Fellowship Opportunity

Training Future Faculty in Sustainable Sciences through an
Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program in Rural Sociology (IPPRS)
Posted January 8, 2008
Updated June 27, 2008

Global warming, biotechnology, obesity and famine, loss of farmland, water shortages, organic and local food systems, the loss of rare animal species, fair trade coffee, deforestation, geopolitical struggles over oil and gas supplies, and desertification - these are some of the major issues of our time. They raise important questions about how we should organize the relationships between people, society and the natural resources and environments upon which they depend. The Training Future Faculty in Sustainable Sciences Through an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program in Rural Sociology (IPPRS), a new fellowship opportunity addresses these and many other topical issues. The program will cultivate a new and diverse generation of scholars committed to and capable of a broad understanding of the four primary dimensions of food and agricultural systems: social responsibility, environmental compatibility, economic viability, and production efficiency. The fellowship will develop outstanding Ph.D. graduates able to conduct groundbreaking research in the food and agricultural sciences to remain competitive in the knowledge-based society. Fellows will be well-suited for leadership roles in academia.

The fellowship opportunity is distinctive in several ways:

• First, it builds on the concept of the ecological paradigm, which considers the whole spectrum of approaches to food, agricultural, and environmental systems - consisting of social responsibility, environmental compatibility, economic viability, and production efficiency.
• Secondly, the IPPRS makes the connections between the dimensions of the paradigm and social spheres where innovation, adoption and policy-making appear - such as production, distribution and consumption.
• Finally, the program is highly interdisciplinary and will expose students to ideas and practices developed in a range of subject areas rather than one alone.

The Social Responsibility Initiative (SRI) invites recent master's degree holders in the fields of sociology, rural sociology, agriculture, economics, biological and environmental sciences and other related fields to apply for a three-year doctoral fellowship in Rural Sociology focused on the interdisciplinary nature of food, agricultural, and environmental issues.

The IPPRS fellowships cover tuition, stipend ($24,000 per year), and benefits for the duration of a 3-year doctoral program in Rural Sociology. Academic standards must be met to maintain eligibility. Two fellowships are available for studies beginning Fall 2009. Applications are due December 31, 2008.

Fellowships are restricted to U.S. citizens or nationals of the United States. Candidates must have completed their master's degree by the time of appointment. For application materials go to the Ohio State University Graduate School admissions website at http://gradadmissions.osu.edu/. As part of the application process, you will be asked to send your transcripts, three letters of reference, and a statement of interest in the field of rural sociology and this fellowship opportunity directly to the Rural Sociology Graduate Studies Committee Chair (208 Ag. Admin. Building, 2120 Fyffe Rd., Columbus OH 43210-1067).

Additional information is available about the SRI and the Rural Sociology Graduate Program by visiting:
http: //www.sri.osu.edu and
http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~hcrd/rural_sociology/index.php

For more information about admission to the Rural Sociology Graduate Program, contact:
Professor Linda Lobao, Rural Sociology Graduate Studies Committee Chair (lobao.1@osu.edu).

For additional information about the IPPRS fellowship, contact: Molly Bean Smith, Research Associate, Social Responsibility Initiative (bean.21@osu.edu).

Graduate Research Assistantship in Human Dimensions of Watershed Management
Department of Forestry at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC)
Posted August 25, 2007

A Ph.D. level graduate research assistantship is available beginning as early as fall 2007 in the Department of Forestry at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC). Project funding is anticipated to start in September 2007. The Department of Forestry offers graduate students an interdisciplinary learning experience in natural and social sciences, including fields such as land use planning, watershed management, forest recreation and community-based conservation.

Project Title: Evaluating Watershed Health Risks through Integrated Water Quality Analyses, Community Capacity Assessments, and Outreach Appraisals

Project Description: This project is an interdisciplinary investigation of water quality and community capacity for planning and conservation with the overall goal of evaluating and communicating watershed and community health risks in eight subwatershed communities. Research questions include,

• What is the capacity of urban and rural communities in the subwatersheds to engage in watershed planning and adopt comprehensive conservation strategies?
• What capacity indicators are most strongly correlated with positive ecological, economic, and social outcomes?
• What barriers or constraints to coordinated planning and cooperative conservation exist?

Specifically the student will join a collaborative team of scientists to conduct community capacity assessments in two urban and six rural subwatersheds in the Lower Kaskaskia River of southern Illinois. Community capacity indicators will be examined including community leadership, institutional support, community resources, social cohesion, shared vision, and collective action. Specific tasks are to: (1) conduct a literature review, (2) inventory social networks, leaders, and watershed information resources in the study communities, (3) conduct and analyze focus groups and interviews with key informants, and (4) communicate study findings to the research team, community stakeholders, and other scientists.

The graduate research assistant will work with a team of researchers including social and watershed scientists from SIUC and Illinois State University.

