A Ph.D. research assistantship is available in the Department of Sociology at Iowa State University. This assistantship will be funded as part of a new project examining the social dimensions and governance of foods derived from gene edited crops. Gene edited foods will likely create controversy and pose major governance challenges because of the technology’s scientific complexity, existing social controversy toward transgenic biotechnologies, and the ad hoc nature of current biotech regulations. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to be part of an interdisciplinary team at ISU and SUNY-ESF examining these issues and will gain experience in using both qualitative and quantitative methods, and stakeholder and public engagement. Successful applicants will have a background or interest in the Sociology of Food and Agriculture, Political Sociology, Rural Sociology, and/or Sustainable Agriculture.
The position begins in fall, 2018 and the successful student would be eligible for up to three years of funding, a full waiver of tuition expenses, and a package of benefits (including health insurance). The position includes opportunities for professional development, including contributing to peer-reviewed publications and presentations at professional meetings. In addition to the research assistantship, the student will be expected to develop their own related research project to fulfill the requirements of the PhD in Sociology. Students may also choose to combine their PhD degree in Sociology with the interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture https://susag.iastate.edu/
Interested applicants should apply for admission to the graduate program in Sociology at Iowa State University by January 31, 2018. In addition, applicants should send a cover letter describing their interests and qualifications and a resume to Dr. Carmen Bain (cbain@iastate.edu) by the same deadline (January 31, 2018).
For more information about the Sociology graduate program at ISU, contact Dr. Susan Stewart, Director of Graduate Studies (sstewart@iastate.edu). Additional information about the Sociology Department can be found at https://soc.iastate.edu/ and the Graduate Program at: https://grad.soc.iastate.edu/