IGERT and Nanoscale IGERT and Nanoscale ScienceScience

Melur K. RamasubramanianMelur K. Ramasubramanian

Program Director, IGERTProgram Director, IGERT

National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation

IGERTIGERT

Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) A traineeship program within the

Division of Graduate Education, Education and Human Resources Directorate

IntroductionIntroduction New fields are emerging at intersections of

Physics/Biology/Engineering etc. IT-Nano; Ecology-Biology; Synthetic and System Biology Is government doing enough to support research at

these intersections? Interdisciplinary workforce development Move research from laboratory to industry

Technology transfer at Universities is only one aspect of the change

People skills—Faculty and students involved should make this change

IntroductionIntroduction STEM Education to produce competitive

workforce for the 21st Century How do we explain to American media

what the impact is?—Communication Science literate electorate

Many policy issues have science content

Societal Dimensions of Nanotechnology Ethical aspects and societal aspects

should be integrated with technical R&D

Today’s Research Trends Today’s Research Trends and and

IGERT SolutionsIGERT SolutionsResearch interdisciplinary Work across disciplines

Research collaborative Teamwork

Research varied settings Preparation for varied careers

Research global International activities and experiences

IGERT--CharacteristicsIGERT--CharacteristicsTransformative Interdisciplinary Research themesEmerging research areas of National PriorityInnovative models for graduate trainingNovel Ideas for Broadening ParticipationCatalyze a cultural change in graduate education For graduate students For faculty For institutions

IGERT History and DataIGERT History and Data

First awards made in 19982-stage competition, ~400 preliminary and ~100 full proposals/year; ~20 awards/year240 total awards, including renewals5 years/~$3 M total/awardTo date, IGERTS are in 110 lead institutions, 43 partner institutions In 43 states plus the D.C. and Puerto RicoSupporting nearly 1500 trainees/year/$30K~ 5,200 trainees supported overall

Nanoscale Science in Nanoscale Science in IGERTIGERT24 active awards including 4 renewals directly focused

on Nanoscale ScienceNanoscale Science in Biology Devices and machines Electronics Fabrication Laminates Materials; Biomaterials Medical Particles Pharmaceutical Photonics Probes

NanoPharmaceutical NanoPharmaceutical Engineering and ScienceEngineering and Science

SEM image on left is for the case of size reduction without nano-coating, which leads to excessive agglomeration and poor dispersion. SEM image on right is for the case of size reduction with nano-coating, which leads to reduced agglomeration and very good dispersion.

Fernando Muzzio, PI, Rutgers U

Scorpion Venom With Scorpion Venom With Nanoparticles Halt Brain Cancer Nanoparticles Halt Brain Cancer

Spread Spread

Each nanoparticle complex can simultaneously latch on to many MMP-2s (yellow), which are thought to help tumor cells migrate through the body.

Marjorie Olmstead, PI, U Washington

Physical & Biomolecular Physical & Biomolecular Foundations for Designing Foundations for Designing Nanoprobes for BiologyNanoprobes for Biology

Nanowires from natural proteins which give them unique biological properties and allow for a link between electronic and biological systems. Long-term applications of these nanowires include tissue engineering and in-vivo imaging.

Konstantinos Konstantopoulos, PI, Johns

Hopkins U

Photoluminescence in Nano-Photoluminescence in Nano-needlesneedles

•GaAs structures into the shape of narrow needles which, when optically pumped, emit light with high brightness. •GaAs nano-structures with a shape of narrow needles having an angle of 6 degree down to tips of 2 to 5 nanometers across. •Scanning electron micrographs (left and middle), high-resolution lattice image using transmission electron microscope (right).

Constance Chang-Hasnain, PI, UC Berkeley

Novel low-cost Cu(In1-xGax)Se2 Novel low-cost Cu(In1-xGax)Se2 (CIGS) nanocrystal-based (CIGS) nanocrystal-based

photovoltaics photovoltaics

CIGS-based solar cells nearly 20% power conversion

efficiency in the laboratory.

