School of Public Policy doctoral candidate, Thomas Woodson, is searching for ways in which science and technology can help the impoverished.

He has been awarded a 3-year National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Fellowship and in Summer 2010 will begin examining the nanotechnology industries of India, Brazil, and South Africa.

"I want to see whether these countries' nanotechnology policies are benefiting the poor, decreasing inequality within the countries, and if there are any ways that nanotechnology can be a 'pro-poor' technology in those countries," says Woodson.

A graduate of Princeton University where he studied electrical engineering, Woodson's PhD studies focus on science and technology policy with an emphasis on international development. He says he has been impressed by his advisor, Professor Susan Cozzens, and by the School of Public Policy.

"There is tremendous collegiality between the faculty, staff, and students. I can knock on any professor's door and ask for help. Also the department is dynamic and productive. Before coming here, I thought the School of Public Policy and the Ivan Allen College would be on the fringes of Georgia Tech since this university is so focused on engineering. That's not the case at all. The School and Ivan Allen College are a central part of Tech and I'm very fortunate to study here."

In time away from studies, Woodson does triathlons. He's currently training to complete an Ironman triathlon comprised of a 2.4 mile swim, followed by a 112 mile bike, and finishing with a 26 mile run.

The prestigious NSF fellowships recognize and support outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees in the U.S. and abroad. Each year NSF awards approximately 1000 of these fellowships across the country across all disciplines.