NSF pilots 4-year PhDs with industry research placements

effnorwood

Reader read NFS v4 and was disappointed in their title comprehension.

alephnerd

Here is the I-PhD program's website - https://uidp.org/i-phd-scholars/

TimorousBestie

Very perplexing. There’s already a 3-4 year advanced degree in the United States with an optional thesis component that companies in relevant industries can intervene in and direct if they so desire. So why are they calling it a doctorate? I don’t see the point. It’s not like the NSF under this administration is particularly fond of STEM doctorates. I’m open to any theories about what the real point of this is.

nxobject

If you want to skip the fluff, the actual funded program abstract here: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2624416 Appropriately enough for a pilot, there's a structured usual cohort-mentoring and outcomes evaluation component. (NSF brings 3 years of $$$, but as it is, it doesn't seem like attempt to nudge people screwed over by GRFP restrictions towards industry.)

math_dandy

My wife did her mathematics PhD under an analogous structure in Germany where it’s fairly common. She was supervised by a professor at the University of Munich and a lab at Bosch, wrote and defended a thesis as usual. Employed in industry immediately after graduating. A great experience.

AsyncBanana

I don't love the increasing move towards industry research instead of traditional academia. It is just going to mean more closely-held, proprietary advancements.

tinfever

I can't figure out where I'd apply for this program as a student. Does anyone know?

skwb

I did my PhD funded for 3 years off of NIH and the remaining year and so off of corporate research grants. I really valued the fact that I was working on an industrial project, and could see it come to life with real funding and real backing. The critical part imho will be allowing for enough independence in research, and that the time isn't just wasted filling in remedial RAs pushing pipettes around. Real safeguards will be needed, likely overseen by the PI and committee. I genuinely hope it works and helps industry "figure out" that R&D is more than just simply productizing over the next quarter.

dluan

China actually started piloting the "industry Phd" in 2025, and took inspiration from Japan, Germany, and UK where some programs do industry experience as part of Phd training. A lot of the Chinese programs are in agriculture, engineering, and biotech. China's Ministry of Education actually published the "suggestion for experimentation" (loose translation) in 2023, and it trickled out from there as each province level government and university system started designing their own systems. http://www.moe.gov.cn/srcsite/A22/moe_826/202312/t20231218_1...

nothrowaways

PhD is slavery. You would rather go straight to industry getting paid in full.

osnium123

I find it interesting that semiconductor companies like Applied Materials, IBM, TI, Analog Devices, Intel, Lam, Micron have not signed up to join this program since they typically hire a significant number of PhDs. Perhaps there are concerns about IP protection.