Conventional fabrication of CIGS solar cells requires high vacuum deposition techniques Too expensive

CIGS nanocrystal "inks“ that can be solution processed by a variety of techniques including drop-casting, dip-coating, spin-coating, airbrushing, and inkjet printing.

CIGS nanocrystal "ink" comprised of CIGS nanocrysals dispersed in tetrachloroethylene (TCE).

Image of CIGS nanocrysal-based photovoltaic device on a glass substrate

Atomic and Molecular Imaging of Interfaces/Defects in Electronic, Spintronic, and

Organic/Inorganic Materials

Chih-Kang Shih, PI, U Texas Austin

Universities with Nanoscale Universities with Nanoscale Science related IGERTsScience related IGERTs

Cornell (3)Drexel UniversityJohns Hopkins UniversityNortheastern University Ohio State UniversityRutgers University (3) Tuskegee UniversityUC-BerkeleyUC-Los Angeles (2)

University of Massachusetts AmherstUniversity of New Mexico (2)University of South DakotaUniversity of Texas AustinUniversity of Utah (2)University of WashingtonVanderbilt UniversityWilliam Marsh Rice University

Educational Features of Educational Features of IGERT ProjectsIGERT Projects

New curricula Interdisciplinary courses, laboratories, seminars, often

team-taught Student-taught interdisciplinary courses Distance learning, videoconferencing

New integrative experiences “boot camps,” workshops, retreats Team projects and teamwork exercises Student-lead and -organized meetings Laboratory rotations; co-advising

Internships Industry, national laboratory, research institute International

Further Educational Further Educational Features of IGERT Features of IGERT

ProjectsProjectsCommunications training K-12, general public, government

Ethics and responsible conduct of research Tailored to IGERT topic

IP, patents, business plansProfessional developmentActivities for broadening participation

Examples of Nanoscale Science Examples of Nanoscale Science CoursesCourses

Fundamental Physics and Chemistry of Nanomaterials; Interfacial Phenomena in Nanostructured Materials (Johns Hopkins U.)Nanosystems Design for Biology and Medicine (Northeastern U.)Nanotechnology: From Lab to Product (U. Mass Amherst)Nanotechnology-Based Drug Delivery (Rutgers U.)Frontiers in Nanotechnology (U. Washington)Quantum Engineering of Nanostructures (U. Texas at Austin)Nanoscale Materials; Molecular Modeling of Polymers and Nanocomposites (Tuskegee U.)Imaging Nanostructures and Nanoparticles; Finite Element Analysis for Nanostructures (modules, Cornell University)Biomedical Applications of Colloidal Nanocrystals (U. of New Mexico)

Examples of CredentialsExamples of CredentialsCertificates, minors, concentrations Certificate program in Nanotechnology (Drexel-U.

Pennsylvania) Certificate program in Biomedical Science and

Engineering with Concentration in Nanotechnology (U. New Mexico)

Designated Emphasis in Nanoscale Science and Engineering (UC Berkeley)

Dual degree programs Home department and Nanotechnology (U. Washington)

Doctoral programs Ph.D. in Nanoscience and Microsystems (U. New Mexico)

IGERT PartnershipsIGERT PartnershipsWithin universities: between faculty, departments, schools, collegesBetween universities: Leverage resources Broaden participationOutside academia National laboratories and research institutes Industry International universities and institutionsAt the funding agency level IGERT is a cross-cutting program

IGERT Evaluation StudyIGERT Evaluation StudyInitial ImpactsInitial Impacts

Both IGERT and non-IGERT samples of first three cohorts (1998-2000) Graduate Students Faculty Administrators

Benefits and Challenges for All

Current EvaluationCurrent Evaluation

Next three cohorts of IGERTTrainee post-graduation follow-upFollow up study nearing completion. Report will be published shortly.

Find Out More About Find Out More About IGERTIGERT

http://www.IGERT.org Searchable site maintained by grantee

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=12759&org=DGE&from=home IGERT home page at NSF Program solicitation Video presentation

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2006/nsf0617/index.jsp Impacts of IGERT evaluation

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf0840/index.jsp IGERT 2006-2007 Annual Report