Biography

Robert Streiffer’s research focuses on ethical and policy issues arising from modern biotechnology, both biomedical and agricultural. He has broad interests in applied ethics, ethical theory, metaethics, and political philosophy. His recent work explores food justice issues, attitudes towards animal research, the ethics of animal use and confinement, and a new theoretical approach to the ethics of human-animal relationships. He has served on the UW Health Sciences Institutional Review Board, the UW Hospital Ethics Committee, UW’s Biotechnology Advisory Committee, the Animal Care and Use Committee for UW’s College of Letters and Science, and UW’s Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee.

He is a full professor with tenure at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He has a joint appointment in the Department of Medical History and Bioethics and the Philosophy Department and is affiliated with UW-Madison’s Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, Neuroscience and Public Policy Program, and Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center. He received his Ph.D. in ethics under the direction of Judith Jarvis Thomson from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1999.

Professional Appointments

  • Present2018

    Full Professor with Tenure

    Department of Medical History and Bioethics, School of Medicine and Public Health, UW-Madison

  • Present2018

    Full Professor with Tenure

    Department of Philosophy, College of Letters and Science, UW-Madison

  • Present2006

    Affiliate Appointment

    The Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, UW-Madison

  • 20182006

    Associate Professor with Tenure

    Department of Medical History and Bioethics, School of Medicine and Public Health, UW-Madison

  • 20182006

    Associate Professor with Tenure

    Department of Philosophy, College of Letters and Sciences, UW-Madison

  • 20061999

    Assistant Professor

    Department of Medical History and Bioethics, Medical School, UW-Madison

  • 20061999

    Assistant Professor

    Department of Philosophy, College of Letters and Science, UW-Madison

Education

  • Ph.D. 1999

    Ph.D. in Philosophy

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • B.A. 1993

    B.A in Philosophy

    Reed College

Areas of Specialization

Bioethics (Agricultural and Medical), Ethical Theory, Metaethics

Areas of Competence

Political Philosophy, Environmental Ethics