There is a movement happening in US higher education. Universities are trying to figure out how to prepare graduate students for a complicated world and a changing economy. The traditional model in which we turn graduate students into professors is no longer sustainable; instead, we need graduates working in every career sector, ready to apply their research expertise in creative ways. The National Science Foundation (NSF), a major funder of graduate education, has recognized this need and created the NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) Program to catalyze such changes.
The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program is designed to encourage the development and implementation of bold, new, and potentially transformative models for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduate education training. The NRT program seeks proposals that explore ways for graduate students in research-based master’s and doctoral degree programs to develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers.
National science foundation website
In September 2019, I began working for Boston University’s NRT Program in Urban Biogeoscience and Environmental Health (BU URBAN) as the Program Manager. Here I am talking about the program as part of BU’s Giving Tuesday campaign.
As Program Manager, I do strategic planning, build relationships with partners on campus and in the community, organize events and workshops, lead recruitment efforts, manage the budget and our online presence, and advise graduate students. My favorite part so far: working with and supporting an inspiring group of graduate students that are committed to addressing urban environmental challenges through solutions-oriented research. Follow us on twitter to stay up-to-date about our program!
Evan Kuras 