Ph.D. in Technology Management

We seek students who want to become exceptional scholars and who will go on to research and teach at top universities across the country and around the world. You would fit our program well if you are interested in technology-related work regardless of whether you have a background in the social sciences, physical sciences, management or engineering.

Our program integrates organizational studies with technology and innovation studies in an interdisciplinary environment that transcends the distinctions between disciplines. If you come from a technology or scientific background we will teach you about the importance of organizations and social systems. If you have a social science or management background you will learn to understand the role of technology and innovation in shaping organizational action.

The job market for interdisciplinary Ph.Ds. with training in technology and organizations is expected to be strong over the next decade. We anticipate that most graduates will pursue academic positions in Schools of Communication (where the study of organization and technology is increasing swiftly), in Schools of Information (which are being rapidly founded across the country), in Schools of Engineering (that are increasingly interested in the social aspects of technical work), and in Business Schools (where the study of technology innovation and entrepreneurship is growing). Unlike the demand for Ph.D. tenure track faculty in many other disciplines, the number of tenure track openings in these schools exceeds the number of Ph.Ds. awarded each year, and that gap is increasing.

UCSB is world renowned for its interdisciplinary culture. Faculty and students are encouraged to collaborate across disciplinary boundaries and to pioneer exciting new interdisciplinary fields and programs. The Technology Management Program is just such a program. Our faculty is world renowned for its commitment to interdisciplinarity. The faculty have backgrounds that range from engineering and management to the social sciences. We encourage our students to explore courses and to make links to faculty in the social sciences, environmental science, and other engineering departments. The Technology Management Program is housed in the College of Engineering ranked as the number one in the world among public universities for engineering research. The National Research Council ranks all the College of Engineering’s research programs among the top five for their disciplines.

Matt Beane, Assistant Professor, Technology Management

Beane studies the impact of introducing machine intelligence—and specifically robotics—into the workplace. Matt has done extensive field research in settings such as robotic surgery and robotic materials transport. His PhD is from MIT’s Sloan School of Management. Prior to academia, he worked as a strategic advisor with several robotics startups.

Paul Leonardi, Professor, Department Chair

Leonardi is the Chair of the Technology Management Department. His research, teaching, and consulting focus on helping companies to create and share knowledge more effectively. He has authored more than 50 articles on how implementing new technologies and harnessing the power of informal social networks can help companies take advantage of their knowledge assets to create innovative products and services. His PhD is from Stanford, and was previously on the faculty at Northwestern University.

Nelson Phillips, Professor, Technology Management

Phillips’ has written over 200 articles and 6 books that cut across organization theory, innovation, and technology. He teaches courses on leadership, strategy, and teamwork. His PhD is from University of Alberta, and was previously on the faculty at Cambridge, McGill, and Imperial College London. His BS is in EE/CS from the University of Calgary and prior to academia worked as an engineer.

Renee Rottner, Associate Professor, Technology Management

Rottner’s research focuses on the dynamics of innovation,  including NASA projects, semiconductor startups, and Federal nanotechnology initiatives. She teaches courses on organizational behavior and negotiations. Her PhD is from UC-Irvine, and was previously on the faculty at New York University. Prior to academia, she co-founded an electro-optics company and an avatar-based educational platform for science education.

Jessica J. Santana, Assistant Professor, Technology Management

Santana studies the role of networks in innovation and entrepreneurship in settings including synthetic biology and cryptocurrency crowdfunding. She develops computational techniques to conduct her research. Her PhD is from Stanford in Sociology, and an M.Sc. Information Science from UC-Berkeley. Prior to academia, she was a Senior Product Manager at Electronic Arts, a consultant with Monitor Group, and a cofounder of a mobile augmented reality startup.

Mary Tripsas, Professor, Technology Management

Tripsas is a leading management scholar whose research and teaching focus on disruptive technological innovation and entrepreneurship. Her PhD is from MIT’s Sloan School of Management, MBA from Harvard, and B.S. in Computer Science and Accountancy from the University of Illinois at Urbana. Previously, she was on the faculty at Harvard Business School, Wharton (U Penn), and Boston College. Prior to academia, she was a consultant for the Monitor Group and worked as a software and sales engineer for IBM.

Sukhun Kang, Assistant Professor, Technology Management

Kang studies innovation and entrepreneurship within biopharmaceutical and high-tech industries His PhD is from the London Business School, and has a BS in Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois, ad a MS from the University of Southern California in Computer Engineering and Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Prior to academia, he worked as a semiconductor engineer at Samsung Electronics.

