Graduate Training at the Desert Research InstituteDesert Research Institute

DRI Mission andDRI Mission and Academics (review)

Graduate Training (i f ti )(information)

Considerations

Desert Research Institute(BOARD OF REGENTS' AGENDA 09/06/12 & 09/07/12) Ref. BOR-9b, Page 1 of 14

1959 Legislative Mandate for DRIgTo contribute more effectively to the security of the nation and to promote the general

welfare of the State of Nevada and its citizens through the development of educational and scientific research, the Board of Regents may establish for educational and scientific research a facility within the System to be known as theeducational and scientific research a facility within the System to be known as the Desert Research Institute.

The primary purposes of the Institute are to: Foster and conduct fundamental scientific, economic, social or educational

investigations and applied research for industry, governmental or private agencies or individuals;

Encourage and foster a desire in students and faculty to conduct research; Discover and develop talent for conducting research;Discover and develop talent for conducting research; Acquire and disseminate knowledge related to the projects undertaken; and Promote all research within the system generally.

Desert Research Institute(BOARD OF REGENTS' AGENDA 09/06/12 & 09/07/12) Ref. BOR-9b, Page 2 of 14

DRI Mission and Academics Research is Primary Mission Research is $50 M per year in areas of Earth,

Ecosystems Atmospheric and Hydrologic SciencesEcosystems, Atmospheric and Hydrologic Sciences.• Interdisciplinary research- includes basic and applied

research in areas such as energy, water, gy, ,environmental sciences, defense and human health.

• Research is a flywheel for student training and d l t d i t i bl li k d t Ed tidevelopment and inextricably linked to Education

Desert Research Institute(BOARD OF REGENTS' AGENDA 09/06/12 & 09/07/12) Ref. BOR-9b, Page 3 of 14

DRI Mission and Academics Advanced competitive research requires academic development of

faculty staff and students and is a conscious effort at DRI

DRI Mission and Academics

faculty, staff and students and is a conscious effort at DRI• Advanced training through genuine inquiry-based learning and

discovery is primary means of development• Teaching courses and developing curricula through strategic• Teaching courses and developing curricula through strategic

academic partnerships are another means

DRI’s Academic Activities Directly Contributes to NSHE’s Current Strategic Initiatives

Specifically- student success, innovative research, attracting and retaining quality and diversity inattracting and retaining quality and diversity in

Higher Education and development of the workforce

Desert Research Institute(BOARD OF REGENTS' AGENDA 09/06/12 & 09/07/12) Ref. BOR-9b, Page 4 of 14

Graduate TrainingGraduate Students at DRI

Currently there are 60 Graduate Students at DRI enrolled in a diverse range of graduate programs (Atmospheric Sciences, Hydrologic g g p g ( p y gSciences, Geologic Sciences, Life Sciences, Natural Resource and Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Cell and Molecular Biology, ….)

Approximately 25% are international students, 55% come from out of t tstate

28% underrepresented groups, 39% women

Desert Research Institute(BOARD OF REGENTS' AGENDA 09/06/12 & 09/07/12) Ref. BOR-9b, Page 5 of 14

Graduate Training Graduate Student’s salaries, tuition and health benefits are paid

primarily from Research grants and contracts [with some paid from DRI-Fellowships (e.g. Maxey and Lander Fellowships) and a few from opportunistic teaching assistantships]

• GRA salaries total ~$1M/yr as direct cost• Tuition totals $250-$270k/yr (not including institutional fees)• Health benefits total ~$63k/yr

Desert Research Institute(BOARD OF REGENTS' AGENDA 09/06/12 & 09/07/12) Ref. BOR-9b, Page 6 of 14

Graduate students learn by engaging in real-world hands-on research and b doing so participate in enable and

Graduate Trainingon research and by doing so participate in, enable and create relevant and innovative research. E.G….

o Humbolt River, Nevada - One of most productive rivers in the world (C. Davis, DEES)

o Northern Ghana, Africa- Removal of contaminants from the groundwater using readily available and inexpensive local materials helping bring clean drinking water to rural villages (L. Craig, DHS)Yuma proving grounds Measuring dust flux from helicopters ino Yuma proving grounds- Measuring dust flux from helicopters in desert terrain (J. McAlpine, DAS)

o Lake Vida, Antarctica, Finding and characterizing life in anoxic-subzero brines (E. Kuhn, DEES)

o Nevada using GIS to identify biomass for biofuels (C Mortono Nevada, using GIS to identify biomass for biofuels (C. Morton, DEES)

o Nevada, Advanced modeling of plant water use in Nevada (J. Huntington, DHS)

Desert Research Institute(BOARD OF REGENTS' AGENDA 09/06/12 & 09/07/12) Ref. BOR-9b, Page 7 of 14

Graduate TrainingDRI Faculty and Formal Instruction: DRI Participate Jointly with University Faculty in Offering Graduate Programs

(Courses/Curricula, Advising etc..) (Atmospheric Sciences , Hydrologic Sciences, Env. Sciences, ENG,….) • Breakdown of the two graduate programs with largest DRI-faculty involvement

o 90% of Atmospheric Sciences faculty are DRI faculty (29)50% of Hydrologic Sciences faculty are DRI faculty (36)o 50% of Hydrologic Sciences faculty are DRI faculty (36)

o These DRI faculty teach courses roughly in proportion to their representation in these programs

– Example: ATMS 410/610 (Airflow and Weather Dynamics): Kaplan; ATMS 743 (Aerosol Physics): Chakrabarty and Mitchell; ATMS 792 (Climate Modeling): Koracin and Mejia [Supported in Part by NSF EPSCoR]; ATMS 792 (Weather and Climate of the Intermountain West): Kaplan and Redmond; ATMS 790 (Seminar): Arnott

Desert Research Institute(BOARD OF REGENTS' AGENDA 09/06/12 & 09/07/12) Ref. BOR-9b, Page 8 of 14

Graduate TrainingG aduate a gDRI Faculty and Formal Instruction (continued): Faculty also teach in other programs- as arranged with department chairs

and through grass roots faculty collaborations (e g Natural Resources &and through grass-roots faculty collaborations (e.g. Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences at UNR; Engineering at UNLV, Archeology, NSC and more…).

