William Patterson
London
Summary
I am an enthusiastic philosopher with extensive experience in philosophical research across undergraduate and graduate training in Philosophy. I have particular expertise in the Philosophy of Mind and Agency, with a background in university teaching. I have a strong portfolio for organising and running events in the arts, and I am able to engage critically with philosophers and other important public figures about their work.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work history
Volunteer
Academic Conference
Durham
2023.06 - 2023.06
- Volunteered at Wartime Quartet: Significance, Legacy, Spirit Academic Conference, at Durham University.
- Prepared premises for arriving participants, organising the register for attendees.
- Ran the welcome desk with one other colleague, registering speakers and assisting their navigation around the conference and the city.
Model
Josephine Butler College Charity Fashion Show
Durham
2023.01 - 2023.03
- Modeled with a student ran charity fashion show, which raised funds for the 93% club - a charity that provides networking opportunities for state-educated students - and Solidaritee Durham - a student-led charity which aims to raise awareness and support for displaced people.
Fresher’s Representative
Josephine Butler College
2022.09
- Volunteered to help run my college's fresher's week.
- Developed organisational, safe-guarding and team-working skills through the course of the week, successfully running evening activities at university bars, as well as clubs in Durham and Newcastle.
Graduate Teaching Assistant
King’s College London
London
2025.09 - 2026.04
- Taught undergraduate courses in the Philosophy of Mind, Metaphysics and History of Philosophy.
- Explained important, complex philosophical ideas clearly in an interdisciplinary context, teaching students from Neuroscience and PPE courses as well as single-honours Philosophy students.
- Ran two sessions lecturing on key ethical theories to medical students.
- Gave thorough and detailed feedback on student assignments.
Member of Organising Committee
Women in Parenthesis Pre-Doctoral Conference
2025.06 - 2025.06
- Co-organised an international conference on the Wartime Quartet (a group of moral philosophers educated together at Oxford during WWII - Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Mary Midgley and Iris Murdoch) at the University of Cambridge.
- I successfully applied to learned societies for conference grants, winning significant funding from the Aristotelian Society and the British Society for the History of Philosophy.
- I managed the call for papers and organised the speaker panels, coordinating participation from students at, for example, Harvard University, CAU Keil, KU Leuven, Durham University, the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and more.
Kickstarter Volunteer
How The Light Gets in Festival
2025.05 - 2025.05
- Assisted core members of the Institute of Ideas team to run the International Venue at How The Light Gets In festival, which held talks from important public figures and academics, such as MP Richard Tice and former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
- Prepared the venue for arriving guests, and prepared the stage for speakers.
- Helped bring famous speakers to the venue, and escorted them to book signings after their events.
Political Education Officer
Durham University Labour Club
Durham
2021.11 - 2024.06
- Organised reading groups for fellow students on political theory and history, with readings including academic work and popular articles on issues such as contemporary culture and work.
- Collectively ran sessions with important left wing authors, activists and politicians.
- Elected position which I held for three academic years, successfully running for re-election each year.
Education
MPhil Stud - Philosophy
Kings College London
LondonBA (hons) - Philosophy
Durham University
DurhamA levels - Religious Studies, History, Music, Philosophy (AS), and EPQ
Aquinas College Sixth Form
Skills
My primary skill is that of philosophical research I am able to write persuasively, and argumentatively, in a clear manner I am able to communicate clearly and effectively with fellow philosophers, as well as people who are new to the field I can effectively organise events, and host speakers, including academic philosophers I am an original thinker, able to develop new ideas on important philosophical, and social, issues
Awards
- BSHP Standard Conference Grant, British Society for the History of Philosophy.
- MPhilStud Bursary, King’s College London.
- Tallentire Prize, Durham University.
- Gabett Prize, Durham University.
- Highly Commended Postgraduate Research Representative, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, King's College London.
Timeline
Graduate Teaching Assistant
King’s College London
2025.09 - 2026.04
Member of Organising Committee
Women in Parenthesis Pre-Doctoral Conference
2025.06 - 2025.06
Kickstarter Volunteer
How The Light Gets in Festival
2025.05 - 2025.05
Volunteer
Academic Conference
2023.06 - 2023.06
Model
Josephine Butler College Charity Fashion Show
2023.01 - 2023.03
Fresher’s Representative
Josephine Butler College
2022.09
Political Education Officer
Durham University Labour Club
2021.11 - 2024.06
MPhil Stud - Philosophy
Kings College London
BA (hons) - Philosophy
Durham University
A levels - Religious Studies, History, Music, Philosophy (AS), and EPQ
Aquinas College Sixth Form