S&T Opportunities

Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program

This Graduate Fellowship Program of the National Academies—consisting of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council—is designed to engage its Fellows in the analytical process that informs U.S. science and technology policy.  Fellows develop basic skills essential to working or participating in science policy at the federal, state, or local levels.

Eligibility
Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars and those who have completed graduate studies or postdoctoral research in any social/behavioral science, medical/health discipline, physical or biological science, any field of engineering, law/business/public administration or any relevant interdisciplinary field within the last five years are eligible to apply.

The program takes place in Washington, D.C. and is open to all U.S. and non-U.S. citizens who meet the criteria.  However, non-U.S. citizens must be currently enrolled in a U.S. university and have proof of holding valid J-1 or F-1 status.

Session Dates
Winter/Spring: January 24-April 15, 2011
Fall: August 29 through November 18, 2011

Apply
For details on criteria, application instructions, and access to the online application and reference forms please visit the program website.  Please note the requirement for submission of an online reference from a mentor/adviser.

Application Deadline Dates
Winter/spring program: OCTOBER 15, 2010
Fall program: MAY 1, 2011
(Candidates may apply to both sessions concurrently.)

Stipend
A stipend grant award of $8,240 will be provided for the 12-week session to offset expenses. Questions should be directed to: policyfellows@nas.edu.

Below are former Fellows’ comments about the program's impact:

"This is an important career building opportunity for people interested in the scientific community outside academia.  Even if you plan to pursue a traditional academic track, seeing science from a policy perspective is very enlightening.  There is something valuable in this experience for first year grad students to recent PhD’s.  Come with an open mind and expect to learn more than you...imagined."
"This program will open your mind to a world rarely envisioned from the confines of laboratory bench work. I learned an immeasurable amount about the policy and politics behind science and after the fellowship opens your mind, it opens career doors."

“In just weeks in the DC S&T policy world, I substantially broadened my perspective on how I can use my engineering background to positively impact our society. I return to graduate school recharged about the value of advanced education, and more confident about my decisions to pursue studies that blend the boundaries of engineering and the humanities. By seeing the connections between your academic field and the public policy arena, you will find many new opportunities for future studies or careers. You will be enriched as a person, as a public citizen, and as a member of an academic community.”

“A really great experience for those from the “soft sciences” who have an interest in S&T policy or if you’re trying to figure out what else you might want to do outside of academia. This was a great opportunity to bridge the gap and gain a new understanding and appreciation for how it all works, the people involved, and the profound difference it can make in the end (and all long the way).”

A printer-friendly version of the announcement can be downloaded from the Mirzayan website.

Environmental Fellows Program at Harvard University

The Harvard University Center for the Environment created the Environmental Fellows program to enable recent doctorate recipients to use and expand Harvard's extraordinary resources to tackle complex environmental problems. The Environmental Fellows work for two years with Harvard faculty members in any school or department to create new knowledge while also strengthening connections across the University's academic disciplines. Environmental Fellows may include people with degrees in the sciences, social sciences, law, government, public policy, public health, medicine, design, and the full array of humanities.

The Award
The fellowship will provide an annual stipend of $55,000 plus health insurance, a $2,500 allowance for travel and professional expenses, and other employee benefits. Environmental Fellows will begin work in September 2011.

Schedule
Applications and all letters of reference must be received by the Center for the Environment by 5pm Eastern Standard Time, January 14, 2011. The Center will announce the awards in March 2011. Complete details can be found at the Harvard University Center for Environment website.

Harvard University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer.

Contact Information
Applications and all letters of reference must be received by the Center for the Environment by 5pm Eastern Standard Time, January 14, 2011. The Center will announce the awards in March 2011. Complete details can be found at theHarvard University Center for Environment website.

Website

George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication Postdoctoral Research Fellow

The George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Research Fellow to support an NSF-funded planning grant titled Making the Global Local: Unusual Weather Events as Climate Change Education Opportunities. The goal of this project is to establish a national network of climate and weather science organizations, and university research and teaching programs, to engage, train, and empower local broadcast meteorologists to educate and inform the American public about climate change. The project will integrate informal learning, mass communication, and experiential learning theories to develop and test new pedagogical approaches to informal science education through frequent mass media exposure, linked to realworld experience (i.e., the local weather). It will also adapt and test conflict resolution theory and practice to engage meteorologists who reject the scientific consensus and climate scientists in constructive dialogue. Collaborating institutions include National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, American Meteorological Society, National Weather Association, American Association of State Climatologists, American Geophysical Union, Climate Central, National Environmental Education Foundation, and Yale and Cornell universities.

Candidates must have a PhD in a relevant social or learning science discipline, and a track record of published journal articles and/or conference papers on relevant topics of inquiry including climate change communication, science communication and/or formal or informal science education. Experience in survey research, qualitative data collection, strategic (program) planning, professional development, and climate science is preferred. Additional skills required include competence in planning and multitasking, attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, ability to communicate verbally and in writing, and the ability to adapt to the changing demands of a dynamic research environment.

For full consideration, interested and qualified applicants must submit the online faculty application for position #F9401z. Applications should include (a) cover letter including a statement of research interests and career goals, and names and contact information of two professional references, and (b) a vita.