Career Development Program
@RI-NEST

Building transdisciplinary collaboration, meaningful communication, and use-inspired research

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Students participating in RI-NEST‘s Observation in Science and Art Mentorship, led by Community College of Rhode Island‘s Dan O‘Neill

Through collaborating institutions across the state, the RI-NEST Career Development Program (CDP) provides unique training opportunities in science, art, design, leadership, and communication to educate and inspire undergraduates, graduate students, and early career professionals. Instructors have been recruited from disciplines across the state to lead modules within skill competencies, and participants are able to earn badges that improve use-inspired research and meaningful communication across projects.

Program Goals

The Career Development Program, through a unique collection of modules and badges, builds knowledge and encourages collaboration across institutions and disciplines, strengthening professional skills and relationships among undergraduates, graduate students, and early career professionals. CDP will strengthen jurisdiction-wide expertise, focusing holistically on aspects critical to developing, applying, and implementing successful projects for a thriving and sustained research ecosystem.

How to Enroll

The CDP is a free and asynchronous program open to students and early career professionals in Rhode Island. Each CDP module, a 3-hour online course providing fundamental knowledge in a topic area, promotes the exploration of skillsets outside of a degree, providing a holistic approach to knowledge and research. To begin, complete the CDP Core Competencies badge, which will broaden collaborative thinking and enhance learning in the other competencies. 

Following completion of Core Competencies, participants can investigate other competencies, themed skillsets requiring completion of at least three elective modules to earn a subsequent badge.

Competency Tracks

Each competency will establish requisite modules to earn a competency badge. Modules expand on RI-NEST objectives of:

  • Transdisciplinarity – Integration of theories and approaches from multiple and different disciplines in order to generate knowledge or develop solutions to scientific and societal challenges holistically.
  • Use-inspired Research – Research that prioritizes building connections among scientists, practitioners and communities in order to investigate the societal and economic issues underpinning scientific investigations.

Want to Know More? Check out our FAQ.

Building the RI-NEST Career Development Program

In our efforts to design a training program targeting students, early career professionals, and workforce development, we seek your feedback and professional support to create modules aimed at use-inspired research, transdisciplinary collaboration, and broadening participation. For questions or more information, reach out to RI-NEST Career Development Program Specialist Jaclyn Witterschein at jwitterschein@uri.edu.