Christine Beckman, Professor, Technology Management

Dr. Christine Beckman is a Professor in the Technology Management Program at UC Santa Barbara. She is also the current Editor in Chief at Administrative Science Quarterly. Professor Beckman has published over 20 articles in peer-reviewed journals and is known for her research on entrepreneurship, organizational learning, gender inequality, technology and innovation, and interorganizational networks. 

Stephen Barley, Distinguished Emeritus Professor, Technology Management

Barley has written over 100 articles on the impact of new technologies on work, the organization of technical work, and organizational culture. He is currently researching corporate power in the United States, artificial intelligence and work. His PhD is from MIT’s Sloan School of Management, and he was formerly on the faculty at Cornell University and Stanford School of Engineering.

Dr. Virginia Leavell

Job Upon Graduating: Assistant Professor, Judge Business School, Cambridge University

Dissertation: The future isn’t what it used to be: Anticipatory organizing in the digital transformation of water infrastructure.

Primary Advisor: Paul Leonardi

Dr. Leavell’s research focuses on the relationship between organizational anticipation and digital technologies. Her research investigates both how ideas about the future influence work and organizing during the lead-up to the implementation of digital technologies and also how organizations use digital technologies to make predictions about the future. She uses ethnographic methods and social network analysis. Her dissertation investigated anticipatory organizing in the context of water infrastructure management. Dr. Leavell has a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from Georgetown University and a Master of Arts in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara.

Dr. Danielle Bovenberg

Job Upon Graduating: Postdoctoral Researcher, Yale School of Management 

Dissertation: The Role of Scientific Support Occupations in the Creation and Dissemination of Knowledge in Core Facilities

Dr. Bovenberg  studies occupations and technological innovation. Specifically, she studies how scientific support occupations (e.g., staff scientists, equipment engineers and laboratory technicians) connect ostensibly distant domains of science through their knowledge of scientific instrumentation and technique. Her dissertation research was set in a nanofabrication facility, which are key nodes in the United States’ semiconductor R&D infrastructure. Her research is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Dr. Bovenberg earned her BA in Social Sciences with a minor in Statistics from Utrecht University  and her MSc. in Culture, Organization and Management from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

In order to complete your graduate application, you will be required to upload the following four documents in your online application:

1. Statement of Purpose
2. Personal History and Diversity Statement
3. Résumé or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
4. Supplemental Document: Writing Sample

1. Statement of Purpose

Give a brief statement outlining your reasons for undertaking a graduate program, your particular area of specialization within the major field (in which you majored as an undergraduate or master's student), your past academic work, and your plans for future occupation or profession. Also include any additional information that may assist the selection committee in evaluating your preparation and aptitude for graduate study at UC Santa Barbara. In your Statement of Purpose, please clearly emphasize your research interests, experience, and goals.

2. Personal History and Diversity Statement

UC Santa Barbara is interested in a diverse and inclusive graduate student population. Please describe any aspects of your personal background, accomplishments, or achievements that you feel are important in evaluating your application for graduate study. For example, please describe if you have experienced economic challenges in achieving higher education, such as being financially responsible for family members or dependents, having to work significant hours during undergraduate schooling or coming from a family background of limited income. Please describe if you have any unusual or varied life experiences that might contribute to the diversity of the graduate group, such as fluency in other languages, experience living in bicultural communities, academic research interests focusing on cultural, societal, or educational problems as they affect underserved segments of society, or evidence of an intention to use the graduate degree toward serving disadvantaged individuals or populations.

3. Résumé or Curriculum Vitae

List your positions of employment or volunteer work/community service since high school, either full or part-time, including the hours per week worked and the nature and dates of employment or service.

4. Supplemental Document: Writing Sample

A writing sample of no more than 40 pages in length. Writing samples should be substantial papers written in English in an upper-division or graduate class.

Document Uploads

UC Santa Barbara accepts PDF and Microsoft Word (.doc and .docx) documents for upload in the online application. The maximum file size allowed is 4 MB per document. You may view and replace documents you have uploaded. Once you click the "Lock" button, you will not be able to replace what you have uploaded. Please preview each document carefully to ensure you have uploaded the correct documents. Graduate Division and departmental staff will not be able to replace documents for you once you have locked a document.

