IGERT and Nanoscale Science
Melur K. Ramasubramanian
Program Director, IGERT
National Science Foundation
IGERT
Integrative Graduate Education and
Research Traineeship (IGERT)
 A traineeship program within the Division
of Graduate Education, Education and
Human Resources Directorate
Introduction
 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
Introduction
 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 and
IGERT Solutions
Research
interdisciplinary
 Work across disciplines
Research
collaborative
 Teamwork
Research
varied settings
 Preparation for varied careers
Research
global
 International activities and experiences
IGERT--Characteristics
Transformative Interdisciplinary Research
themes
Emerging research areas of National Priority
Innovative models for graduate training
Novel Ideas for Broadening Participation
Catalyze a cultural change in graduate
education
 For graduate students
 For faculty
 For institutions
IGERT History and Data
First awards made in 1998
2-stage competition, ~400 preliminary and
~100 full proposals/year; ~20 awards/year
240 total awards, including renewals
5 years/~$3 M total/award
To date, IGERTS are in
 110 lead institutions, 43 partner institutions
 In 43 states plus the D.C. and Puerto Rico
Supporting nearly 1500 trainees/year/$30K
~ 5,200 trainees supported overall
Nanoscale Science in IGERT
24 active awards including 4 renewals directly focused
on Nanoscale Science
Nanoscale Science in
 Biology
 Devices and machines
 Electronics
 Fabrication
 Laminates
 Materials; Biomaterials
 Medical
 Particles
 Pharmaceutical
 Photonics
 Probes
NanoPharmaceutical Engineering
and Science
Fernando Muzzio, PI, Rutgers U
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.
Scorpion Venom With Nanoparticles
Halt Brain Cancer Spread
Marjorie Olmstead, PI, U Washington
Each nanoparticle complex can simultaneously latch
on to many MMP-2s (yellow), which are thought to
help tumor cells migrate through the body.
Physical & Biomolecular Foundations
for Designing Nanoprobes for Biology
Konstantinos Konstantopoulos, PI,
Johns Hopkins U
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.
Photoluminescence in Nano-needles
Constance Chang-Hasnain, PI,
UC Berkeley
•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), highresolution lattice image using transmission electron microscope
(right).
Novel low-cost Cu(In1-xGax)Se2
(CIGS) nanocrystal-based photovoltaics
Atomic and Molecular Imaging of Interfaces/Defects in
Electronic, Spintronic, and Organic/Inorganic Materials
Chih-Kang Shih, PI, U Texas Austin
CIGS-based solar cells
nearly 20% power conversion efficiency CIGS nanocrystal "ink" comprised of CIGS
in the laboratory.
nanocrysals dispersed in tetrachloroethylene
(TCE).
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,
Image of CIGS nanocrysal-based
airbrushing, and inkjet printing.
photovoltaic device on a glass substrate
Universities with Nanoscale
Science related IGERTs
Cornell (3)
Drexel University
Johns Hopkins University
Northeastern University
Ohio State University
Rutgers University (3)
Tuskegee University
UC-Berkeley
UC-Los Angeles (2)
University of Massachusetts
Amherst
University of New Mexico (2)
University of South Dakota
University of Texas Austin
University of Utah (2)
University of Washington
Vanderbilt University
William Marsh Rice University
Educational Features of
IGERT 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 Features
of IGERT Projects
Communications training
 K-12, general public, government
Ethics and responsible conduct of
research
 Tailored to IGERT topic
IP, patents, business plans
Professional development
Activities for broadening participation
Examples of Nanoscale Science Courses
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 Credentials
Certificates, 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 Partnerships
Within universities: between faculty,
departments, schools, colleges
Between universities:
 Leverage resources
 Broaden participation
Outside academia
 National laboratories and research institutes
 Industry
 International universities and institutions
At the funding agency level
 IGERT is a cross-cutting program
IGERT Evaluation Study
Initial Impacts
Both IGERT and non-IGERT samples of
first three cohorts (1998-2000)
 Graduate Students
 Faculty
 Administrators
Benefits and Challenges for All
Current Evaluation
Next three cohorts of IGERT
Trainee post-graduation follow-up
Follow up study nearing completion.
Report will be published shortly.
Find Out More About IGERT
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