  We present results from an experimental study of the equilibrium and
non-equilibrium transport properties of vanadium oxide nanobeams near the
metal-insulator transition (MIT). Application of a large electric field in the
insulating phase across the nanobeams produces an abrupt MIT and the individual
roles of thermal and non-thermal effects in driving the transition are studied.
Transport measurements at temperatures ($T$) far below the critical temperature
($T_c$) of MIT, in several nanoscale vanadium oxide devices, show that both $T$
and electric field play distinctly separate, but critical roles in inducing the
MIT. Specifically, at $T << T_c$ electric field dominates the MIT through an
avalanche-type process, whereas thermal effects become progressively critical
as $T$ approaches $T_c$.