Documents must be uploaded to the online application absolutely no later than 11:59 PM Pacific Time by the application deadline. Documents received after 11:59 PM on the departmental application deadline may be considered ineligible for review, and your application may be marked as Incomplete, and therefore unreviewable, by the department. The application fee is non-refundable for incomplete applications.

Three letters of recommendation are required as part of your application (at least two from professors). You will be asked to supply the name, email address, and current institution of each recommender. Once supplied, the online application will provide instructions to each of your recommenders via email.

If you are using a Letter Service (such as Interfolio or a university career center) to submit one or more letters, you will be able to indicate this information within the recommender profile. UCSB needs a rating on our rating scale from each recommender you indicate. If the letter will come from a letter service, we will only request the necessary rating from your recommender.

Letters Submitted via Postal Mail

Online submission is the preferred method for submitting letters of recommendation. If your recommender is unable to submit a letter online, a letter of recommendation may be sent directly to the Technology Management Program address below. A Letter of Recommendation Coversheet must accompany the letter. You must still add the recommender's information to your online application.

University of California, Santa Barbara
Technology Management Program
1333 Phelps Hall, MC 5129
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5129

You are required to upload an official transcript created by your university. This transcript will be used to review and evaluate your application. Scan and upload all pages of your official transcript from this institution (including the grading scale, which may be on the backside of the transcript). The uploaded transcript must be an official transcript, produced by the university with all appropriate seals/stamps. Remove your Social Security Number by crossing/blacking out numbers before uploading (if applicable).

International Applicants: Please include your degree certificate within the same file if you have received your degree. You must upload both the original language transcript and certified English translation. English transcripts are required and must be a complete, exact and literal translation of the original transcripts. English translations must be provided by the school or an official agency.

Final/Official transcripts will be required for all applicants who are admitted and have indicated their intent to enroll at UC Santa Barbara by submitting a Statement of Intent to Register (SIR). Official transcripts must be sent to the UC Santa Barbara Graduate Division by mail directly from the school in the institution's sealed envelope. Final/Official transcripts must be received before the first day of instruction of the quarter to which you are admitted.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

For all tests, UCSB reviews only the most recent and complete set of test scores reported. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required of all applicants. Official GRE scores are those submitted directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Official GRE test scores are valid for five years after the testing year in which the test was taken (July 1–June 30). There is no minimum required GRE score; however the ideal applicant will score in the top 20 percent of each test. 

TOEFL/IELTS/DET (if applicable)

Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS exam, or the Duolingo English Test. International applicants who have or will have completed the equivalent of a U. S. undergraduate or graduate degree from an institution whose sole language of instruction is English are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS/DET exam.

An excellent command of written and spoken English is required prior to enrollment at UCSB. Proficiency is determined using a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

TOEFL Reporting
Applicants taking the TOEFL must make arrangements directly with the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Instruct ETS to report scores to UCSB at institution code 4835.  The online application requires you to enter the Test Date and sixteen digit Registration Number found on your official Report of Scores from ETS.

Minimum scores for admission to the Ph.D. program:

Internet-based TOEFL

Minimum Score: 80

Paper-based TOEFL

Minimum Score: 550

IELTS

Minimum Score: 7 overall band-score

Duolingo English Test

Minimum Score: 120, or higher

All applications require a non-refundable application fee of $135 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents and $155 for international applicants. No application will be processed until the application fee has been received. This fee can be paid by credit card or with a check/money order using the Check/Money Order Submission Form found on the last page of the application.

Fee Waivers
A limited number of application fee waivers are available to qualified U.S. citizens and permanent residents who demonstrate evidence of financial need or proof of participation in an undergraduate research program. McNair Scholars and Project 1000 applicants are among those eligible. Fee waivers are not available to international applicants.

You may apply for a fee waiver through the online application. This is reviewed by the Graduate Division. Graduate Division will notify you via online application if they will grant you the fee waiver request or not. Within your application, click on the Payment Information tab and scroll down to the fee waiver information. Submit your request online by selecting the option relevant to you and uploading your supporting documentation. You must submit your fee waiver request at least two weeks before the application deadline. Do not submit a fee waiver request the day before the application deadline; it will not be processed, and your application will not be reviewed.

It is important that proposed departments are notified of any changes in your address, phone number, or e-mail address during the application process. Otherwise, important notifications regarding applications, missing supporting materials, or admissions decisions may be seriously delayed or lost. Departments will notify the Graduate Division of any changes.

Please note that once your application has been submitted, you cannot make changes to the content of your online application. Please review your application carefully before submitting and print out a copy for your files.