IGERT and Nanoscale Science

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IGERT and Nanoscale Science

• Melur K. Ramasubramanian
• Program Director, IGERT
• National Science Foundation

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IGERT

• Integrative Graduate Education and Research
  Traineeship (IGERT)
• A traineeship program within the Division of
  Graduate Education, Education and Human Resources
  Directorate

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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 skillsFaculty and students involved
  should make this change

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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 RD

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Todays 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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.
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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.

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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),
  high-resolution lattice image using transmission
  electron microscope (right).

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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 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
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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

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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

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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

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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)

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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)

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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

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IGERT Evaluation StudyInitial Impacts

• Both IGERT and non-IGERT samples of first three
  cohorts (1998-2000)
• Graduate Students
• Faculty
• Administrators
• Benefits and Challenges for All

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Current Evaluation

• Next three cohorts of IGERT
• Trainee post-graduation follow-up
• Follow up study nearing completion. Report will
  be published shortly.

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Find Out More About IGERT

• http//www.IGERT.org
• Searchable site maintained by grantee
• http//www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id12
  759orgDGEfromhome
• 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