NSF Research Traineeship (NRT)

What is NRT? 

NSF logo

The University of Minnesota received a $3 million award from the National Science Foundation’s Research Traineeship (NRT) to support this graduate program. The NRT is a prestigious, national program that supports annual cohorts of Trainees in developing the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers. Innovative and evidence-based training allows Trainees to explore some of the most critical questions facing our society and prepare the next generation of STEM professionals.

Cultural Change and Social Equity as Drivers for Convergent Research in Water and Material Circularity

A growing global population and limited resources require society to move toward a circular economy. Can you imagine a world in which resources are conserved and reused, wastes are upcycled, and the cycling of resources is continuous and sustainable? A team of researchers from the University of Minnesota want you to do just that.

Circularity diagram

Paige Novak and William Arnold, both from the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering, along with their Co-PIs Bonnie Keeler, Timothy Smith, and Natasha Wright, have devised a program to teach the upcoming generation of researchers about circularity while increasing their communication, leadership, and teamwork skills, gaining important real-world experience, and exploring their potential for impact with the help of an Artist in Residence. 

The College of Science and Engineering partners with the University’s Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, the Weisman Art Museum, and the Institute on the Environment to run this program. The training efforts will lead to new technologies, policies, economic instruments, methods, and implementation strategies for the circular use of resources.

Click here to read the one article about the launch of the program and click here for the second article.