Dr. Katie Plaisance

Professor

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Biography

Katie Plaisance is a Professor and Associate Director of Knowledge Integration at the University of Waterloo. She received her BSc in Philosophy and Molecular Biology from the University of Wisconsin in 2000, followed by a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Minnesota in 2006. After completing her postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Philosophy, Ethics, and Science at Leibniz University of Hannover in Germany, she joined the Knowledge Integration program in 2009. Her teaching and research are highly interdisciplinary, focusing on the integration of philosophy with biology and psychology to equip diverse teams with the skills needed for effective collaboration. Katie's research interests include engaged philosophy of science, philosophy of behavioral sciences, and interdisciplinary expertise. She leads a five-year SSHRC-funded project titled 'Engaging Science and Philosophy,' aimed at fostering collaboration between philosophers and scientists using both quantitative and qualitative methods. She has received several awards for her teaching excellence, including the University of Waterloo Distinguished Teacher Award in 2016 and the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations Teaching Award in 2021. Katie teaches various interdisciplinary courses and offers special topics related to collaboration and socially relevant philosophy.

Research Interests

Experience

Postdoctoral Fellow

— Present

Center for Philosophy, Ethics, and Science • Leibniz University of Hannover, Germany

Conducted research in philosophy, ethics, and science before joining the Knowledge Integration program.

Professor

— Present

University of Waterloo • Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Teaching and conducting interdisciplinary research in philosophy, biology, and psychology.

Awards

#

University of Waterloo Distinguished Teacher Award

#

Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations Teaching Award

#

Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance Teaching Excellence Award

Courses

INTEG 120: Art Science Learning INTEG 220: Nature of Scientific Knowledge INTEG 221: Social Nature of Knowledge INTEG 210: Making Collaboration Work INTEG 410: Interdisciplinary Collaboration INTEG 475: Socially Relevant Philosophy of Science

Requirements for University of Waterloo

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
IELTS
Listening
Required:6.5
Reading
Required:6.5
Writing
Required:6.5
Speaking
Required:6.5
Overall
Required:7
TOEFL
Listening
Required:22
Reading
Required:22
Writing
Required:22
Speaking
Required:22
Total
Required:90
Prerequisites
Honours Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field Strong background in Statistics
Application Checklist
  • Transcripts
  • 3 Academic References
  • Statement of Interest
  • Supplementary Information Form
  • Resume/CV
Specialization Notes

Includes fields like Clinical, Cognitive, Developmental, and Industrial/Organizational Psychology.