DRI Faculty also teach undergraduates (e.g. grad courses with dual ll t d l l l d d t )enrollments and lower-level undergraduate courses)

DRI-Faculty serve as major advisors and on committees

Desert Research Institute(BOARD OF REGENTS' AGENDA 09/06/12 & 09/07/12) Ref. BOR-9b, Page 9 of 14

Graduate TrainingDRI Faculty and Formal Instruction (continued):

DRI-instruction at UNR is primarily from Dean of Graduate p yStudies (presently at $200k/year; covers 10% faculty time per credit; roughly $15K per 3 credit course)

Department Chairs at UNR and UNLV also support additional p pparrangements

Additional support comes from grants/contracts that DRI-faculty get for teaching courses (e.g. EPSCoR, Space Grant, NSF g g ( g petc…). These courses augment and enhance curricula

DRI-also values innovation for Course Development and sets aside resources for development of curricula by new teachers or p ynew courses each year from its discretional funds generated by grants and contracts ($30-60k per year)

Desert Research Institute(BOARD OF REGENTS' AGENDA 09/06/12 & 09/07/12) Ref. BOR-9b, Page 10 of 14

Graduate TrainingStudent’s Successes (examples): Alex Kameda, MS-Biology 2005: Director of Quality: Vitamin Research Products. LLC, Carson

City, Andy Rost, PhD-Hydrology 2010: Ecology/Biology Instructor: Sierra Nevada College, Incline y y gy gy gy g

Village, Nevada Christopher Adaniya: MS-Atmospheric Sciences 2008: Air traffic controller Honolulu Dorothea Ivanova, Ph-D Atmospheric Sciences: Professor Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Justin Huntington, MS-Hydrology 2003: Washoe County Water Resources office, State Engineers g y gy y g

office. Jason Kuchniki MS-Hydrology 2003: Nevada Department of Environmental Protection: Lake

Tahoe Watershed Unit Branch Supervisor Jill Ralston: MS-Hydrology, US-Fish and Wildlife: Served or is Serving as State Supervisor. Philip Marzette: MS-Atmospheric Sciences 2009: Raytheon: Polar Services Section: Logistics

Support at South-Pole Ramon Naranjo: MS-Hydrology 2004: US Geological Survey, Carson City. Rich Niswonger. MS-Hydrology 2006: PhD at UC Davis: Is now back at the USGS in Carson City;

also is now serving as adjunct Professor in the Hydrology Graduate Program and is on graduate committees at UNR.

Susanna Blunt: MS- Life Sciences 2009, Southern Nevada Water Authority Vladimer Isakov, Ph-D Atmospheric Sciences- 2005: Program Manager Environmental Protection

A

Desert Research Institute

Agency.

(BOARD OF REGENTS' AGENDA 09/06/12 & 09/07/12) Ref. BOR-9b, Page 11 of 14

Considerations Currently working to renew/redefine MOU’s with

Universities for Existing Graduate Program operations to include support for instruction, processes for

curricula and faculty review, etc… stabilization and incentives

(Funding uncertainties threaten the ability to attract and retain resources and students and grow the programs)

Consideration of DRI’s role in bringing added value to education and current funding formula study

SWOT analysis to identify other academic opportunities (which includes analysis of NSHE strategic initiatives and other institution’s needs)

Desert Research Institute(BOARD OF REGENTS' AGENDA 09/06/12 & 09/07/12) Ref. BOR-9b, Page 12 of 14

DRI STRATEGIC PLAN…..Track 2: These plans will include but are not limited to the following areas:

DRI will provide the highest quality opportunities for post-doctoral, graduate and undergraduate research experience and add value to Nevada’s academic institutions. We will establish innovative pand collaborative approaches to academic programs within NSHE and enhance DRI’s faculty participation in academic programs that may include:

Expanding strategic partnerships with UNR and UNLV, including activities in the health sciences as well as the establishment of a state-wide program in hydrologic sciences;

Building strategic partnerships with NSC and the community colleges that complement DRI’s and the colleges’ missions;

Providing critical support for post-doctoral programs that bring the brightest minds to DRI; Continuing to develop mission-related seminars, workshops and short courses for national and

i t ti l diinternational audiences; Expanding educational opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students

using resources from the state legislature; Incorporation of basic and applied research into teaching environments;

Desert Research Institute(BOARD OF REGENTS' AGENDA 09/06/12 & 09/07/12) Ref. BOR-9b, Page 13 of 14

Summaryy

DRI Academics provide added value to Research Mission DRI Academics provide added value to Partner’s Missions DRI Academics contribute to NSHE Strategic Initiatives and

overall Goals for Student Successoverall Goals for Student Success • Specifically, innovative research, attracting and retaining

quality and diversity in Higher Education and the q y y gworkforce

Desert Research Institute(BOARD OF REGENTS' AGENDA 09/06/12 & 09/07/12) Ref. BOR-9b, Page 14 of 14