2012–13 IGCC Dissertation Fellowships

Application period is now closed.

The UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC), a University of California multi-campus research unit, supports dissertation-level graduate research on causes of international conflict and opportunities for international cooperation. IGCC seeks to support dissertation work on three broad themes closely linked to its current research agenda.

Please note changes to the fellowship categories and differences in eligibility requirements from past years. For additional information email Laura Martin, Programs Manager, or call 858-534-2990.

Topics
Relevance
Fellowship Categories
Past Awards
A Guide to IGCC Fellowships (slide show will open in new window)

The IGCC Research Agenda

International security in the twenty-first century has been transformed from a stark bipolar confrontation of states and their surrogates, characteristic of the Cold War, to interactions among a wide variety of actors and institutions. International and regional organizations, state and local government agencies, nonprofits, and the private sector play unprecedented roles in shaping security—positively or negatively. Climate change and hunger, unemployment and migration, financial instability and natural resource constraints create a rapidly changing strategic environment, challenging old definitions of what security means, who is or should be involved, and what role national governments play. Local choices can have international consequences. For example, nuclear power may offer a way for nations to free themselves from the tyranny of oil and assist in addressing threats of destabilizing climate change, but the risks of diversion of nuclear material from civilian to weapons use remain high. Governments will soon face this environment with significantly reduced budgets, forcing hard decisions as they set security priorities.

IGCC seeks to support dissertations on three broad themes closely linked to this new global security dynamic. The international sources and/or consequences of the phenomenon studied in the dissertation must be an integral part of the project.

Theme One: The Changed Institutional Environment Although national governments remain primary players in the security realm, regional and multilateral forums have become an increasingly important mechanism for managing international relations and preserving the peace. Governments frequently work through international organizations, corporations, and NGOs abroad, and state and local partners at home.

Possible topics under this theme include: Privatization of security, regional multilateral fora, measuring the effectiveness of international institutions, multilateral versus bilateral arrangements, and international legal agreements and dispute resolution mechanisms.

Theme Two: Nonconventional Threats Although traditional military competition remains, day-to-day threats in this new security dynamic generally emanate from a variety of nontraditional sources such as terrorism and international crime, bioterrorism and nuclear proliferation, climate change and epidemics that straddle borders.

Topics under this theme include: international cooperation on health, terrorism, biosecurity, nonstate actors, global health development, nation building, democratization, climate change, transborder environmental problems.

Theme Three: Nuclear Threats and Public Policy The continued interaction between the development of nuclear technology, the global expansion of nuclear energy, and the proliferation of nuclear weapons makes nuclear issues a persistent policy concern. The dangers of the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the potential diversion of fissile materials has intensified with the potential for nuclear terrorism by non-state actors. Meanwhile, existing nuclear weapon states confront conflicting agendas, on the one hand under pressure on nonproliferation and disarmament, on the other hand maintaining their deterrent capabilities as safe, secure, reliable, and credible.

Topics under this theme include: monitoring, verification, and enforcement of nonproliferation agreements; strengthening or reforming the international nuclear nonproliferation or safety regimes; understanding the causes or consequences of proliferation; role of nuclear weapons in contemporary deterrence and security strategies; and the effects on nuclear energy demand from externalities such as climate change, resource competition, natural disasters, or safety and security.

Relevance

The competition is open to all academic disciplines, however, in order to meet IGCC relevance criteria,

the proposed research must fit into one of the three IGCC themes; and
the international sources and/or consequences of the phenomenon studied in the dissertation must be an integral part of the project.

Multidisciplinary approaches and policy-relevant work are encouraged.

IGCC fellowships are for one year only. IGCC does not renew fellowships. IGCC awards cannot be carried forward into future years. Recipients must use the fellowship for the year it was awarded. Unspent funds must be returned to IGCC at the end of the award period.

Fellowship Categories

Applicants may apply for one of the fellowships, not both. Additional restrictions apply to the NSSC fellowship. The review committee reserves the right to change fellowship categories for applicants if they are deemed more suitable for consideration in the other competition.

IGCC Dissertation Fellowship

This fellowship offers up to $18,000 in stipend, research, and travel support. These fellowships consist of a nine-month stipend of $15,000 (October to June) to defray living expenses and an additional award of up to $3,000 in justified research and travel support. Doctoral students enrolled in the University of California, including J.D./Ph.D., M.D./Ph.D., and M.D. with thesis, are eligible to apply for the IGCC dissertation fellowship. Applicants may apply under any of the above three themes.

Applicants must advance to candidacy by June 30, 2012, to receive funding. U.S. citizenship is not required. IGCC dissertation fellowships are for one year and may not be carried into future years.

International Nuclear Security Dissertation Fellowship

An international nuclear security dissertation fellowship offers up to $20,000 in stipend. These fellowships are funded by the National Nuclear Security Association (NNSA) via the National Science and Security Consortium (NSSC) and consist of a nine-month stipend of $20,000 (October to June) to defray living expenses. International Nuclear Security Dissertation Fellows are required to attend our Public Policy and Nuclear Threats Winter Conference. This meeting is typically held in Washington D.C. for two days. IGCC will cover the cost of economy class airfare, lodging and meals during the conference for international nuclear security dissertation fellows. Doctoral candidates enrolled in the University of California or at a consortium university (Michigan State University, Washington University, and University of Nevada Las Vegas) including J.D./Ph.D., M.D./Ph.D., and M.D. with thesis, are eligible to apply for the international security dissertation fellowship.

Applicants for this category of fellowship must apply under theme three only. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must advance to candidacy by June 30, 2012, to receive funding. These fellowships are for one year only. IGCC does not typically renew fellowships so efforts should be made to spend down funds during the year they are awarded.

Need help? For additional information email Laura Martin, Programs Manager, or call 858-534-2990.

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