PhD
ITMO Graduate School in Social and Human Sciences in the Context of Changing Technologies
About the Program
The program focuses on studying the transformation of experience, knowledge, and humanity in the context of digital changes. Philosophical anthropology adopts a conscious and critical interdisciplinary approach, combining philosophy and anthropology. The central theme of the research projects is the intersection of media, technology, life, and infrastructures.
The program addresses both theoretical and practical objectives.
The program addresses both theoretical and practical objectives.
Key Theoretical Topics and Questions
> Understanding Humanity Through the Lens of Multiple Sciences. Examining the compatibility and conflicts between perspectives, ranging from neuroscience to participatory anthropological studies.
> Post-Human Conditions. Exploring how the absence of the traditional human concept impacts disciplines such as art history, medieval studies, and interface research.
> Subject and Object. Investigating the oppositions of agency and the challenges of object- and subject-oriented approaches in philosophical anthropology.
> Canons and Methods. Analyzing the foundations of studying the world, the search for principles within the subject, and critiques of Cartesian approaches.
> Institutions and Organizations. Understanding how institutions and organizations act as participants and objects of study in the context of societal transformations. This includes examining the history and development of institutional knowledge and organizational theories.
> Internet, Platforms, Computation, and Code. Investigating how programming and computational cultures influence the production and structure of knowledge or are shaped by them.
> Philosophy of Technology. Exploring various traditions within the philosophy of technology to understand how multiple definitions of "the digital" emerge.
> Understanding Humanity Through the Lens of Multiple Sciences. Examining the compatibility and conflicts between perspectives, ranging from neuroscience to participatory anthropological studies.
> Post-Human Conditions. Exploring how the absence of the traditional human concept impacts disciplines such as art history, medieval studies, and interface research.
> Subject and Object. Investigating the oppositions of agency and the challenges of object- and subject-oriented approaches in philosophical anthropology.
> Canons and Methods. Analyzing the foundations of studying the world, the search for principles within the subject, and critiques of Cartesian approaches.
> Institutions and Organizations. Understanding how institutions and organizations act as participants and objects of study in the context of societal transformations. This includes examining the history and development of institutional knowledge and organizational theories.
> Internet, Platforms, Computation, and Code. Investigating how programming and computational cultures influence the production and structure of knowledge or are shaped by them.
> Philosophy of Technology. Exploring various traditions within the philosophy of technology to understand how multiple definitions of "the digital" emerge.
Opportunities for Doctoral Students
The program enables doctoral students to develop new approaches to studying the digital environment and its impact on life and knowledge. Participants will also gain expertise in modern intellectual and technical tools for creating and presenting scientific results.
Program Structure
Students in the program attend lectures and seminars, participate in reading groups and conferences. Alongside this, they engage in their own research projects and work on their dissertation text. Throughout their individual work, students receive guidance from experts within the academic staff of the graduate school.
- Years 1–2: Students focus on coursework and participate in project development while beginning to draft their dissertation.
- Years 2–3: Dedicated to testing and refining research findings.
- Year 4: Focused on finalizing the research or project, preparing the dissertation, and defending it.
Student Research and Projects
Analysis of the Specifics of Human Subjectivity in Contemporary Cultural Realities
Researcher: Nikita Rogalenko
Dissertation Description:
This dissertation focuses on identifying the unique features of human essence and subjectivity in the modern world. It examines how humans organize their existence, transform themselves, and shape their environment. The research highlights the role of humans as active agents and subjects navigating the transformative postmodern era. Special attention is given to the challenges of the 21st century, particularly the significant cultural shifts driven by the rapid development and integration of information technologies into everyday life.
About the Researcher:
Nikita Rogalenko holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from ITMO University and works in software development. His academic interests include philosophy of culture, media, and technology.
Academic Advisor: Alexander Lvov
Dissertation Description:
This dissertation focuses on identifying the unique features of human essence and subjectivity in the modern world. It examines how humans organize their existence, transform themselves, and shape their environment. The research highlights the role of humans as active agents and subjects navigating the transformative postmodern era. Special attention is given to the challenges of the 21st century, particularly the significant cultural shifts driven by the rapid development and integration of information technologies into everyday life.
