I'm Josh Rottman, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Program in Scientific and Philosophical Studies of Mind at Franklin & Marshall College.  My research is situated at the intersection of cognitive development and moral psychology, and I primarily focus on studying the factors that lead certain entities and objects to be attributed with (or stripped of) moral concern.  I am guided by the hope that a scientific understanding of our moral inclinations will provide us with critical information about psychological barriers and leverage points that will be relevant for improving the world. 

I grew up in Western Colorado, and I'm always very happy to get a chance to go hiking in the desert or mountains.  Otherwise, when I'm not exploring the outdoors or thinking about teaching and research, I can often be found watching episodes of Breaking Bad or Black Mirror with my partner Lysa (a dentist and artist), singing broadway show tunes with my daughter Sage, or unsuccessfully trying to train my dog Reuben to stop barking so much.