CNS Postdoctoral Researcher
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Philip McCarty
Degree: Ph.D., Sociology
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Dr. McCarty is interested in the way institutions use ideology to influence the formation of public opinion and public policy. His dissertation was an analysis of the impact that Republican and Democratic ideologies had on the way issues were framed in the speeches and debates leading up to the 2004 presidential election. As a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Nanotechnology, he is using a hybrid quantitative/qualitative methodology to analyze the how public and private institutions are framing the issue of nanotechnology, how those frame get picked up by the media, and the effect these framing processes have on the formation of public policy. |
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| CNS Social Science Graduate Fellows |
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Kasim Alimahomed
Working Group 2: Innovation, Intellectual Property, and
Globalization
Degree Objective: Ph.D., Communication
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Kasim's interest at CNS-UCSB primarily involves the mapping
of nanotechnology researchers in structured social space. Tracking
information flows between scientists, he tests social psychological variables
within and across networks. He has received numerous awards for his
research, most recently a top paper award in interpersonal communication at the
International Communication Association conference held in Dresden, Germany.
Prior to his becoming a fellow at CNS-UCSB, Kasim's research interests involved
dynamic facial expressions and he taught extensively throughout the Southern
California area--primarily at California Polytechnic State University,
Pomona. Kasim has a master's degree in Human Communication Studies from California State
University, Fullerton
and a bachelor's in Speech Communication from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
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Joseph Conti
Working Group 3: Risk Perception and Social Movements
Degree Objective: Ph.D., Sociology
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Prior to becoming a graduate fellow, Joe was already a familiar face at CNS-UCSB. He was among the researchers in the 2006 ICON-CNS study of nanotechnology in the workplace in which the team found that workplaces lack empirical data about environmental, health and safety practices of nanotechnologies. In addition to the CNS-UCSB graduate student fellowship, he has also received the NSF Doctoral Improvement Grant, the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation Dissertation Fellowship, and the Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy Dissertation Research Grant. As a sociologist, Joe is interested in globalization, U.S. foreign policy, sociology of law, research methods, and political sociology. He earned a master’s degree in sociology from UC Santa Barbara, and graduated magna cum laude from Regis University with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy.
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Mary Ingram-Waters
Working Group 1: Historical Context of Nanotechnologies
Degree Objective: Ph.D., Sociology
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Mary works closely with Patrick McCray in researching the
connections between three recent pro-technology social movements: pro-space,
cryonics, and nanotechnology for the purpose of tracing how nanotechnology
first emerged in the public imagination in the 1980s and 1990s. Ingram-Waters is a two-time recipient of
CNS-UCSB’s Graduate Research Fellowship. Prior to her work at CNS-UCSB,
Ingram-Waters was a Research Fellow at the Institute for the Advanced Studies
on Science, Technology, and Society (IAS-STS), in Graz, Austria, and the
recipient of the doctoral fellowship at the Capps Center for the Study of
Religion in Public Life. She earned a
master’s degree in sociology from UCSB and bachelor’s degrees in sociology and
theater arts from State University of Western Georgia.
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Rachel Parker
Working Group 2: Innovation, Intellectual Property, and Globalization
Degree Objective: Ph.D., Sociology
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As one of the recipients of the NSF East Asia and Pacific
Summer Institute Fellowship Award, Rachel is currently researching
nanotechnology R&D in China
and Taiwan. During her summer in China, she is also working on her dissertation
research on China’s
use of nanotechnology in environmental remediation. She works closely with Rich Appelbaum in
studying global investment in and competition of nanotechnology. Rachel received a master’s degree in
management of non-governmental organizations from the London School of
Economics, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Brandeis University.
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David Weaver
Working Group 3: Risk Perception and Social Movements
Degree Objective: Ph.D., Political Science
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David works alongside Bruce Bimber, conducting research and
analysis of nanotechnology and the media.
In addition to his fellowship with CNS, he has also received a
departmental fellowship with UCSB’s Department of Political Science and the Roy
H. Park Fellowship at University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill’s School of Journalism. David’s current research is in the field of
political communication. He earned a
master’s degree in mass communication from UNC – Chapel Hill, and bachelor’s
degrees in communications, history and print journalism from the University of Oregon.
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CNS Science and Engineering Graduate Fellows
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Scott Ferguson
Working Group 2: Innovation, Intellectual Property, and
Globalization
Degree Objective: Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering
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Biography Coming Soon! |
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Erica Lively
Working Group 3: Risk Perception and Social Movements
Degree Objective: Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Erica has extensive experience in the field of
electrical
engineering, having served as a research intern at NASA's Jet
Propulsion
Laboratory and as a research and development intern at Stryker
Endoscopy. Her research interests include slow
light
devices, integrated photonic devices, metamaterials, and plasmonics. She is currently working as a member of Prof.
Daniel Blumenthal's research group, conducting process development
experiments
for nanofabrication of metal gratings on compound semiconductors. Erica is a recipient of the California
NanoSystems Institute Fellowship, Micron Fellowship for Science and
Technology,
and the NASA Idaho Space Grant Fellowship.
She has earned a master's degree from UCSB and a bachelor's
degree from
the University
of Idaho, both in
electrical
engineering.
