Accelerating innovation through emerging areas in STEM research

In the rapidly evolving landscape of scientific innovation, the need for dynamic and forward-thinking approaches to STEM graduate education has never been more critical. The U.S. National Science Foundation's Innovation in Graduate Education (IGE) program stands at the forefront of this transformation. Recognizing the changing needs of STEM fields and the dynamic change in workforce demands, NSF is funding innovative projects in emerging areas of STEM research. The NSF IGE program aims to equip the next generation of scientists and engineers with the skills required to lead solutions to pressing global challenges.  

NSF's vision for funding emerging areas of STEM research 

NSF IGE aims to accelerate innovation and participation in graduate science, technology, engineering and mathematics education through strategic funding of emerging research areas. The program's vision centers on fostering advanced scientific knowledge and ensuring that STEM professionals develop interdisciplinary and industry-relevant skills. 

In funding emerging areas of STEM research, NSF IGE has at least three primary focus areas: enhancing the foundations of STEM careers, further integrating data science in STEM research and fostering interdisciplinary and industry collaborations. The three projects below are examples of tackling these focus areas in terms of the challenges they attempt to resolve, their project implementation and their outcomes.  

Challenges the project attempts to solve: The traditional structure of doctoral education often lacks flexibility and does not always align with the evolving demands of the workforce. This misalignment can result in longer time-to-degree, high attrition rates and underutilization of highly skilled graduates in the workforce. 

Project implementation: The PhD Progression project seeks to address these challenges by developing a system of workforce-driven flexible credentials for doctoral students. The implementation involves four key components: 

• Needs Assessment and Industry Collaboration: A comprehensive assessment of workforce needs through collaboration with industry partners. This ensures that the credentials are relevant and valuable to potential employers. 
• Curriculum Design: Flexible credential modules based on the initial assessment seamlessly integrate into existing doctorate programs focusing on skills such as project management, data analysis, communication and leadership.  
• Advising and Support: A robust advising system guides doctoral students in selecting credential modules that align with their career aspirations. This includes career counseling and mentorship from both academic and industry mentors. 
• Assessment and Feedback: Continuous assessment of curriculum components through feedback collected from students, faculty and industry partners ensures the credentials remain relevant to real-world demands. 

Outcomes and impact: The PhD Progression project aims to equip graduates with workforce-driven credentials and diverse skill sets that meet the needs of a broad range of employers, increasing their employability, career flexibility and timeline to graduation.  

The PhD Progression project at Boston University represents a transformative approach to STEM graduate education. By creating flexible, workforce-aligned credentials, the project addresses critical challenges in doctoral training, enhances graduate career prospects and strengthens the relationship between academia and industry. 

2. Emerging area: Integrating data science in STEM research: Recognizing the pivotal role of data science and data analytics as critical components of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, emerging areas of STEM research further integrate the data science discipline into all areas of STEM research, promoting refinement in data-driven research and decision-making. The Graduate Opportunities to Learn Data science (GOLD) project at San Francisco State University is an example of this emerging research area. 

Challenges the project attempts to solve: Despite its rapid growth and increasing demand, the field of data science continues to suffer from significant gender and diversity gaps. Female and underrepresented minority students face barriers to entry and advancement, such as a lack of inclusive educational opportunities, mentorship and supportive networks. These obstacles often result in lower participation rates, higher attrition and underrepresentation in data science careers. 

Project implementation: The project seeks to address these challenges by creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment specifically for female and underrepresented graduate students. The implementation includes the following five key components: 

• Curriculum Development: The project provides a comprehensive data science curriculum that encompasses foundational courses in statistics, machine learning, data visualization and programming. The curriculum is open to students from diverse academic backgrounds, ensuring participants can engage with the material. 
• Inclusive Pedagogy and Mentorship: Teaching methods that promote inclusivity and active engagement encourage students to collaborate with mentors from academia and industry who provide guidance, support and real-world insights. Mentorship focuses on academic growth and professional development, helping students navigate their educational and career paths. 
• Workshops and Seminars: Regular workshops and seminars cover advanced data science topics, career development and essential soft skills such as networking and communication, building confidence and competence among participants and equipping them with the tools needed for success in the data science field. 
• Community Building: Community building among participants through collaborative projects, peer support groups and networking events help students build strong professional networks and provide a platform for sharing experiences and resources. 
• Assessment and Feedback: Continuous assessment of the program through student feedback, performance metrics and advisory board reviews ensures that the curriculum and support structures remain effective and responsive to the needs of the participants. 

Outcomes and impact: GOLD aims to increase participation in data science by female and underrepresented graduate students, enhance competencies in data science and strengthen mentorship and retention in the field. 

Overall, GOLD represents a significant step toward addressing diversity gaps in the data science field. By empowering female and underrepresented graduate students through inclusive learning and mentorship, the project not only enhances individual career prospects but also contributes to a more diverse and innovative data science workforce. 

3. Emerging area: Fostering interdisciplinary and industry collaborations: By encouraging collaborations across disciplines and with industry partners, projects in emerging areas in STEM research seek to address pressing global challenges and ensure that STEM education remains relevant and impactful. As more research projects seek to partner with industry, the Accelerate to Industry (A2i)™ project at North Carolina State University stands out. 

Challenges the project attempts to solve: STEM graduate students and postdoctoral researchers face difficulties transitioning from academia to industry due to a lack of industry-specific skills, knowledge and professional networks. Traditional academic training often does not align with the needs and expectations of industry employers, resulting in a skills gap that can hinder career advancement and reduce the impact of scientific research in real-world applications. 

Project implementation: The A2i project aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry by providing comprehensive, industry-focused training for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. The implementation includes the following four key components: 

• Industry Immersion Experiences: Intensive sessions with industry partners, including site visits, internships and short-term projects, provide students with first-hand insights into industry operations, challenges and expectations. 
• Professional Development: Workshops on critical components such as networking, communication skills, leadership, and entrepreneurship equip students with the tools needed to translate their research into practical industry roles and navigate professional opportunities. 
• Mentorship and Networking Opportunities: Access to an extensive network of professionals and alumni who guide career development and industry-specific skills helps to connect students with potential employers and collaborators, empowering them to create a professional journey strategy.  
• Curriculum Enhancement: Modules on project management, entrepreneurship, regulatory affairs and commercialization of research ensure that industry-relevant skills and knowledge are part of the curriculum.  

Outcomes and impact: The A2i project focuses on improved industry readiness, enhanced career opportunities and stronger collaborations with industry and government. Since its inception, the A2i project has successfully prepared graduate STEM students to secure prestigious leadership positions in academia, industry and government. The project partners with 32 universities and prominent industry partners, including BASF. 

A2i is a blueprint other academic organizations can adopt to bridge the gap between academic training and industry or government needs. By providing comprehensive industry-focused training and professional development in close partnership with industry and government organizations, A2i strengthens STEM students' abilities to lead solutions to pressing challenges.  

What is next in emerging areas of research in STEM education? 

The NSF IGE program continues to identify and fund projects that push the boundaries of STEM education research. The next frontier in emerging areas of STEM education includes integrating of AI and machine learning across all STEM disciplines, developing tools for immersive learning experiences and expanding collaboration with industry and government sectors into global collaboration networks. 

By funding innovative projects and fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation, the program ensures that STEM research remains at the forefront of innovation. For scientists, educators and industry partners, the opportunities for collaboration and advancement are boundless.