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JASON SCOTT ROBERT PhD (Philosophy), 2000 McMaster University Send e-mail to jason.robert@asu.edu

Bioethics, Philosophy of the life sciences

Dr Robert's research interests are diverse, (he publishes on bioethics, philosophical aspects of developmental biology (including stem cell biology) and evolutionary developmental biology, and the philosophy of psychiatry) but his research programme is tied together by the theme of making sense of development in its various manifestations.

In the field of bioethics, Dr Robert is especially interested in the ethical dimensions of the complexity of individual and population health, and also in the ethics of novel biointerventions.

Within the philosophy of biology, Dr Robert has published extensively on philosophical issues in developmental biology, especially at the intersections of genetics and developmental biology, and of developmental biology and evolution. Dr Robert is also interested in conceptual, methodological, and ethical aspects of stem cell biology.

And within the philosophy of psychiatry, Dr Robert works on conceptual and ethical questions about aetiology, classification, and diagnosis of particularly complex disorders (such as schizophrenia). He has an abiding interest in the role of patient narratives in both diagnosis and nosology.

Dr Robert is a member of the Stem Cell Network in Canada. He currently serves on the Institute Advisory Board for the Institute of Population and Public Health, part of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. He also serves on the Advisory Committee on Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues of the Canadian Lifelong Health Initiative. In addition, Dr Robert is one of the co-editors for Philosophy of Biology of the Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy, and serves on the editorial board of Biological Theory.

Some recent, representative publications:

Robert JS. Embryology, Epigenesis, & Evolution: Taking Development Seriously. Cambridge University Press [2004]

Baylis F, Robert JS. The Inevitability of Genetic Enhancement Technologies. Bioethics 18: 1-26 [2004]; Reprinted in: Baylis F, Downie J, Hoffmaster B, Sherwin S (eds.) Health Care Ethics in Canada. 2nd Edition Toronto: Thomson Nelson: 448-460 [2004]

Robert JS. Constant Factors and Hedgeless Hedges: On Heuristics and Biases in Developmental Biology. Philosophy of Science 70: 975-988 [2003]

Robert JS, Baylis F. Crossing Species Boundaries [target article with commentaries and response]. American Journal of Bioethics 3.3: 1-13 [2003]

Sarkar S, Robert JS. Editors' Introduction [to the special issue on evolution and development]. Biology & Philosophy 18: 209-217 [2003]

Robert JS. How Developmental is Evolutionary Developmental Biology? Biology & Philosophy 17: 591-611 [2002]

Robert JS, Hall BK, Olson WM. Bridging the Gap between Developmental Systems Theory and Evolutionary Developmental Biology. BioEssays 23: 954-962 [2001]

Robert JS. Interpreting the Homeobox: Metaphors of Gene Action and Activation in Development and Evolution. Evolution & Development 3: 287-295 [2001]