If you are interested, please contact:

Dr. Mae Davenport
Department of Forestry
Southern Illinois University
1205 Lincoln Dr., MC 4411
Carbondale, IL 62901
Phone: (618) 453-7476
Email: mdaven@siu.edu

Students are urged to apply as soon as possible. Minority students are encouraged to apply.

For information about Southern Illinois University Carbondale, visit http://www.siuc.edu/
For information about the Department of Forestry, visit http://www.coas.siu.edu/

Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department of Community and Rural Sociology Washington State University
Posted August 16, 2007

POSITION TITLE: Postdoctoral Research Associate

LOCATION: The primary location of the position is the Washington State University (WSU) Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee, WA. The city of Wenatchee is located at the confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia Rivers near the beautiful eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountains (www.wenatchee.org). Population in the greater Wenatchee area is approximately 60,000.

POSITION DESCRIPTION: The Department of Community and Rural Sociology at Washington State University has an opening for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to pursue research on information dissemination, technology adoption, pesticide use, environmental stewardship, farm worker health, and industry perceptions with respect to the dissemination of integrated pest management (IPM) approaches in the Washington State tree fruit industry. Specific duties will include: evaluating pest management transition programs, measuring changes in growers' attitudes, providing leadership in the areas of assessment and documentation, conducting surveys and interviews of growers and farm workers, and preparing reports and other written documents. The position will require significant in-state travel. The proposed start date is November 5, 2007 or soon thereafter.

We seek an individual with strong interests in agricultural technology diffusion and adoption, environmental stewardship, pesticides and health, program evaluation, and both quantitative and qualitative methods. The postdoctoral research associate will be an integral part of the Department of Community and Rural Sociology (www.crs.wsu.edu) which is developing a strong programmatic focus in the Human Dimensions of Sustainability. The successful candidate will also be expected to collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of researchers associated with the WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center (www.tfrec.wsu.edu), the WSU Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources (www.csanr.wsu.edu), and the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission (www.treefruitresearch.com).

QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants should have completed a Ph.D. degree in rural sociology, sociology, anthropology, environmental studies, or a closely related field. Additional qualifications include: experience with survey design, management, and data analysis; experience with qualitative research methods (e.g., interviews, focus groups); ability to interact with researchers, extension specialists, and others in a team environment; and excellent written and oral communication skills.

PREFERRED SKILLS: Spanish proficiency (written and oral) and knowledge of Washington's tree fruit industry are preferred, but not required.

SALARY AND BENEFITS: Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. Benefits include health/dental insurance, vacation/sick leave, retirement plans, and access to all WSU facilities.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Please send a letter of interest, detailed curriculum vitae, and the names, e-mail addresses, and mailing addresses of three professional references to Dr. Jessica Goldberger, Department of Community and Rural Sociology, Washington State University, P.O. Box 644006, Pullman, WA 99164-4006 or jgoldberger@wsu.edu. Screening of applicants will begin on September 15, 2007 and continue until a suitable candidate is found. For further information about the position, please contact Dr. Goldberger by e-mail or at (509) 335-8540. WSU is an EEO/AA/ADD employer.

"Training in Sustainable Sciences Through an Interdisciplinary
Graduate Program in Rural Sociology (IGPRS)"
Fellowship Opportunity
Posted January 5, 2007
Updated March 22, 2007

Global warming, biotechnology, obesity and famine, loss of farmland, water shortages, organic and local food systems, the loss of rare animal species, fair trade coffee, deforestation, geopolitical struggles over oil and gas supplies, and desertification - these are some of the major issues of our time. They raise important questions about how we should organize the relationships between people, society and the natural resources and environments upon which they depend. The Training in Sustainable Sciences Through an Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Rural Sociology (IGPRS), a new fellowship opportunity addresses these and many other topical issues. The program will cultivate a new and diverse generation of scholars committed to and capable of a broad understanding of the four primary dimensions of food and agricultural systems: social responsibility, environmental compatibility, economic viability, and production efficiency. The goal of the master's degree fellowship is to train skilled, engaged, committed scholars who will make use of and contribute to the food and agricultural system by engaging in basic and applied interdisciplinary research and policy making and analysis. It is targeted at two primary audiences: those wishing to pursue a career in food, agricultural, and environmental sciences; and those wishing to do further academic study and research on these topics.

The fellowship opportunity is distinctive in several ways:

• First, it builds on the concept of the ecological paradigm, which considers the whole spectrum of approaches to food, agricultural, and environmental systems - consisting of social responsibility, environmental compatibility, economic viability, and production efficiency.
• Secondly, the IGPRS makes the connections between the dimensions of the paradigm and social spheres where innovation, adoption and policy-making appear - such as production, distribution and consumption.
• Finally, the program is highly interdisciplinary and will expose students to ideas and practices developed in a range of subject areas rather than one alone.