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Jerry Macala
Working Group 2: Innovation, Intellectual Property, and Globalization
Degree Objective: Ph.D., Chemistry
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As a member of the Innovation, Intellectual Property, and
Globalization group, Jerry is currently researching the current innovation
structure and how it can be improved. He
has extensive work experience, having once worked as a plant and regulatory
manager for Norac, Inc., and as station manager in Antarctica. As a chemist, Jerry works with silver oxide
nanoparticles and cobalt oxide nanomaterials from listeria innocua
protein. He earned his bachelor’s degree
in chemistry from UCLA.
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Tyronne Martin
Working Group 3: Risk Perception and Social Movements
Degree Objective: Ph.D., Chemistry
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As a chemist, Tyronne is able to serve as a liaison between the physical and social sciences of nanotechnology research. He is the recipient of the 2007 UC Santa Barbara Chemistry Department’s Outstanding Service Award for Graduate Recruitment. He has also received the Alliance for Graduate Education and Professoriate (AGEP) Fellowship. Tyronne’s research interests include protein design and engineering, along with drug-microtubule interactions and stability. During his undergraduate education he participated in minority science programs and carried out research in the synthesis of organometallic catalysts. Tyronne received a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from California State University, Los Angeles.
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Alexis Ostrowski
Working Group 3: Risk Perception and Social Movements
Degree Objective: Ph.D., Chemistry
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Alexis is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry at UCSB in the research group of Prof. Peter C. Ford. Her dissertation research is focused on developing modified nanoparticles for photochemical delivery of bioactive chemical compounds for therapeutic applications. Before pursuing studies at UCSB, she worked as a research scientist in the Space Materials Lab at The Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, CA. Alexis also has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Occidental College where she was involved in research to create DNA-based biosensors. |
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| CNS Graduate Fellow Alumni |
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Karl Bryant
Working Group 3: Risk Perception and Social Movements
Degree: Ph.D., Sociology
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During his year as a graduate fellow with CNS-UCSB, Karl helped
to prepare and execute the recent cross-national deliberation on nanotechnology
and society that examines how the U.S.
and U.K.
publics perceive nanotechnology. Karl
received his Ph.D. in 2007 and has accepted a position as assistant professor
of sociology and women’s studies at SUNY New Paltz. He graduated magna cum laude from Arizona State University
with a bachelor’s degree in French and a master’s degree in sociology. |
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Alan Glennon
Working Group 2: Innovation, Intellectual Property, and Globalization
Degree objective: Ph.D., Geography
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Alan’s time with CNS-UCSB was spent mapping nanotechnology centers
around the world. Prior to his research
at UCSB, he founded the Hoffman Research Institute at Western Kentucky
University, studying
water quality, natural resource management and environmental change. Alan has also served as research hydrologist
for the Center for Cave and Karst Studies; park ranger at Mammoth Cave National
Park; cartographer for the Center for Local Government Services at Western
Kentucky University; and natural resource manager at Jewel Cave National Monument. He earned a master’s degree in geoscience
from Western Kentucky
University, and a bachelor’s degree in
recreation, park and tourism science from Texas A&M
University.
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Hillary Haldane
Working Group 3: Risk Perception and Social Movements
Degree: Ph.D., Anthropology
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Hillary Haldane served as a CNS-UCSB research graduate fellow in 2006. She is currently serving as a visiting assistant professor of anthropology at Quinnipiac University. During her time with CNS-UCSB, Hillary participated
in developing the expert interview protocol and creating the
databases for comparative studies. She earned a master's degree in
anthropology from UC
Santa Barbara and graduated cum laude from San Diego State University
with a bachelor's degree in anthropology. |
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Aaron Rowe
Working Group 2: Innovation, Intellectual Property, and Globalization
Degree Objective: Ph.D., Chemistry
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As a graduate student in the department of chemistry, Aaron
is working on the design of new biosensor architectures and eventually hopes to
construct handheld devices that can be used to detect illicit drugs and
chemical and biological weapons. He
earned a bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering from the University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign and a master’s degree in organic chemistry from California State University
at Northridge.
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Kim Stoltzfus
Working Group 2: Innovation, Intellectual Property, and Globalization
Degree Objective: Ph.D., Communication
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Kim’s interest at CNS-UCSB is in scientific collaboration
and intellectual property. She has
received a number of awards and honors, including the UCSB Dean’s Fellowship
and Project Team Leader Award from the Department of Homeland Security’s
Modernization Project. Prior to
returning to graduate school to pursue a degree in communication, she served as
a communications consultant for a variety of organizations in Washington, D.C.,
including the U.S. Department of Commerce, where she served as liaison between
technology industry leaders and policy makers.
Kim has a master’s degree in new communication and a bachelor’s degree
in communications with minors in political science and history, both from the
Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State
University.
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Joe Summers
Working Group 3: Risk Perception and Social Movements
Degree: Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Joe’s expertise as an engineer proved invaluable to CNS-UCSB
during its crucial first year. In
addition to helping conduct the recent cross-national deliberation, he brought
an engineer’s perspective to discussion and research. His academic research interest is in
wavelength converters, where he hopes to create better and faster transmission
of data. Joe recently accepted a
position as postdoctoral researcher with the Department of Physics at Mount
Holyoke College.
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