The panel session will highlight three or more projects supported by the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Research Traineeship (NRT) and Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) programs where team science has been a particular focus of the programs. The audience will hear from a variety projects in different interdisciplinary STEM fields which focus on evidence based approaches and research methods (both qualitative and quantitative) around the development and testing of novel STEM graduate student training in interdisciplinary and convergent team science. The aim will be to disseminate and share best practices and demonstrated effective strategies for team-based approaches in graduate education from exemplar NRT Projects. It will highlight research-based approaches to evaluating the efficacy and effectiveness of team science interventions and the lessons learned during implementation of exemplar NRT projects. It will identify shared models, resources, and research methods for broader dissemination and adoption. The panel will provide INSciTS attendees a national and broad interdisciplinary view of what research methods and graduate education approaches are currently being deployed through the work of the NSF NRT/IGE programs.

Panel summary: The session will begin with an overview from Dr. Karen McNeal Project Director at the NSF. She will provide a brief description of the NSF about the IGE and NRT programs and the goals specifically related to team science (5mins). This panel will consistent of successful PIs and project evaluators of IGE/NRT Projects. Each selected NRT/IGE PI/evaluator panelist (3-4) will be provided 10 mins to focus on their team science elements in their program and discuss the intervention, the research approach, and lessons learned. The remaining session time will be open to Q&A and forum discussion.

Panelists Bio and expertise: The three panelists will represent both the National Science Foundation's Research Traineeship and Innovations in Graduate Education programs as former Principal or Co-Principal Investigator of supported programs. Dr. Ogle, Professor at Northern Arizona University and Dr. Katharyn Duffy, Director of Science Operations at Vibrant Planet, lead the "NRT-HDR: A team-based training paradigm integrating informatics and ecology" project which focused on developing a team-based graduate training program in ecological and environmental informatics, with a focus on team-based research combined with the development of strong expert and public communication skills and modern collaborative skills broadly applicable beyond academia. Dr. Hartley, Professor and Director of the Virginia Sea Grant Program, was PI of the "NRT-IGE: Team Science Training for Coastal Ocean & Estuarine STEM Graduate Students" which enabled students to practice team science research and use reflective practices to improve their competencies in teamwork with coastal community partners in climate-resilience topics.