Frequently Asked Questions
1.IGERT? What the heck is IGERT?
2. What are the deep goals and ideals of the NSF IGERT program?
3. Why interdisciplinary?
4.What's special about an IGERT education? Why would I want to be an IGERT student?
5.What are the employment and career opportunities after IGERT?
6. How long does it take?
7. What can I study in an IGERT program? What kinds of research and curricular things do IGERTs do?
8. Who are the IGERT students?
9. Who are the IGERT faculty?
10. Who are some IGERT partners?
11. What kind of student should apply to an IGERT program?
12. How do I get started?
13. How do I apply to be an IGERT Trainee, and what is the deadline?
14. What are the requirements to be accepted into an IGERT program?
15. Can I apply if I am not a U.S. Citizen or Naturalized Resident?
16. How does the program fit in with the home department and its requirements?
17. Is IGERT just for Ph.D. students?
18. I only want a master's degree. Is that possible?
19. I am currently an IGERT student, and I have questions about my funding. Who should I talk to?
20. You say the stipend is $30,000, but my IGERT is telling me differently. What's going on?
IGERT? What the heck is IGERT?
It stands for Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship,
and is a program developed by the National Science Foundation to improve
the graduate experience. IGERT provides interdisciplinary graduate
training for students who wish to pursue careers in the sciences,
mathematics, engineering or technology (interdisciplinary being the key
word here). Approximately 20 new IGERT programs are funded each year, and
there are now over 100 IGERT programs at universities across the United
States. Each program is unique in its curricular and research focus.
Students interested in pursuing PhDs in the sciences, mathematics,
engineering or technology can select and apply to IGERT programs that
suit their interests. Students accepted into an IGERT program then begin
a rigorous course of interdisciplinary study (that's the integrative
graduate education and research part) and get $30,000 a year plus tuition
and fees (that's the traineeship part).
What are the deep goals and ideals of the NSF IGERT program?
The National Science Foundation Introduction to the IGERT Program says:
"The IGERT program has been developed to meet the challenges of educating
U.S. Ph.D. scientists, engineers, and educators with the
interdisciplinary backgrounds, deep knowledge in chosen disciplines, and
technical, professional, and personal skills to become in their own
careers the leaders and creative agents for change. The program is
intended to catalyze a cultural change in graduate education, for
students, faculty, and institutions, by establishing innovative new
models for graduate education and training in a fertile environment for
collaborative research that transcends traditional disciplinary
boundaries. It is also intended to facilitate greater diversity in
student participation and preparation, and to contribute to the
development of a diverse, globally-engaged science and engineering
workforce."
See the NSF IGERT Homepage
Why interdisciplinary?
"In the last 10 years, there has been a growing realization that the
really big problems in science are not going to be solved within one
discipline. The big complex problems, like those affecting the
environment or advances in information technology, will require expertise
from many areas."
--Jim Teeri, Director, IGERT National Recruitment
Program.
The issues that surround most 'real life' problems and their complex solutions are multifaceted and complex. For example, policy decisions must be informed by science; social values and economics affect whether or not a solution is desirable or feasible. IGERT programs seek to train researchers who will recognize cross-disciplinary issues and communicate with professionals from other disciplines to find creative interdisciplinary solutions for these problems.
What's special about an IGERT education? Why would I want to
be an IGERT student?
IGERT programs focus on problem-centered training, delimited not by the
boundaries of an academic discipline, but by the demands of solving a
problem. IGERT programs combine interdisciplinary science with practical
experience, giving their students deep knowledge in their disciplines as
well as a combination of technical, professional and personal skills that
enables them to be leaders and creative agents for change in their
fields. Other benefits include:
- A sizeable stipend ($30,000 per year).
- Support for tuition and fees.
- Funds for research equipment and supplies.
- Research assistanceship and teaching assistanceship opportunities.
- Opportunities for international experience.
- Internships in industry and government.
- Work with similar-minded graduate students from different disciplines on similar research topics.
- Great post-IGERT career and employment options.
What are the employment and career opportunities after
IGERT?
