Application Deadline: March 1, 2024
The Stanton Nuclear Security Fellows Program will support young scholars to pursue policy-relevant technical research in nuclear security for a twelve-month period at Texas A&M University under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Fellowships are available for post-doctoral researchers and early-career faculty with the express mission of stimulating “the development of the next generation of thought leaders in nuclear security by supporting research that will advance policy-relevant understanding of the issues.” As such, viable candidates must present a course of research in engineering or science that would lead to a written product (article, book, report, etc.) related to nuclear security that would have an impact on policy makers and advance policy choices. Nuclear security in this case is broadly defined by the Stanton Foundation as including “nuclear terrorism, nuclear proliferation, nuclear weapons, nuclear force posture, and nuclear energy as it relates to nuclear security.”
Eligibility
Fellowships are available to scholars with a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in science or engineering. Ph.D. candidates who have made significant progress toward their dissertation may also be considered. Applicants must have a history of research in an area relevant to nuclear security as defined by the Stanton Foundation (see above). Fellows must hold a doctoral degree from a university other than Texas A&M (an undergraduate or Masters-level degree from Texas A&M is acceptable). There is no US citizenship or residency card requirement for this fellowship.
Fellowship Stipend
Fellows will receive a monthly stipend over twelve months. The yearly stipend amount is dependent upon the fellow’s position (postdoctoral researcher or early-career faculty). Inquire for further details.
Requirements for Fellows
The fellows must be in residence full-time at Texas A&M for the duration of their fellowship. They must work with a Texas A&M mentor to produce at least one policy-relevant document within the term of the fellowship, and they must make a presentation on their research at the Stanton Nuclear Security Seminar hosted by the Foundation.
Selection Process
Texas A&M will select fellows based both on their past academic and professional accomplishments as well as the suitability of their research interests to the program mission. Upon selection, all fellows must submit a well-defined research topic that is consistent with the purpose of advancing policy-relevant understanding of nuclear security issues. This research topic may be an original idea or it can be chosen from a list of projects of interest to NSSPI researchers.
For additional information, please contact:
Dr. Craig Marianno, Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Interim Director of the Center for Nuclear Security Science and Policy Initiatives
[email protected]
Dr. Matthew Fuhrmann, Professor of Political Science
[email protected]
Ms. Jennifer House, Program Specialist
979-458-7640
[email protected]
For more information on the Stanton Nuclear Security Fellows Program, please visit the Stanton Foundation website.
Stanton Fellows
2017-2018
- Dr. Seungmin Woo(postdoctoral researcher) – “Can Pyroprocessing Reduce Proliferation Risk of a Closed Nuclear Fuel Cycle?”
2018-2019
- Dr. Sherzod Kurbanbekov (early career faculty) – “Investigation of the High-Enriched Uranium Stockpile in North Korea”
- Dr. Kavita Rathore (postdoctoral researcher) – “The effects of the United States, and possibly the European Union, withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action”
2020-2021
- Dr. Edward Jenner(postdoctoral researcher) – “Forecasting the Effect of Nuclear Energy on Nuclear Weapons Pursuit“
2021-2022
- Dr. Taylor Harvey (postdoctoral researcher) – “Simple Two-PMT Directional Detector for Radiation Source Localization in Nuclear Security Applications“
2022-2023
- Dr. Hamza Ed-Asaad (postdoctoral researcher) – “Assessing Radioactive Dispersion from a Terrorist Attack on a Nuclear Power Plant”
- Dr. Philseo Kim (postdoctoral researcher) – “Assessing the Nuclear Weapons Proliferation and Security Risks of Nuclear Trade for Nuclear Energy Newcomer Countries: The Case of Small Modular Reactors”
2023-2024
- Dr. Simon Adu (postdoctoral researcher) – “Addressing Nuclear Security and Non-Proliferation Concerns in the Introduction of SMRs in Sub-Saharan Africa”
2024-2025
- Dr. Simon Adu (postdoctoral researcher) – “Assessing the Terrorist Risk on Deployment of Small Modular Reactors in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and Mitigation Strategies”
- Dr. Sylvester Birikorang (postdoctoral researcher) – “Decentralization of Nuclear Infrastructure and Nuclear Security Risks: Analysis from West Africa”