Myron Penner- ACT Fellowship Application

My main research focus has been in philosophy of religion. Over the past five years, my research focus has shifted into philosophy of science and cognitive science of religion. In addition to ongoing interest in both scientific realism and cognitive science of religion, I am interested in exploring, understanding, and comparing the way in which minds represent and interact with phenomena not observable by just looking (whether through microscope, telescope, or the naked eye). As an academic cross training fellow, I would pursue training in CSR and evolutionary psychology at the University of British Columbia. Academic cross training would enable me to design and conduct empirical research as part of the scientific study of religion. My proposed cross training would take place at the University of British Columbia under the direction of Dr. Edward Slingerland and run from Nov. 2020 – Aug. 2023 with three main components: coursework, lab participation, and a pilot study. Coursework would consist of ten undergraduate and four graduate courses in psychology with a focus on quantitative methods, cognitive/evolutionary psychology, and social/cultural psychology, the latter two with a particular focus on applications to the study of religion. With respect to labs, I would be connected to both Dr. Ara Norenzayan's and Dr. Azim Shariff's labs in UBC’s department of psychology, with the pilot study administered through Dr. Shariff’s lab. I anticipate that the pilot study will result in at least one journal article submission. ACT will have a significant influence on my research trajectory and resulting outputs, including peer-reviewed journal articles in both psychology and philosophy journals. Moreover, I anticipate further experimental projects resulting from the pilot study. I anticipate seeking funding to either establish my own research lab, or to collaborate with existing labs in order to continue the project identified in the pilot study and other projects.