Salmon Fund, University of Pittsburgh
2017: Folger Shakespeare Library Fellowship
2020: Fulbright Teaching and Research Award to Bulgaria
2020: Outstanding Faculty Award

Archival Experience

Archival Researcher,I have done original archival research at the British Library, the Royal College of Physicians in London, the Folger Shakespeare Library, Nottingham University, as well as the Philadelphia College of Physicians. I am well versed in the methods of handling, reading, and locating of manuscripts, medical instruments, letters and other sorts of archival materials, including experience in paleography.

Administrative Experience

Program Assistant, Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh (September 2010 - August 2011).  Responsible for a variety of projects and duties related to the mission of the Center, including database maintainance, computer and technical support, planning and support for local, national, and international conferences.

Professional Service

Co-organizer of the 7th International Pitt/CMU Graduate Student Conference (2005)
Co-organizer Early Modern Medicine and Philosophy Workshop (2011)
Co-organizer Medicine, Philosophy and the Scientific Revolution Reading Group (2011-2012)
Co-organizer Early Modern Medicine and Philosophy International Conference (2012)
Organizer of History of Science (San Diego, 2012) symposium: “The Ends of the World as We Know It? Ancient and Early Modern Uses of Teleology.”
Co-Organizer of a Renaissance Society of America Conference session (March 2018) on “Margaret Cavendish and Medicine.”
Referee for Isis, HOPOS, Perspectives on Science, Philosophy of Science
Thesis committee member for various MA theses in Cultural Studies
Thesis committee member for Honors BA thesis

Languages

Bulgarian (novice), English (Midwestern, e.g., 'pop'), French, Greek (beginner), Italian (beginner), Latin, Spanish