Current Job Openings and Fellowships
Eleanor Searle Visiting Professor in the field of History of Science
Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences
California Institute of Technology
[11/22/10] The Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), in collaboration with the Huntington Library, invites applications for the annual Eleanor Searle Visiting Professor in the field of history of science. The position is for a full academic year (September 2011—June 2012). This is a half-time teaching position (two one-quarter courses) at Caltech and a half-time research position at the Huntington Library. Interested candidates should have demonstrated superb teaching and research skills. All applicants must currently hold a Ph.D. and a full-time tenure-track appointment at another university.
Please apply electronically by sending a statement detailing the research you wish to carry out at the Huntington Library, a current curriculum vitae, a recent sample of writing, copies of teaching evaluations, and three reference letters to ftise@hss.caltech.edu or by mail to Chair, Eleanor Searle Search, Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences, MC 101-40, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125.
Caltech is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Women, minorities, veterans, and disabled persons are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted until December 15, 2010.
Upcoming PhD and Postdoc Positions in the field of Nanotechnology and Society
University of Twente
The Netherlands
[09/28/10] This is a pre-announcement of a postdoc position and three PhD student positions, all in the area of nanotechnology and society. Pending final decisions about funding of the national-level NanoNextNLprogram, which has a subprogram on anticipation on embedding of nanotechnology in society, University of Twente’s Department of Science, Technology and Policy Studies (www.utwente.nl/mb/steps/) wishes to draw attention to these upcoming positions, and invites eligible candidates who are interested to contact Dr. Kornelia Konrad, e-mail: k.e.konrad@utwente.nl, phone: +31 53 489 3906.
Brief descriptions of the four positions:
Post-doctoral position: Socio-technical scenarios and strategy articulation for key application areas of
micro/nanotechnology
(full-time for the duration of 18 months)
While the shape of nanotechnology applications and their eventual effects on society and economy are uncertain, controlled speculation about applications and impacts is possible with the help of socio-technical scenarios (see the results of the TA NanoNed program in the predecessor of the NanoNextNL program, www.nanoned.nl). Socio-technical scenarios as a constructive technology assessment approach build on insights from science, technology and innovation studies and on stakeholder knowledge. The postdoc will develop scenarios and organize stakeholder workshops aimed at articulation of strategic implications and potential impacts for areas of nanotechnology worked on in NanoNextNL. The project will be conducted in cooperation with a parallel project at the University of Utrecht.
PhD position: The co-evolution of sectoral structures and nanotechnologies
(full-time for the duration of 4 years)
Nanotechnology is often presented as a breakthrough technology that may profoundly change sectoral and industry structures. However, to what extent this will happen and what may be the specific implications for certain sectors and industries is unclear. At the same time, current structures provide important context conditions for nanotechnology-enabled innovations, which may be more or less conducive for nanotechnologies in general and for specific directions. The PhD student will investigate these questions for selected cases by means of qualitative and, where appropriate, quantitative approaches. On the basis of the analysis, possible broader economic and societal impacts and strategic implications will be estimated.
PhD position: Practices, institutionalization and impact of responsible innovation in nanotechnology
(full-time for the duration of 4 years)
The notion of ‘responsible innovation’ or ‘responsible development’ has become widespread concern in the context of emerging nanotechnologies, especially in policy discourse. There are instances of responsible development already, like the formulation of codes of conduct, the setting-up of public engagement processes, willingness of firms and laboratories to be transparent. Actual practices of ‘doing responsible development’ may spread and stabilize, i.e. become institutionalized, or turn out to be merely transitory phenomena. The PhD student will investigate to what extent and how responsible development has evolved from a rhetorical practice to more substantial practices related to research, development and production and to what extent and how this affects ongoing innovation processes. Furthermore, s/he will inquire, if, how and where certain practices become institutionalized at different levels. This may work out differently for different sectors and/or national contexts.
PhD position: Governance of promises and risks in nanotechnology
(full-time for the duration of 3 years)
While nanotechnology is full of far-reaching promises mobilizing researchers, funding agencies and innovation actors, concerns about potential risks have emerged as well and turned into legitimate concerns. Both are forms of expectation-building, and both are shaped (governed) by actor constellations and institutional arrangements. It is important to understand these dynamics when attempting to govern them, somehow. How exactly the different forms of expectation-building and coordination as part of societal discourses, foresight and technology assessment programmes have evolved and how they have modulated the further development of nanotechnology is the topic of this PhD project. The PhD student will also examine how various innovation actors from research, industry and policy have been affected by different modes of expectation-building and how they contribute to their further evolution.
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Dr. Kornelia Konrad
Assistant Professor Dynamics and Assessment of Emerging Technologies
Dept. Science, Technology & Policy Studies (ST?PS)
School of Management and Governance
University of Twente
T: +31 53 489 39 06; k.e.konrad(at)utwente.nl
visitor's address:
Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede
Building Ravelijn (10), room RA4260
postal address:
P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede; The Netherlands
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
LAFAYETTE COLLEGE
EASTON, Pa.
Lafayette College is seeking an exceptional teacher/scholar with expertise in Science, Technology, and Society (STS) for a tenure-track position in the interdisciplinary Engineering Studies Program. The Program awards a Bachelor of Arts degree in Engineering Studies. The candidate’s teaching and scholarly interests and experience in Science, Technology, and Society will broaden current faculty expertise in engineering policy and engineering economics and management. Relevant research areas that will complement the program’s existing strengths in environmental issues and engineering management include, but are not limited to: energy, gender, health, and telecommunications. The successful candidate will teach the Program’s Capstone Seminar in Engineering and Society; develop and teach interdisciplinary courses that attract students from across campus as well as in the major; work closely with students through independent study and undergraduate research; and advise Engineering Studies majors. Candidates must have at least one degree in engineering and be committed to teaching and scholarship in one or more areas within STS. The successful candidate will demonstrate that he or she is committed to pedagogical excellence and scholarship in an exclusively undergraduate, liberal arts environment; prior teaching experience is desirable.
Lafayette College is committed to creating a diverse community: one that is inclusive and responsive, and is supportive of each and all of its faculty, students, and staff. All members of the College community share a responsibility for creating,
maintaining, and developing a learning environment in which difference is valued, equity is sought, and inclusiveness is practiced. Lafayette College is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women and minorities. To
apply, send a CV, letter of application that includes a description of teaching and scholarly interests, and list of three potential references to:
STSsearch@lafayette.edu.
Review of applications will begin on October 15, 2010.
For more information please see the Engineering Studies website at: