IGERT and Nanoscale Science

1. IGERT and Nanoscale Science Melur K. Ramasubramanian Program Director, IGERT National Science Foundation

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. Physical & Biomolecular Foundations for Designing Nanoprobes for Biology KonstantinosKonstantopoulos, 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.

12. 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. • GaAsnano-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).

13. 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

14. 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 Universities with Nanoscale Science related IGERTs

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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)

18. 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)

19. 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

20. 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

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

22. 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