The Soft Interfaces Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) focuses on research on soft and biological interfaces and on the interaction between soft and hard materials. The research is broadly organized into three areas: (i) biological membranes in vitro and in vivo, (ii) biomaterials interfaces, and (iii) nanostructured interfaces. These areas are all central to modern materials science and engineering, both for their fundamental interest and their potential for technological and medical applications. The IGERT Fellows will have opportunities to be engaged in theoretical and experimental research projects within cross-disciplinary teams of scientists and engineers. An important goal of the program is to educate a new type of civically engaged Ph.D. scientists and engineers that can seamlessly move between fundamental and applied research. Key elements of the training are early engagement in research; a variety of opportunities for developing effective skills for interdisciplinary collaboration and communication; and the use of the shared laboratory facilities of the recently established Syracuse Biomaterials Institute (SBI).
IGERT Fellows will have the opportunity to interact with faculty and researchers on the campuses of Syracuse University (SU), the SUNY School of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) and the SUNY Upstate Medical University. They will earn a doctoral degree in one of the following five fields: