The U.S. National Science Foundation's Research Traineeship program blends cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research training with comprehensive, inclusive professional development, preparing future scientists to make discoveries of national and global significance. The NSF Research Traineeship program experience includes three core elements:
Convergence research and training
A traineeship's area of focus, and the research training involved, must be convergent, drawing from multiple disciplines to build new skills, capacities and knowledge.
Inclusive workforce development
Traineeships not only engage diverse trainees, but also strengthen a wide range of workforce skills — from communications to professional ethics — to prepare graduate students to thrive in STEM careers.
Institutional transformation
Traineeships enable research institutions to pioneer new research while transforming their approach to STEM graduate education — to better prepare the next generation of innovators.