A major objective of NSF's IGERT program is to train students in areas
where industry, government and academic institutions are experiencing a
shortfall. IGERT graduates may work in industries ranging from
pharmaceutics to petrochemicals, government laboratories devoted to
health, commerce or energy, small teaching colleges and major research
universities. An important benefit of the IGERT programs is that most
students have opportunities to sample these locations during their
training. This makes it easier to decide which career environment is
right for you.
How long does it take?
Usually four to five years, but this depends on the program you select
and on you!
What can I study in an IGERT program? What kinds of research
and curricular things do IGERTs do?
There are over 100 IGERT programs across the United States, and all of
them are unique. To take a look at just a few of the interesting things
that IGERT students are doing here. Or, browse through all of the
IGERT programs.
Who are the IGERT students?
To meet just a few IGERT students and see what they're doing, click here.
Who are the IGERT faculty?
To meet just a few of the faculty teaching in IGERT programs, click here.
Who are some IGERT partners?
DSM-Copolymer (Geleen, The Netherlands and Baton Rouge)
Dupont (Wilmington, Delaware)
Dow (Plaquemine, Louisiana and Freeport, Texas)
Exxon (Baton Rouge)
USDA Labs (New Orleans)
Max-Planck Institute (Mainz, Germany)
Middle East Technical University (Ankara, Turkey)
Union Carbide (South Charleston, West Virginia)
What kind of student should apply to an IGERT program?
Someone who:
- Wants to be a scientist for the future-- more flexible, more collaborative, more adept at linking issues in the life, earth, and social sciences, and more able to solve the global issues that face us today.
- Has demonstrated strong interest and motivation in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
- Has completed a bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline.
- Is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
How do I get started?
I really don't know much about how I should go about applying to grad school,
or even what to expect in grad school. No one in my family knows either,
and my advisor is on leave this year. Can you help? First, each IGERT
program has a program contact person who is willing to help. Just call,
or email, and ask your questions. The IGERT National Recruitment Program
and our website (this website!) are also a valuable resource. Our
Resources for Students Page contains links to other resources that
specifically address this question.
How do I apply to be an IGERT Trainee, and what is the
deadline?
Each IGERT has a formal application process. Start by finding an IGERT
program that matches your area of interest. Study the web pages of the
various IGERT programs for descriptions of their programs, for contact
information on the participating faculty, and, importantly, for specific
application procedures, deadlines and requirements. Once you find a
program you are interested in, follow the application instructions for
the program you select. If you have questions specifically regarding
their program application process and requirements, contact them, inform
them of your interest in applying, and go on from there. Browse IGERT
programs. If you have questions regarding the IGERT program in general,
or have trouble contacting the program you're interested in, feel free to
contact us, the IGERT National Recruitment Program, for help!
What are the requirements to be accepted into an IGERT
program?
It depends on the IGERT program! Start by finding an IGERT program that
matches your area of interest. Study the web pages of the various IGERT
programs for descriptions of their programs, for contact information on
the participating faculty, and, importantly, for specific application
procedures, deadlines and requirements. Once you find a program you are
interested in, contact them, inform them of your interest in applying,
and go on from there. Browse IGERT programs.
Can I apply if I am not a U.S. Citizen or Permanent
Resident?
Sorry, but no. Please apply instead to a traditional graduate educational
program by contacting the department most closely allied to your research
interests. If you are accepted to a department affiliated with an IGERT
program, however, you may experience many "spillover" benefits
from the IGERT project.
How does the program fit in with home departments and their
requirements?
This varies from program to program. When you find an IGERT program you
are interested in, please refer this question to them.
Is IGERT just for Ph.D. students?
Not necessarily. Many IGERTs support masters students and undergrads
also. To enhance collaboration, elements of some IGERT programs are open
to a wider audience, most notably, IGERT Associates. When you find an
IGERT program you are interested in, please refer this question to them.
I only want a master's degree. Is that possible?
Some IGERTs support masters students. Most provide support primarily at
the doctorate level. When you find an IGERT program you are interested
in, please refer this question to them.
I am currently an IGERT student, and I have questions about
my funding. Who should I talk to?
You should talk to your IGERT Program Director or faculty advisor.
You say the stipend is $30,000, but my IGERT is telling me
differently. What's going on?
The stipend per 12 month period is $30,000. Some IGERTs provide support for
different periods of time, in which case the stipend may be pro-rated.