Postdoctoral Fellowship in Risk Governance—

Governance of Disruptive Technologies

University of Michigan

The University of Michigan has launched a new focus initiative in Risk Governance, for which it is seeking a postdoctoral fellow. Funded by the university’s Risk Science Center and based in the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program, the term of the fellowship is one year (renewable for a second and third year pending fellow’s performance and funding availability). 

The postdoctoral fellow will work with Prof. Shobita Parthasarathy (Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy) on a research project analyzing the governance challenges posed by disruptive technologies (technologies that challenge existing markets, norms, laws, and social and political orders), in the context of current and proposed frameworks that have been devised to govern these technologies. The project will involve the development and analysis of a series of historical and current case studies; therefore, the postdoctoral fellow should have experience in designing, organizing and carrying out qualitative/ethnographic research. The postdoctoral fellow should be able and willing to work as part of an interdisciplinary team at University of Michigan, particularly those from the Ford School of Public Policy and School of Public Health. Postdoctoral fellows will teach one course per year on Risk Governance, to Masters and PhD students from a wide variety of fields including public policy, public health, the natural and social sciences, and engineering. The fellow will also have time to pursue his/her own independent research.

Candidates must have received (or submitted the thesis for) the degree of PhD (or equivalent) in science and technology studies, science/technology/health policy, social sciences (e.g., sociology, anthropology, political science), legal studies/law, cultural studies, or history, by the date of appointment. They should have a strong research record appropriate to the present stage of their careers, with evidence of potential for producing distinguished scholarship. They will be expected to have excellent organizational and time-management skills and also excellent English writing skills. Successful applicants will be formally affiliated with the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and the Risk Science Center, both at University of Michigan. Salary and benefits are competitive. Funds will be provided for moving, conference, and research expenses. Inquiries and applications should be sent via e-mail to rgpostdoc@umich.edu. Applications should include a cover letter that explains the candidate’s research interests and background, a CV, writing sample, teaching evaluations, and three letters of reference. Deadline for applications is January 23, 2012.

The University of Michigan is a Non-Discriminatory/Affirmative Action Employer. The Ford School is especially interested in candidates who can contribute, through their research and teaching, to the diversity and excellence of the academic community.