What is a C-STES Fellow?

C-STES fellows receive funding to lead a project involving either research, scholarship, artistic, or engagement activities related to at least one priority area for C-STES research.  Fellowships are one-year and can begin January 15, 2025, or July 1, 2025.  All faculty members from any discipline are eligible to apply.

What do C-STES Fellows do?

  • Lead an interdisciplinary effort to further research/scholarship/artistic/engagement activities in a C-STES priority area (see below). This might include writing a grant proposal as a PI, contributing to a larger grant as a Co-PI, organizing a conference or workshop, producing an edited volume or exhibit, implementing an outreach/engagement activity.  The project need not focus entirely on a C-STES priority area but must involve a significant component related to at least one of these areas.   
  • Participate in monthly meetings with the director and other fellows to discuss projects, troubleshoot challenges, receive feedback, generate additional ideas, and assess additional funding support for your project.
  • Help grow and disseminate ideas through, for example, scholarly products, the generation of a new research project or collaboration, a public lecture or exhibit, or an outreach effort.

What do C-STES Fellows receive?

  • Funding for direct costs up to $10,000 that can be used to further their project. This can be used as summer salary, a course buyout (with Department Head or College Dean permission), or other budget items that are needed to make the project successful (e.g., materials, student assistant, space rental, food, bringing speakers to campus). 
  • Help in identifying and recruiting additional expertise and team members needed for a project and fine-tuning ideas.
  • Assistance in identifying funding opportunities.
  • Support in writing and strengthening grant proposals.
  • Leadership mentoring and the ability to network and learn from other fellows working on interdisciplinary projects with similar themes and challenges.

What are the priority areas of C-STES?

  • Ethical, Social, and Policy Implications of Emerging Technologies: Projects that examine the potential benefits, risks, or social justice impacts of emerging technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence, bioengineered systems, genome editing, synthetic biology, quantum computing, nanotechnology, novel materials) or how might they be regulated or developed responsibly.
  • Science Communication: Projects that explore strategies for responsible, engaging, or effective communication about science, technological innovation, or science-based recommendations.
  • Ethical, Responsible, and Equitable Research: Projects that conceptualize, study, or assess methods or practices for more equitable, responsible, and ethical research or innovation.
  • Equity, Justice, and Community Resilience: Projects that aim to understand the historical, social, cultural, political, economic, and geographical forces that have created inequities and how might they be addressed when developing solutions to problems such as climate change, natural hazards, water or food insecurity, energy dependence, pollution, mental or physical illness, or other threats to wellbeing.
  • Broadening participation in STEM: Projects that will increase understanding of existing barriers to participation or assess strategies for promoting an inclusive and successful STEM workforce.

How to apply to be a C-STES Fellow:

Applications should be no longer than 5 pages and should include:

  • A project description explaining what you intend to do for a project (this might be applying for an external grant, organizing a conference or workshop, leading a reading group, or organizing an exhibit or performance) and how it will further at least one of the C-STES priority areas. Those intending to apply for a grant should include information about the intended program or specific funding opportunity.  Project descriptions should also indicate the timeline of the project (whether you want the fellowship to start in January 2025 or July 2025, and which months activities would occur).   
  • A budget (up to $10,000 in direct costs plus 6% admin fees or $10,600 total) that explains how you intend to use the fellowship funding (one page or less). Applicants seeking a course buyout should include a letter of support from their Department Head or Dean agreeing that the course buyout can be taken for the amount budgeted (enough to cover and NTT faculty member to teach the course plus benefits). This letter will not count toward the 5-page limit.
  • 2-page CV (max.), highlighting research/scholarly/artistic products related to the proposed project and other relevant grants received.

Applications should be sent as one PDF and emailed to [email protected]by 5pm on Friday, November 15th, 2024. 

How will applications be evaluated?

C-STES Fellow applications will be evaluated for alignment with C-STES priority areas, the potential for the activities to be successful in accomplishing their aims, and the ability of the project to build or strenghten the C-STES community and center.  Decisions will be made by December 13th and fellowships can start either January 15, 2025 or July 1, 2025. 

Questions?

Contact C-STES Director Kristen Intemann at [email protected] or [email protected].