About the Researcher:
Nikita Rogalenko holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from ITMO University and works in software development. His academic interests include philosophy of culture, media, and technology.
Academic Advisor: Alexander Lvov
Philosophical and Anthropological Analysis of Gaming Metaverses by Tencent, a Chinese Technology Company
Researcher: Ivan Chuzhinov
Dissertation Description:
The study is divided into two major sections. The first part examines Tencent’s corporate policies through the lens of post-capitalist theories. The second part focuses on analyzing the company’s games, gameplay mechanics, and gamer identity using post-structuralist perspectives, actor-network theory, and insights from game development itself.
About the Researcher:
Ivan Chuzhinov is a junior lecturer, philosopher, and curator. His primary interests include the philosophy of technology, contemporary art, curatorial practices, and American fiction literature.
Academic Advisor: Alexander Pogrebnyak
Dissertation Description:
The study is divided into two major sections. The first part examines Tencent’s corporate policies through the lens of post-capitalist theories. The second part focuses on analyzing the company’s games, gameplay mechanics, and gamer identity using post-structuralist perspectives, actor-network theory, and insights from game development itself.
About the Researcher:
Ivan Chuzhinov is a junior lecturer, philosopher, and curator. His primary interests include the philosophy of technology, contemporary art, curatorial practices, and American fiction literature.
Academic Advisor: Alexander Pogrebnyak
Traditions of Representing Trauma in Contemporary Sound and Media Art
Researcher: Alexander Pogrebnyak
Dissertation Description:
This research explores auditory practices in representing trauma and engaging listeners with the experience of others within contemporary sound and media art. The focus is on how sound can convey traumatic experiences more deeply and sustainably, avoiding the fragmented and detached perception often associated with modern digital media. The theoretical part examines the evolution of auditory practices, from ritual chants to contemporary music, and contrasts visual and auditory methods of representing trauma. The practical component involves creating sound works and installations using an interdisciplinary approach, analyzing listener reactions, and developing innovative forms of responsible auditory representation of traumatic experiences.
About the Researcher:
Alexander Pogrebnyak is a media artist, photographer, and sound designer. His research interests lie in the fields of Sound and Listening Studies. His works explore the intersection of media-archaeological narratives, resulting in video and sound art installations.
Academic Advisor: Alexander Pogrebnyak
Dissertation Description:
This research explores auditory practices in representing trauma and engaging listeners with the experience of others within contemporary sound and media art. The focus is on how sound can convey traumatic experiences more deeply and sustainably, avoiding the fragmented and detached perception often associated with modern digital media. The theoretical part examines the evolution of auditory practices, from ritual chants to contemporary music, and contrasts visual and auditory methods of representing trauma. The practical component involves creating sound works and installations using an interdisciplinary approach, analyzing listener reactions, and developing innovative forms of responsible auditory representation of traumatic experiences.
About the Researcher:
Alexander Pogrebnyak is a media artist, photographer, and sound designer. His research interests lie in the fields of Sound and Listening Studies. His works explore the intersection of media-archaeological narratives, resulting in video and sound art installations.
Academic Advisor: Alexander Pogrebnyak
The Problem of Human Understanding of the Living and the Role of Technology as a Mediator in Such Interaction
Researcher: Irina Antonova
Dissertation Description:
This research addresses the problem of how humans comprehend living entities and the role of technology as a mediator in this interaction. The study lies at the intersection of philosophical anthropology and the philosophy of technology, drawing on the philosophy of life by Henri Bergson, the mechanology of Gilbert Simondon, concepts from 20th-21st century cybernetics, as well as current developments in neuroscience and artificial intelligence technologies.
About the Researcher:
Irina Antonova has an academic background in psychology (Moscow State University). She has extensive experience in designing educational programs and solutions (Stockholm School of Economics, Vlerick Business School, University 2035, PISh MAI, etc.) and developing software and engineering solutions in the fields of cognitive technologies and biofeedback. Irina explores and practices Art&Science as a form of hybrid thinking and a method for creating interdisciplinary innovations. She is also the co-founder of the group NakedMinds, which seeks answers to questions about augmenting human collective intelligence through human-machine creative collaborations.
