NSF Research Traineeship Program Components & Curriculum
Interdisciplinary training in the design and manufacturing of next-gen medical devices.
The ASU NRT program’s integrated and interdisciplinary training model includes the following components.
Curriculum
NRT trainees may choose from the NRT courses in the table below. (Requirements will vary for MS and PhD funded trainees.)
The NRT core courses establish the foundation of understanding and knowledge that NRT trainees will use as they continue in their degree programs and in their NRT biomedical devices and implants projects. Additionally, NRT core courses are an excellent opportunity for NRT trainees to organically network, build connections, and spark collaborations with other members of the NRT network.
| Course name | Course number | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Population Health Ethics or Public Health Technology Ethics, Policy and Law | POP633 (Spring) or TPH 557 (Fall) | Students may fulfill this program requirement by enrolling in POP 633 or TPH 557: Public Health Technology Ethics, Policy, and Law. These courses explore the ethical, policy, and legal dimensions of public health practice, with particular attention to the growing role of technology in health-related decision-making. Students are introduced to foundational ethical principles and frameworks applied to topics such as bioethics, health equity, health data privacy, and population-level interventions. Coursework also examines public health policy and legal structures within the U.S. context, linking regulatory and governance issues back to core ethical considerations. Instruction frequently incorporates real-world case studies, allowing students to critically analyze complex public health challenges at the intersection of technology, law, and ethics. Please note: POP 633 may not be offered every academic term. In semesters when POP 633 is unavailable (such as some Spring terms), students are encouraged to enroll in TPH 557, which covers comparable content and fulfills the same program requirement. |
| IT for Healthcare Innovation | HCI544 | Information technology is transforming the delivery of healthcare today. Learners will study strategy formulation theories and apply concepts as they develop a proposal for digital transformation to address a specific healthcare area of concern. Learners will gain insight into the technologies that are reshaping industries today, plus gain an understanding of the IT asset and the role of IT organizations in healthcare innovation. Topics covered include: digital transformation, design thinking, the IT asset, strategy formulation, and IT governance. |
| Health Care Policy and Innovation | HCI550 | Intro. to political, organizational, and economic dimensions of health care policy, emphasizing strategies for innovative policy and practice. |
| Compliant Biomedical Product Development | HSD/MAE/ BME/BDE 598 | This course will convey the critical need to apply biomedical engineering ethics principles in the design, manufacture and commercialization of biomedical devices and systems, all the while remaining compliant to local regulations and safety requirements. |
Research Training
Students will work with their research advisor on topics related to the design and manufacturing of biomedical devices and implants. One chapter of the trainee’s dissertation is required to be focused on one of the research thrusts. Research thrusts include:
- Human-technology interface in medical devices
- Ethics in research and innovation
- Law and policies in research and technology
NRT students will have the opportunity to share their work by attending professional conferences and publishing scholarly journals.
Applied and Experiential Learning
Mayo Clinic Residency: NRT trainees will spend time as Mayo residents working or shadowing a doctor or working with a collaborator in a medical setting. The residency area of expertise will depend on their device application and research area. This could potentially be shadowing a medical doctor who is collaborating with the students’ respective research advisor or conducting a component of their research project at Mayo. The purpose of this residency is for students to gain insight into the applications of their research.
Graduate-Undergraduate Mentorship Program: NRT trainees will participate in the Graduate-Undergraduate Mentorship (GUM) program. This is a summer/semester long mentorship program for graduate students to gain leadership skills, as they train an undergraduate student, who may be participating in the Fulton Undergraduate Research Initiative (FURI) or the Summer Research Initiative (SURI) and looking to gain hands-on lab and research project experience.
NRT Orientations and Retreats: NRT orientations and retreats are held annually. Orientations occur at the beginning of fall semester and retreats occur at the end of each academic year. Students are expected to attend these meetings and may be asked to present a poster at the retreat event.
Professional Development activities:
The NRT hosts a monthly seminar and workshops series where students have the opportunity to brainstorm with other NRT participants and learn from invited guests and researchers.
The NRT Workshop and Seminar series has included presentations about:
- research and citation tools
- patent searching, databases, and standards
- career preparation – resume, cover letter, and interview tips
- academic and professional writing
- presentation skills
- patents and the commercialization process
- research and career journeys
- publishing journal articles
- Mayo Clinic and ASU Health Care Accelerator startup journey
- point of care diagnostics
- biomaterials in tissue repair and wound healing
Entrepreneurship
ASU Health Care Accelerator: NRT trainees will intern at the Mayo Clinic and ASU Health Care Accelerator. As an intern, students will be paired with a medical technology company and offer support in research, administration, and business development during this two-week executive education immersion program. Trainees have the option to receive credit for completion of the internship.
Patents: NRT trainees will have the opportunity to file an innovation disclosure with ASU. Students will receive support from Skysong Innovations to patent their devices and implants.
Community
NRT Socials: NRT trainees also spend time getting to know one another through fun activities and engaging events held throughout the year.
