I think this might be an example of what Donna Haraway meant when she was talking about cyborg couplings, and your "implication in a fraught world." She says that the cyborg is both conquerer and conquered. Some time ago, I attended a lecture called "Dropping a Bomb: Black Workers Share Their Stories," and I got the distinct impression that Lucent in particular does not treat their workers, especially Black workers, well. But then they give fellowships to minority students . . . this is a cyborgian opportunity for the recipient to become like "ether, quintessence," as Haraway says, and make changes to the system from within it.