Academic Advisor: Polina Kolozaridi
Dissertation Description:
This research addresses the problem of how humans comprehend living entities and the role of technology as a mediator in this interaction. The study lies at the intersection of philosophical anthropology and the philosophy of technology, drawing on the philosophy of life by Henri Bergson, the mechanology of Gilbert Simondon, concepts from 20th-21st century cybernetics, as well as current developments in neuroscience and artificial intelligence technologies.
About the Researcher:
Irina Antonova has an academic background in psychology (Moscow State University). She has extensive experience in designing educational programs and solutions (Stockholm School of Economics, Vlerick Business School, University 2035, PISh MAI, etc.) and developing software and engineering solutions in the fields of cognitive technologies and biofeedback. Irina explores and practices Art&Science as a form of hybrid thinking and a method for creating interdisciplinary innovations. She is also the co-founder of the group NakedMinds, which seeks answers to questions about augmenting human collective intelligence through human-machine creative collaborations.
Academic Advisor: Polina Kolozaridi
The Impact of AI Technologies on Educational Practices in Higher Education: Understanding Changes and Interactions Among Participants in the Learning Process
Researcher: Aziz Ashirov
Dissertation Description:
With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), traditional concepts of human nature and educational practices in higher education require reevaluation. This study addresses the growing integration of AI into the educational environment and its impact on critical thinking development and the dynamics of student-teacher interactions.
Key research questions include:
— How does AI influence students' self-identification?
— What changes occur in the dynamics of power and authority within the educational process?
By engaging with existing research in pedagogy and technology, the study seeks to identify its unique contribution to theory development.
Practical Significance:
The research aims to identify methods for integrating AI into educational processes, facilitating the development of new approaches to learning that accommodate the individual needs of students. The results can be applied to create adaptive learning programs and enhance the quality of education.
Academic Advisor: Polina Kolozaridi
Dissertation Description:
With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), traditional concepts of human nature and educational practices in higher education require reevaluation. This study addresses the growing integration of AI into the educational environment and its impact on critical thinking development and the dynamics of student-teacher interactions.
Key research questions include:
— How does AI influence students' self-identification?
— What changes occur in the dynamics of power and authority within the educational process?
By engaging with existing research in pedagogy and technology, the study seeks to identify its unique contribution to theory development.
Practical Significance:
The research aims to identify methods for integrating AI into educational processes, facilitating the development of new approaches to learning that accommodate the individual needs of students. The results can be applied to create adaptive learning programs and enhance the quality of education.
Academic Advisor: Polina Kolozaridi
Faculty
- Polina KolozaridiHead of the Graduate Program
- Ilya MavrinskyPhD in Philosophy
- Alla Mitrofanova
- Alexander Pogrebnyak
- Andrey TeslyaPhD in Philosophy, Senior Research Fellow, Academic Supervisor at the Center for Russian Thought Studies, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University
Admission Requirements
Applicants are required to pass an internal entrance examination based on a set of predefined topics [to be updated].
Organizers
Institute of International Development and Partnership (IIDP), ITMO University
Established in 2014, IIDP is the Center for International Activities at ITMO University. Its primary mission is to promote internationalization across all areas of the university’s operations, including education, research, and extracurricular activities.
ITMO University
A National Research University and a leading institution in Russia specializing in information and photonic technologies. ITMO is recognized as a leader in both the global and national academic communities.
Established in 2014, IIDP is the Center for International Activities at ITMO University. Its primary mission is to promote internationalization across all areas of the university’s operations, including education, research, and extracurricular activities.
ITMO University
A National Research University and a leading institution in Russia specializing in information and photonic technologies. ITMO is recognized as a leader in both the global and national academic communities.
По поводу поступления пишите координатору программы Александре Савченко на почту savchenkoa@itmo.ru. До встреч!
Если не нашли ваш вопрос по поводу поступления, пишите координатору программы Александре Савченко на почту savchenkoa@itmo.ru. До встреч!
Saint-Petersburg
Birzhevaya Lane 16, room. 201
Birzhevaya Lane 16, room. 201
