Graduate students from UD’s College of Engineering and Delaware State University (DSU) are sharing how participation in a National Science Foundation-funded training program is helping them bridge disciplines and develop skills to tackle problems that don’t fit neatly into one field. Their perspectives appear in a recent article highlighting the program’s impact on careers and research.

The Computing and Data Science Training for Materials Innovation, Discovery, and AnalyticS (NRT-MIDAS), developed and directed by Arthi Jayaraman, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and materials science and engineering at UD, is now in its fifth year. It pairs deep disciplinary training with interdisciplinary technical and professional experiences to prepare students for successful careers in industry and academia.

“The goal isn’t to make an experimentalist into a computer programmer or vice versa,” Jayaraman said. “The goal is to make someone deeply proficient in their field, but also able to effectively communicate and collaborate with someone in a different one.”

Collaboration is central to the program. Over the past four years, that focus has included a sustained partnership with DSU. “In the past, with other schools, it felt like an invisible partnership,” said Kimberly Milligan, associate professor of chemistry at DSU. “Here, they meet our students monthly, face-to-face, and make them feel seen.” Program coordinator Jenn Johnston makes those connections tangible by meeting with UD and DSU students on their home campus.

Students say the work involved during their training is challenging but career-shaping. Destiny King, a graduate student in applied chemistry at DSU, had never coded before joining the program. “This program introduced me to data science and got me really interested in it and the different tools I could use,” she said. “I’m hoping to continue with a Ph.D. focusing on computational research.” Her experience is just one example of how the program opens doors to new research directions and career possibilities.

The article prepared by the NRT MIDAS trainees presents to a general audience how the program has benefited participants, with personal testimonials from students, faculty and partners. It shows how NSF funding is fueling educational efforts that reach students from many different backgrounds. The student-written feature is available on the NRT MIDAS website.

Learn more about NRT MIDAS.