Achievement

Participation in the IGERT I-STAR project is strengthening and expanding the professional networks of participants and establishing a vibrant community of researchers. The contacts that Trainees have made through the I-STAR program were mentioned during their annual interviews as being something they will take with them in the long term from being a Trainee. One former Trainee noted that a beneficial aspect of the IGERT I-STAR project was “working together with people outside the field (increasing cross-field communication skills, maintained collaborations even after graduating).” More broadly, new inter-institutional collaborations have resulted from I-STAR activities including new research collaborations between K-State faculty and national lab and industrial partners.