Wayne State delegation shares expertise at NSF-hosted, invitation-only workshop

Wayne State faculty, staff, a doctoral student, and a representative from industry partner Applied Materials had the chance to share their expertise at the "Expanding STEM Ph.D. Funding Streams" workshop at the National Science Foundation (NSF) headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, Sept. 29-30. Presented by the University Industry Demonstration Partnership (UIDP) - with NSF support - the invitation-only workshop invited selected university and industry partners to help shape the way U.S. industries partner with universities to develop their talent pipeline.

Wayne State's Division of Research & Innovation (DORI) identified the opportunity to leverage this unique gathering of more than 150 leaders from Fortune 500 companies, startups, universities, and industry. A collaborative effort that included DORI, the Division of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (DEED), and the Division of Academic Affairs resulted in a Wayne State delegation composed of representatives from all relevant stakeholder groups - faculty, staff, students, and industry partners:

• Danielle Manley, assistant vice president of corporate engagement and advancement, DEED
• Dr. Federico Rabuffetti, associate professor of chemistry
• Syeda Tasnia Sameen, Wayne State doctoral student and graduate intern, Intel
• Dr. Tom Knisley '12, senior manager of process chemistry, Applied Materials

Strengthening academic-industry partnerships

Throughout the two-day workshop, the group participated in panels, workshops, and other discussions covering topics such as program design, funding, and intellectual property (IP). Participants collaborated on designing a jointly funded Ph.D. fellowship pilot in which universities and companies would work together to support doctoral students' education and research.

More specifically, the workshop was "the culminating event of a national initiative to explore how new funding strategies can strengthen academic-industry partnerships, enhance doctoral training, and respond to shifting workforce demands," according to the event's website.

"It was a great two days of dialogue about how we collectively identify new models of funding streams for graduate-level researchers in STEM fields who are training alongside industry partners," Manley said. "We went with Wayne State's College to Career goals at the forefront because, ultimately, we're all working to create opportunities for students to produce research that impacts the world."

Preparing students to succeed

Notably, Wayne State was one of the only university delegations to include a student with graduate intern experience. Earlier this summer, Sameen participated in an internship at Intel as a member of its Technology Development Metal Deposition module. It allowed her to experience firsthand how her work within Wayne State's Winter Research Group applied to semiconductor manufacturing.

"I found it insightful to see how multi-sector Ph.D. programs are structured and guided by policies, and how perspectives from academia, industry, and government influence decisions," Sameen said. "It gave me a deeper appreciation for the collaboration and planning required to develop programs that prepare graduate students for diverse career paths."

This notion of academic and professional preparation was top of mind for the Wayne State Graduate School. It was just one of many reasons it sponsored Sameen's attendance, noted Dean Amanda Bryant-Friedrich.

"The Graduate School prepares our graduate students for what comes next," she said. "Workshops like this, which help design new programs that increase funding opportunities for STEM graduate students, are crucial in strengthening relationships between academia and industry. When those relationships are strong, both sides can learn from each other and grow together."

Fostering and funding the next generation of standout talent

From an industry perspective, having access to graduate students is an invaluable investment. There's no better way to streamline that access than having a presence right on campus, which is the approach of Applied Materials, a longtime industry partner of the university.

In a breakout session on IP, Knisley - a Wayne State doctoral alumnus and member of Applied Materials - explored what makes close relationships between universities and industry partners a winning proposition for all involved.

"Obtaining a novel template for funding graduate students is critical. The reality is that there is already a talent shortage in the workforce - especially in the semiconductor industry - and a shortage of public funding opportunities," Knisley said. "Speaking with others at this event revealed how unique our collaboration with Wayne State is."

Applied Materials' on-site campus presence enables both sides to shape projects, give real-time support, and provide mentorship to students, Knisley noted. For students, it exposes them to the rigors of industry and prepares them for a career from day one. It also gives them the chance to work on state-of-the-art equipment and work side by side with the industry's leading minds. It's an area in which Wayne State and Applied Materials have led the way for years, he said.

"My takeaway is that most organizations have not made a similar investment, both being on-site and sponsoring research. However, it is certainly a concept that companies are open to. Attending the event solidified the notion that Applied Materials and Wayne State are ahead of the curve - we essentially wrote the book 10 years ago on this."

Shaping the conversation

Overall, the workshop lived up to its billing as a unique platform to "help shape a scalable national model for doctoral education and influence how the U.S. prepares its future research workforce through university-industry collaboration." From the perspectives of Wayne State faculty and staff, it provided a national stage for Wayne State to demonstrate its thought leadership and collaborate with other leading universities.

University perspectives

"Each participant went with different objectives, but all came away with the intangible benefits of getting to know each other better and understanding how to support each other's goals," Manley said. "This elevation of economic development and entrepreneurship through collaboration has never been more important as Wayne State continues strengthening our current partnerships and establishing new ones."

"This event highlighted the importance of bridging universities and their students with industry partners," said Dr. Ezemenari M. Obasi, vice president for research & innovation at Wayne State. "For many years, Wayne State has done an excellent job training future scientists and industry leaders, and this event was an excellent opportunity to showcase our strengths in how we blend the objectives of DORI, Academic Affairs, the Graduate School and corporate engagement."

Industry perspectives

From an industry perspective, the workshop demonstrated how Wayne State continues to be a marquee partner for companies looking to innovate and find the talent that will give them a competitive edge now and in the future.

"The notion of industrial-academic partnerships will only get stronger in the U.S. Those that quickly adapt to this changing landscape will be the best positioned to succeed," Knisley said. "The insights from this workshop will help me craft the next chapter of the Applied Materials-Wayne State collaboration as we look forward to renewing our engagement in late 2027."

Student perspectives

And finally, from a student perspective, the workshop was a chance to not only shape the future of graduate and doctoral research, but to connect face to face with the leaders responsible for bringing that future to life in the U.S. and around the world - an opportunity that, as Bryant-Friedrich put it, "could one day be the connection that leads to a promotion or new job." This opportunity to connect wasn't lost on Sameen.

"This workshop was valuable both personally and academically," she said. "Personally, it was inspiring to engage with professionals from academia, industry, and government, and see how programs are shaped. Academically, it gave me a broader perspective on structuring multisector Ph.D. initiatives and understanding policy and decision-making processes. Understanding how multi-sector programs are structured and how different perspectives shape decision-making will help me think more strategically about applying my research in practical, real-world contexts."

Learn more about the UIDP's "Expanding STEM Ph.D. Funding Streams" workshop .