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What is the issue we are trying to address? Many
of our top Ph.D. students are interested in pursuing transdisciplinary
careers -- combining their knowledge and skills in chemistry with other
fields. Our department offers a number of interdisciplinary
opportunities, for example, in chemical physics, biophysics,
atmospheric science and astrobiology. However, we have no formal means
to allow students to pursue transdisciplinary study at the interface of
chemistry and many other disciplines such as public policy, education,
philosophy or law.
Interdisciplinary opportunities in Chemistry Department
A list of some of the many interdisciplinary opportunities in place for students in the chemistry department.
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What is the change or innovation? In
conjunction with contacts in the law school and departments of public
policy, history and philosophy at CU-Boulder, we are writing a proposal
that would allow students in chemistry and these programs to do joint
research or study in these fields. Students would spend 1-2 years
towards the end of their Ph.D. working at the interface of their
primary discipline and a second discipline.
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How do we know that this is an issue? Many
chemistry Ph.D. alumni work in fields other than academic or industrial
chemistry, and a number of our alumni and students are interested in
combining their knowledge of chemistry with other disciplines. In
recent years, certificate and other masters-level programs that provide
training in a variety of disciplines have become available at
CU-Boulder, suggesting an interest in and need for these types of
opportunities.
Certificate in Science and Technology Policy
Certificate in Environmental Policy
Certificate in Astrobiology
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Why did we select that approach? Currently
there is no mechanism for funding Ph.D. students who are interested in
pursuing work outside their primary discipline. The NSF ROLE program
recognizes the importance of transdisiciplinary knowledge and skills
and appears to be a good match for our proposal.
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What is the intended effect of the innovation? Offering
students an opportunity to pursue transdisciplinary study and research
is staying true to the spirit of the Ph.D. While working in more than
one field is not for everyone, select students with a strong interest
at the interface of chemistry and other fields will become scholars in
their area of interest, bring strengths from their primary discipline
to a new area, and potentially carve out new fields. This opportunity
will help attract a diverse range of highly motivated students to our
program and prepare students for a variety of transdisciplinary careers.
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What data or evidence will demonstrate the effect of our innovation? We will evaluate the success of this program by: Assessing
changes in student recruitment, particularly our competitiveness in
recruiting highly motivated students with diverse interestsConducting exit interviews with participants Looking at employment opportunties available to participantsFollow-up surveys of alumni over the course of their careers
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