Dr. Bram Vaassen

Associate Professor

Build a Statement of Purpose

Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. Bram Vaassen. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.

Biography

Bram Vaassen is an Associate Professor in Philosophy at Umeå University, specializing in metaphysics, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of science. His research primarily centers on causation and explanation, with a focus on developing a scientifically and metaphysically respectable understanding of various concepts that inform debates in the philosophy of mind and artificial intelligence. Alongside metaphysics, his interests extend to philosophy of language and epistemology. Vaassen joined the Institute of Historical, Philosophical, and Religious Studies in 2024. He has completed significant post-doctoral research, including a project funded by the Swedish Research Council on 'Causation, Correlation Sensitivity' during a two-year research visit to Rutgers University. He previously worked on the DFG-funded project on Determinism, Control, and the Consequence Argument at the University of Cologne. Vaassen earned his PhD in Philosophy from Umeå University in 2019, where he defended a thesis that engaged with the controversial dualist ontology, arguing in favor of mental causation in events based on sufficient physical causes.

Research Interests

Experience

Associate Professor

2024-01-01 — Present

Umeå University • Umeå, Sweden

Research and teaching in the Department of Philosophy focusing on metaphysics and philosophy of mind.

Postdoctoral Researcher

2020-08-01 — 2021-08-01

Rutgers University • New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA

Conducted research on the project 'Causation, Correlation Sensitivity'.

Postdoctoral Researcher

2019-09-01 — 2020-03-01

University of Cologne • Cologne, Germany

Worked on a DFG-funded project focused on Determinism, Control, and the Consequence Argument.

Requirements for Umeå University

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:2.5
IELTS
Listening
Required:5.5
Reading
Required:5.5
Writing
Required:5.5
Speaking
Required:5.5
Overall
Required:6.5
TOEFL
Writing
Required:20
Total
Required:90
PTE
Overall
Required:62
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) in relevant field At least 90 ECTS in the main subject area
Application Checklist
  • Bachelor's degree certificate
  • Transcripts of records
  • Proof of English proficiency
  • Copy of passport
  • Letter of Motivation (certain programs)
  • CV (certain programs)
Specialization Notes

Requirements are standard for Master's programs across Social Sciences and Humanities at Umeå. English 6 proficiency is the general rule.