We welcome applications from scholars outside UC Berkeley who wish to carry out STS related projects here.  Visiting scholars must have their own funding, and they should take into account the fees assessed by the University and STSC before applying.  We offer the opportunity to engage with an exciting community of fellow STS scholars and access to UC Berkeley research facilities.  We will do our utmost to provide visiting scholars with workspace if needed, and to help connect scholars with seminar series, working groups, and events in their fields of interest.  If mentoring graduate students is of interest to visitors, we would be happy to help facilitate.  Visiting scholars will be asked to present their work to the STSC community while they are in residence (for example, in an informal working group, a formal colloquium, or as part of a class).  We also encourage scholars to consider contributing any of their publications to the STSC library.  

We consider applications from faculty, independent scholars, post-docs and visiting students.  Please take into account the following information, including the timeline for processing applications and fees assessed by the University.  If you are interested in being considered, the application process is as follows: 

1. Fill out the STSC Visiting Scholar application form (attached below) and submit it to stsc@berkeley.edu.
2. If your request is approved, you will need to fill out the Visiting Scholars Program Application form located on the VSPA website:  https://vspa.berkeley.edu.  Decide which category you need to apply under and follow the links. Select the application form in either PDF format or in MS Word and fill in all requested information on the application before going on to the next step. Your signature is not required at this stage.

   Note: In addition to the application form, the VSPA website contains important information about application procedures, fees, and benefits and services provided to visitors. Review all information carefully before filling out the VSPA application.  If you are an international scholar, the VSPA website contains important information about US visa regulations and health insurance requirements. It is important that you review and understand these requirements and ascertain that you are able to fulfill them before you begin the process of applying for visiting scholar status at STSC.

3. After you have filled out the application form, send an unsigned e-mail copy of it as a MS Word or PDF attachment to stsc@berkeley.edu.  From this point on, STSC will keep you informed of your pending status.

TIMELINE
Visiting scholar applications are processed on the first of every month.  Allow up to two weeks for a response.  Once your application is accepted, paperwork approval takes a minimum of two weeks to process.  For international applicants, the approval process takes about three months because much of the visa information must be processed out of country. We strongly encourage applicants to begin the process before then.

FEES
There are two sets of fees associated with Visiting Scholar applications to STSC.  The University VSPA program fees range from approximately $300-$700 USD per applicant, depending on whether the applicant is a U.S. resident or international scholar.  See the VSPA site for specific information. In addition, there is an STSC fee of $100.  We may be able to offer fellowships in case of hardship.  All fees are non-refundable.