Trainee Expectations

COSAM Climate Resilience Training



What will Trainees do? 

  1. Complete Coursework 
    • Ph.D. Trainees will complete a required 9 hours of core courses and 9 hours of elective coursework.  
    • M.S. Trainees will complete 6 hours of core courses and 3 hours of elective coursework.  
    • Trainees will complete courses required for their program of study, recognizing that many of these course may overlap or be appropriate substitutes for courses in their programs. Trainees should discuss their planned coursework with their Research Advisors, Committee members, Departmental Graduate Program Officer (GPO), and NRT faculty to ensure they comply with both NRT requirements and that of their degree programs. 
  2. Complete Interdisciplinary Research Related to Climate Resilience
    • Trainees are expected to completed interdisciplinary research related to climate resilience as a significant part of their thesis and dissertation research.  Trainees research can span an array of sectors (e.g., agriculture, ecosystems, human and social systems, hydrology, etc.), disciplines (e.g., geosciences, forestry, rural sociology, crop and soil science, etc.), and utilize a variety of methodological approaches (e.g., mathematical modelling, spatial science, field collection, social science methods, ect.).  
  3. Complete an Internship with Stakeholder Groups (Required for Ph.D. Trainees Only, Optional M.S. Trainees)
    • Ph.D. Trainees are required to complete an internship with a stakeholder group of their choice that has a need for climate resilience research in their decision making. Internships are to be completed after taking the Studio Course and can be completed any time before a Trainee graduates from their degree program. Trainees will learn about how to conduct coproduced actionable science research as part of their coursework. 
  4. Participate in NRT Programmatic Activities (e.g., workshops, meetings, seminars, etc).
    • Trainees will be engaged in a number of programmatic activities beyond those listed above.  For instance, new Trainees will be required to participate in an a 5-day immersion experience in August before classes begin that will provide an engaging experience about climate impacts in the region.  Additionally, Trainees are required to participate in project workshops that will take place about once a semester.  Trainees will also meet with the project PI and Coordinator bi-monthly as a group.  Other activities such as attending project related seminars, public outreach events, and other activities will occasionally be required.  

All Trainees are expected to make progress towards their degrees as a Trainee. Trainees must be in good standing with their home degree program, the graduate school, and with the NRT program in order to continue as a NSF Trainee (funded or unfunded).