Assessment of Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programs

IGERT Astrobiology program at UW

Graduate students Megan Smith and Elena Amador sample waters from the highly acidic Rio Tinto in Spain looking for an analog to early Martian environment (Source: UWAB)

Astrobiology studies the origin of life on Earth and the distribution of life in the Universe. The cross-disciplinary nature of this field mandates collaboration among biologists, astronomers, oceanographers, atmospheric scientists, chemists, planetary scientists, and geologists.

Based on the Seattle campus of the University of Washington, the UW Astrobiology (UWAB) Program supports an interdisciplinary community of twenty-five core faculty members, eight postdocs and research scientists, and nearly thirty graduate students –who span eight astrobiology-affiliated graduate programs in four different colleges.

As part of our multi-year evaluation of the Astrobiology IGERT, CIRGE administered two web-based surveys to students in the program. The results are intended to provide anonymous student feedback to the program faculty and to increase understandings of interdisciplinary graduate programs and student experiences. Additionally, two focus groups were held with Astrobiology graduate students in order to gain more specific feedback on the program. The findings from these activities were summarized and presented to the Astrobiology department in summer of 2007. Another survey of students and interviews of faculty and chairs was reported on in 2009.

See Report Student Survey (2006)

See Report Post IGERT Career Outcomes: Astrobiology at University of Washington (2010)

US IGERT

IGERT is the National Science Foundation’s flagship interdisciplinary training program, educating U.S. Ph.D. scientists and engineers by building on the foundations of their disciplinary knowledge with interdisciplinary training. From 1998 until now, the IGERT program has acquired 278 awards and has provided funding for approximately 6,500 graduate students.

The IGERT programs offer traineeships to students pursuing their PhDs. The interdisciplinary graduate programs represented vary greatly, spanning disciplines that include: biomedical engineering, environmental economics, nanoscience, sustainability, computational science, molecular biology, psychology, anthropology, political science, materials science, and many more. Opportunities for international experience as well as internships in industry and government are a part of many programs.

Why IGERT?

Collaborative research that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries and requires teamwork provides students with the tools to become leaders in the science and engineering of the future. Diversity among the students contributes to their preparation to solve large and complex research problems of significant scientific and societal importance at the national and international level.

See more about IGERT projects

Best Practices for IGERT Sustainability

The National Science Foundation funds IGERT programs in order to incubate new practices, not to provide long-term program funding. Once initial funding peters out, program directors and graduate school administrators face the challenge of maintaining the generous funding levels that fostered excellence. CIRGE explored ways to meet this challenge and sustain the programming initiated with IGERT funds by collecting the successful experiences of IGERT program directors, the best practices put forth by institutions on the forefront of interdisciplinary innovation of doctoral education, and the recommendations by scholars and university committees concerned with reform of interdisciplinary study and research.

Download report: Best Practices for IGERT Sustainability

IGERT Urban Ecology at UW

The mission of the IGERT Urban Ecology was “to improve Earth’s condition by engaging policy makers, scientists, students and citizens in the generation, teaching and use of knowledge about the interactions between humans and ecological processes in urbanizing environments.”

In December 2004, CIRGE presented the results of three years formative and summative evaluative work to the Urban Ecology IGERT faculty, students, departmental chairs, and campus administration.

The report, Urban Ecology Mid-term Evaluation and the University of Washington, presented findings and recommendations for a number of significant program changes for the remaining years of this IGERT. As part of the evaluation activities, CIRGE innovative consultant conducted a series of workshops for faculty and students on program and time management, on teamwork and team teaching, and on conflict resolution.

Download Report: Innovation in PhD Training

International Collaboration

CIRGE facilitated the collaboration of the Urban Ecology IGERT with another urban ecology doctoral program in Berlin, Germany. We added another pair of doctoral programs (Boston University Bioinformatics IGERT and Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany Systems Biology Graduiertenkolleg) to the evaluation research project to provide a broader base for the generalization of findings.

CIRGE undertaken two important research activities with these innovative doctoral programs:

CIRGE supported implementing and maintaining collaboration included conducting workshops to prepare the visits abroad of faculty and students; facilitating feedback sessions with students and faculty from both programs at the end of joint international workshops; and facilitating ongoing feedback for faculty regarding the collaborative process to improve communication, information, and organizational planning.
CIRGE conducted formative evaluation focusing on the ongoing activities of the project. We analyzed similarities and differences between the programs, the institutional structures and conditions that support or hinder international cooperation, and we assessed the progress in personal relations and communication processes. During the last year we focused on the (a) process of collaboration, (b) individual expectations, and (c) institutional goals and limitations.

Download Report: Evaluative Framework for International Collaboration