For students who want to think outside the disciplinary boxes...
Ph. D Fellowships in Sustainable Systems
more information • to apply • eligibility • terms and conditions
Achieving sustainability -- a strong economy in harmony with environmental and societal goals -- is the most pressing issue of the 21st century.
If we fail, there may not be a 22nd.
But the problems -- economic, societal, technical, scientific – we must solve to achieve such a goal are too complex to be addressed by scientists and engineers narrowly focused on only one discipline. It’s time for a new generation of transdisciplinary researchers whose work can draw on whatever field they need to find solutions, be it business, engineering, psychology….
To answer the need, University of Kentucky is inviting applications for
Ph. D Fellowships in Sustainable Systems for Fall Semester, 2009
DEADLINE: Monday, June 1, 2009
The fellowships, administered by the Center for Manufacturing at UK, will provide doctoral candidates with approximately $40,000 in support to cover tuition, fees, and living expenses for two years* of graduate study at UK in engineering, business, psychology, statistics, or education.
Applicants should have a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline** and have a strong interest in interdisciplinary research that can address cutting edge issues in sustainable systems.
The UK Center for Manufacturing has defined sustainable systems as entities that exhibit optimized states of inter-relationships of all elements; such systems are adaptive and evolve through interactions with the environment, society, and the economy.
The UK Center of Manufacturing, because of the many dimensions of systems, will award fellowships to an inter-disciplinary team of researchers. The team will be provided preliminary research question abstracts from which each individual will create his/her focused research questions.
This round of fellowships is intended to be awarded to students whose research interests focus on the role of leadership on the transformation of organizations from traditional to lean and sustainable practices. Those interests may include combinations of technological, behavioral, educational, economic and organizational theory perspectives on lean and sustainable transformations in any industry.
Applicants are invited to propose alternate areas of interest for consideration and approval by the advising faculty group prior to award of the fellowship.
This special degree program in sustainable systems will be based on traditional mentoring in the student’s “home” discipline but will also provide students with mentoring by a group of faculty from a number of different disciplines to ensure a successful interdisciplinary approach.
In addition to study in their chosen disciplines, all students will also receive a solid grounding in lean systems, a general approach to creating high performance zero waste operations derived from Toyota’s approach to manufacturing but applicable to any organization, be it industrial, governmental, nonprofit etc and a necessary step toward sustainability. Students who complete the doctoral program will also receive a certification in lean systems.
* the second year’s support is contingent on the student’s making satisfactory progress toward the degree
** Applicants for the fellowships should have completed a master's degree with an overall GPA of 3.5 or better; the degree should have been awarded by a U. S. or Canadian accredited university or equivalent, in any one of the following disciplines: mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, manufacturing systems engineering, statistics, business, economics, educational psychology, social psychology, organizational psychology, organizational development, or human resource development.
For more information contact:
Dr. D.P. Sekulic
Director of Graduate Studies
Email: sekulicd@engr.uky.edu
Phone: 859-257-2972
414f CRMS Building
Center for Manufacturing
Manufacturing Systems Engineering Program
College of Engineering, University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0108
For administrative/applications information contact:
Ms. Rose Cramer
Email: rcramer@engr.uky.edu
Phone: 859-257-6262 ext 212
414b CRMS Building
Center for Manufacturing
Manufacturing Systems Engineering Program
College of Engineering, University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0108
top
To Apply:
Click to view application
- Application should include: official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate programs, current vita, and three letters of reference. One of these three letters must come from the student’s faculty advisor.
- The application must be submitted by the person who is designated, the “Applicant.” Additionally, appropriate contact information must be included.
- Applications submitted will not be returned. The University of Kentucky will not assume responsibility for confidential information submitted by the applicant. Therefore, applications submitted should not contain information considered confidential, restricted, or sensitive.
- Incomplete applications will not be considered and notification of incompleteness will not be made. Applications must be received no later than 4:30 PM (Eastern Standard Time) on Monday, June 1, 2009. Late applications will not be accepted. All applicants will be notified of award decisions on or before Monday, August 17, 2009.
- The University of Kentucky Center for Manufacturing will maintain all information provided as confidential and will NOT provide feedback on applications.
top
Eligibility
- The applicant must submit evidence of acceptance into a program of study that culminates in a Ph.D. An acceptable program discipline in engineering, business, psychology, statistics, or education.
- Upon being selected for a fellowship award, the applicant must commit to a study of a research prerequisite curriculum (See www.mfg.uky.edu/lean). This curriculum is as follows: (a). six (6) short-courses which are identified as a “lean certificate” program (a certificate in lean systems will be awarded on completion of the six-course series); and (b) One quarter (9 weeks.) of statistics dealing with design of experiments. Each of these courses is taught by University of Kentucky faculty. A certificate in lean systems will be awarded on completion of the six course series.
- Payments for stipend living expenses will a prorated monthly amount. If, for any reason, the recipient cannot complete the fellowship program, no payments will be made beyond his/her termination date.
top
Terms and Conditions of the Awards
- Each fellowship award covers 100% of tuitions and fees for the period, University of Kentucky Spring Semester 2009 through the University of Kentucky Fall Semester 2011.
- A stipend of $17,500.00 is provided to cover living expenses while in school each academic year.
- $2000.00 per year will be available to support “out-of-pocket” research activities, subject to approval of the student’s advisory committee.
- Each recipient will be expected to complete a salaried internship of up to a sixteen weeks with a reputable organization currently engaged in transforming its operation into a sustainable system.
top |