The Social Responsibility Initiative (SRI) invites recent undergraduate degree holders in the fields of sociology, agriculture, economics, biological and environmental sciences and other related fields to apply for a two-year master's degree fellowship in Rural Sociology focused on the interdisciplinary nature of food, agricultural, and environmental issues.

The IGPRS fellowships cover tuition, stipend ($18,000 per year), and benefits for the duration of a 2-year master's program in Rural Sociology. Academic standards must be met to maintain eligibility. Two fellowships are available for studies beginning Fall, 2007, and two Fellowships are available for Fall 2008.

Fellowships are restricted to U.S. citizens or nationals of the United States. Candidates must have completed their bachelor's degree by the time of appointment. For application materials go to the Ohio State University Graduate School admissions website at http://gradadmissions.osu.edu/. As part of the application process, you will be asked to send your transcripts, three letters of reference, and a statement of interest in this fellowship opportunity directly to the Rural Sociology Graduate Studies Committee Chair (208 Ag. Admin. Building, 2120 Fyffe Rd., Columbus OH 43210-1067).

Additional information is available about the SRI and the Rural Sociology Graduate Program by visiting:
http://www.sri.osu.edu and http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~hcrd/rural_sociology/index.php

For more information about admission to the Rural Sociology Graduate Program, contact:
Professor Linda Lobao, Rural Sociology Graduate Studies Committee Chair (lobao.1@osu.edu).

For additional information about the IGPRS fellowships, contact: Molly Bean Smith, Research Associate, Social Responsibility Initiative (igprs@osu.edu).

Deadline for Summer/Autumn Quarter 2007 Admission is May 1, 2007

University of California-Berkeley
Community Forestry Research Fellowships
College of Natural Resources
Fellowship Opportunity
Posted August 22, 2006

The U.S. Community Forestry Research Fellowship Program provides fellowships to graduate students to support their field work in communities in the United States. The awards are up to $15,000 for dissertation fellows, up to $7,000 for masters fellows, and $2,000 for pre-dissertation fellows.

The program accepts proposals dealing with the broad array of issues and resources in community forestry, including, but not limited to, collaborative processes and conflict resolution, social networks, political ecology of forest communities, urban forestry issues, watershed restoration, park creation and management, forest labor issues, non-timber forest product production (floral greens, basket-making materials, wild mushrooms, maple syrup, etc.), and revitalization of local life-ways and cultures. Questions concerning issues of social justice and equity are especially welcome.

Eligibility: Students at any institution of higher learning may apply for a fellowship. The applicant must be enrolled in a degree-granting program in the social sciences, economics, environmental science, forestry, agriculture, or natural resource management, policy and planning at their home institution. Applicants must be engaged in research that deals directly with or is explicitly relevant to U.S. forest communities. Field work must be participatory; Fellows must work actively with members of the community in which they are conducting research to engage them in the research process.

Deadline: Applications must be received by February 1, 2007.

For more details about the program and information on how to apply, please see our website: http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/community_forestry/

Utah State University
Graduate Fellowships and Assistantships

The Sociology Graduate Program at Utah State University offers MS and PhD degrees in Sociology, and a Master of Social Science degree in International Rural and Community Development. Graduate areas of emphasis include demography, natural resource/environmental sociology, sociology of development/rural sociology, and social problems. Rural sociological issues represent a particularly important component of the graduate curriculum and research efforts of faculty and students. In addition to teaching and research assistantships, the department offers several graduate fellowships that are available specifically for students with interests in Rural Sociology. These include the Edward Moe, Lowry Nelson, and Joseph Geddes fellowships in Rural Sociology; the R. Welling Roskelly fellowship in International Rural Development; the Wade and Kathryn Andrews fellowship in Natural Resource Sociology; and the Yun and Wendy Kim fellowship in Demography. Assistantship or fellowship funding includes a waiver of non-resident tuition expenses for masters students, and a waiver of nonresident tuition as well as resident tuition expenses for doctoral students. Stipends range from $875 to $1500 per month, depending on the source of funding. Application deadline for fall admission is February 1. For information contact Dr. Richard Krannich, Director of Graduate Studies, by phone (435- 797-1241) or by e-mail (rkranich@hass.usu.edu).

University of Montana, Department of Sociology

Announces an undergraduate and master's level program in Rural and Environmental Change. Courses examine change from a broad geographic, theoretical and multi-scaled approach. The program's location is in a region undergoing rapid rural and environmental change. A limited number of teaching assistantships at the Master's level and a tuition wavier. Deadline is March 15 of each year. See www.umt.edu/sociology/ or contact Jill Belsky at belsky@selway.umt.edu or Becky Richards at richards@selway.umt.edu.