Here’s your chance to relocate to sunny Arizona and get paid (okay, not well paid, but paid something) for studying the societal implications of nanotech. I suspect that most people entering this field are skeptical of technology, so let’s try to fill this job with someone who’s enthusiastic, to provide balance. This Center is looking at some interesting issues, such as nanotech & security/privacy/surveillance.
From the job ad at the Center for Nanotechnology in Society at ASU: “The Center for Nanotechnology in Society at Arizona State University (CNS-ASU) seeks to fill a post-doctoral associate position in the societal implications of nano-scale science and engineering starting Fall 2006 (or earlier).
“The post-doctoral fellow is expected to conduct research in collaboration with CNS-ASU faculty and affiliates on the public value of nano-scale science and technology to develop new theories, methods and techniques for determining the social impacts of scientific research and technology development.”
This last sentence seems to be missing some words: we don’t expect nanotech itself to be used to develop new theories for determining social impacts. But you know what they mean. I have met David Guston, who runs the Center, and he seems like a fun guy to work for, though of course it’s hard to tell from outside. I can give you some other names at the Center if you’d like to check it out first. —Christine
