Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is IGERT?
IGERT stands for Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship and is a program of the National Science Foundation. The goal of the IGERT program is to help universities develop new graduate programs that foster collaborative, innovative, and interdisciplinary research. (www.igert.org)
What is the Rutgers IGERT Program on Stem Cells?
The Rutgers IGERT is a highly competitive graduate education and research training program focused on integrative science and engineering of stem cells (ISESC). It is a five-year, $3.2 M program supported by the NSF and Rutgers University and follows on the heals of a $4.2 M IGERT program on Integratively Engineered Biointerfaces.
The Rutgers IGERT-ISESC is one of only a handful of IGERT awards that were made in 2008 through a rigorous peer-review process screening hundreds of applications nation-wide. This is the fourth IGERT grant awarded to Rutgers. Previously, the IGERT on Integratively Engineered Biointerfaces and two later IGERT grants - focused on Nanopharmaceutical Engineering (2005) and on Perceptual Science (2006) - were funded at Rutgers.
What are the IGERT fellows expected to do as part of the program obligations?
The IGERT program is more than a simple fellowship or research assistantship. The "ERT" in IGERT represents the three program components in which trainees will participate:
- Integrative graduate education
- Integrative, cross-disciplinary thesis research
- Integrative professional development and training
For more details on each component, click on the links above.
For an overview of how these components fit together to comprise the IGERT experience, click here.
Who can qualify for application to the IGERT Program?
Applications are welcomed from undergraduate seniors who will be applying to Rutgers for graduate studies and from first year graduate students at Rutgers.
Only U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents are eligible.
Students on F-1, J-1, H-1 visas are not eligible.
Which graduate students constitute the most appropriate applicants?
The major criteria for selection are academic excellence and outstanding research potential. Additionally, applicants should be:
- planning to obtain a PhD in one of the following Rutgers' programs: Biomedical, Chemical/Biochemical, Mechanical, or Materials Engineering, Molecular Biosciences/Biology, Cell and Developmental Biology, Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Physics, or Chemistry/Chemical Biology
- interested in undertaking an integrative thesis research project, as developed specifically for the IGERT program.
Students who have completed one year of graduate studies will be given preference. In exceptional circumstances, students who have completed two years of graduate studies may also be considered.
In a few cases, new graduate students at Rutgers are also encouraged to apply, particularly if they have had significant research experience in areas related to the IGERT program, or if they have graduate credits that can be transferred.
How does a candidate apply for the IGERT fellowship?
Students interested in being considered for an IGERT fellowship are invited to fill in a preliminary query and are also reminded to check the eligibility requirements as outlined in the previous FAQ.
The complete application form should be downloaded as a Word file (located on the Forms page), filled in electronically, and e-mailed to the IGERT Director.
The application also requires 3 letters of reference, which can be e-mailed separately to the IGERT Director.
For students in institutions other than Rutgers applying to the IGERT, a full application to the Graduate School, New Brunswick, is also necessary, and can be downloaded here. For highly qualified applicants (who fill out the query above), the application fee can be waived by the IGERT program.
Who manages the Rutgers IGERT-ISESC program?
The IGERT-ISESC program at Rutgers is directed by:
Professor Prabhas Moghe
and co-directed by:
Professor Kathryn Uhrich.
The other senior faculty administrators of the IGERT program are:
The IGERT Program Manager is Julia Haque
The IGERT Program Administrator is Patricia Ashe.
What departments and programs at Rutgers participate in the IGERT-IEB program?
Participating graduate programs include:
Additional research partners are:
Educational and training relationships exist with
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