Click to download full fellowship program announcement

About CNS and graduate research

The Center for Nanotechnology in Society at the University of California, Santa Barbara offers fellowship opportunities for outstanding graduate students pursuing research in science and engineering.

CNS-UCSB is a NSF-funded collaborative interdisciplinary research center that serves as a national research and education center, a network hub among researchers and educators concerned with societal issues concerning nanotechnologies, and a resource base for studying these issues in the US and abroad.  The critical organizing frame for CNS-UCSB is that of socially and environmentally sustainable innovation, in which we integrate historical, global economic, and social and psychological factors in formative analysis of the nano-enterprise in relation to these goals. 

Graduate research fellows are integrating into CNS-UCSB research and other activities involving faculty, researchers, postdocs, and other students from social science, humanities, and science and engineering disciplines.  CNS-UCSB faculty researchers currently work in the departments of Anthropology, Chian@ Studies, Communication, English, Feminist Studies, Global and International l Studies, History, Media Arts & Technology, Music, Political Science, Sociology and the Bren School.  Research in the current award has been organized into three interdisciplinary research groups (IRGs).

CNS-UCSB Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRGs) and Faculty Leaders

IRG 1:   Origins, Institutions and Communities: Patrick McCray, History

IRG 1 produces and integrates a diverse range of historical sources and research tools in order to understand specific facets of the nano-enterprise’s history

(Not accepting fellows for 2013-2014)

IRG 2:  Globalization and Nanotechnology: Rich Appelbaum, Sociology and Global & International Studies

IRG 2 addresses global industrial policy and development of nanotechnology, with a particular focus on China, Japan, India, and Latin America, and pathway to the use of nanotechnologies to spur equitable development

(Not accepting fellows for 2013-2014)

IRG 3:  Nanotechnology Risk Perception and Social Response: Barbara Herr Harthorn, Anthropology, Feminist studies, and Sociology

IRG3 conducts social research on new (nano)technology risk and benefit perception in the US and abroad by multiple stakeholders in the nano-enterprise and public deliberation as a mode of participation in science and technology. 

Fellowship Program details

1. Fellowships run for a 12-month period (renewable based upon performance, budge, and research needs) beginning September 22, 2013 at the state of the Fall Quarter.  The science and engineering fellowship will provide funding up to $17,500 annually.  This amount is intended to cover 50% of the cost of in-stat tuition, and fees at UCSB for the 2013-2014 academic year (approximately $6,500) and provide a stipend of approximately $11,250 intended to contribute toward 12-months of housing and living expenses.  Additional support is provided for Fellows to travel to academic conferences and other venues for dissemination of CNS research and to network with other science and society researchers. 

2. Each successful application will work primarily in one of the three CNS research groups, with a specific faculty mentor, but will interact with faculty and students in other groups.  Required skills and experience vary by IRG and assignments; knowledge of new materials, chemistry, or toxicology is desirable.  Visit the CNS website for more information about current research http://www.cns.ucsb.edu/research

3. As part of the approximately 8-10 hours/ week commitment, S&E Fellows are expected to participate in a CNS-wide seminar each quarter that meets approximately bi-weekly as well as professional development and public engagement activities.   

Student Eligibility

This program is open to any social science or humanities PhD student (U.S. citizen or permanent resident) who is currently enrolled and in good standing in a relevant graduate program ant UCSB.  Terminal masters students are not eligible. 

During the fellowship, the Fellow many not have any additional on campus employment (e.g. TA-ship, GSR, etc.)

Fellows must be in residence at UCSB for the duration of the fellowship in order to fully participate in the full round of CNS activities

Fellows must have interest in and ability to work productively in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment.             

Application Procedures:

The application deadline is Wed. June 12, 2013. 

Click here for full CNS fellowship application

A complete application requires the form listed above and includes

1. Application cover sheet

2. Statement of Interest relevant to CNS-UCSB

3. Curriculum Vitae

4. Unofficial transcript

5. Recommendation from your current academic advisor (must be sent from advisor’s email address)