The Center for Nanotechnology in Society at the University of California, Santa Barbara (CNS-UCSB) announces fellowship opportunities for outstanding graduate students pursuing research in the social sciences and humanities. The CNS-UCSB seeks to produce and encourage excellent and innovative scholarship that addresses the intersection of nanotechnologies with society. CNS-UCSB researchers work in the departments of Anthropology, Communication, English, Global and International Studies, History, Political Science, Sociology, and Women’s Studies, and are engaged in several areas of inquiry including: the historical context of nanotechnologies; innovation, intellectual property and globalization; and risk perception and media framing of emerging nanotechnologies.

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To learn more about the Center for Nanotechnology in Society please visit: www.cns.ucsb.edu

Program Details:

1. Each successful applicant will work primarily in one of the three CNS Working Groups, but will interact with faculty and students in other groups.  Required skills and experience vary across Working Groups and assignments, but no prior experience with nanotechnology is required.  Visit the CNS website for more information about current research (www.cns.ucsb.edu/research-at-cns-ucsb/ and follow the links to each research area in the navigation bar).

Working Group 1: Historical Context of Nanotechnologies*
Patrick McCray, History

Working Group 2: Innovation, Diffusion and Globalization
Chris Newfield, English
Rich Appelbaum, Sociology and Global & International Studies

Working Group 3: Risk Perception* & Issue Framing*
Barbara Herr Harthorn, Women’s Studies, Anthropology
Bruce Bimber, Political Science and Communication
John Mohr, Sociology

* For 2008-2009, fellowship opportunities are anticipated with Patrick McCray around the historical context of nanotechnologies, Barbara Herr Harthorn in risk perception of nanotechnologies, and with Bruce Bimber/John Mohr around issue framing.  There are no current opportunities with Working Group 2.

2. The CNS-UCSB Graduate Fellowship program will run for a 12 month period with a start date of September 22, 2008.

3. The social science fellowship will provide up to $30,000 annually. This amount is intended to cover cost of living and in-state tuition and fees at UCSB, and may be adjusted for tuition/fee increases. Fellows who reside at UCSB over summer term will not register for the summer term and will not receive funding for tuition and fees for that quarter.

Student Eligibility:

This program is open to any social science or humanities graduate student (U.S. citizen or permanent resident) who is currently enrolled in good standing in a relevant graduate program at the University of California and will continue to matriculate at the conclusion of the fellowship.

Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for fellowships.

While on social science fellowship tenure a student must not be employed by UCSB (TA-ship, GSR, etc). 

Application Process:

The application for the CNS Fellowship can be submitted via email.  A letter of recommendation will be required from your current academic advisor, and the recommender form is linked below. A copy of your unofficial transcript can be emailed or may be sent in hard copy to the address below. To be considered complete, a fellowship application must include all of the following items:

1. A completed student application form.  Please click here to download the Word document form.

2. A statement of interest in the research projects at CNS-UCSB and how you think your background and interests can be applied to ongoing CNS research examining the societal issues regarding nanotechnology in society.  Please incorporate into your statement with whom of the following faculty you would most like to work.  Please rank your preferences regarding all areas, since we have limited placements for fellows in each area:

Patrick McCray – Historical Context of Nanotechnologies
Barbara Herr Harthorn – Risk Perception
Bruce Bimber & John Mohr – Issue Framing

Statement should be 1000 words or less. 

3. A copy of your curriculum vitae.

4. A copy of your unofficial transcript – email to julie@cns.ucsb.edu or send hard copy to:

5. A letter of recommendation from your current academic advisor. Please click here to download the Word document form.

6. The selection process may include an interview.

APPLICATION Deadline: March 17, 2008  

Award announcements will be made by no later than April 17, 2008

Only complete applications will be reviewed for awards.

UCSB is an AA/EOE.  

Questions or Concerns about the CNS-UCSB Graduate Fellowship program?  Contact: