The INSuRE Collaboration track (INSuRE+C) seeks to facilitate research collaboration between NCAE-R faculty members and researchers in agencies through jointly mentoring graduate student teams. INSuRE+C is offered to faculty from NCAE-R institutions only. INSuRE+C starts in the Fall semester and runs throughout the academic year with a funding option for the summer that follows. Peer-reviewed publications are expected to result from the collaboration. All academic participants must be US citizens or permanent residents.

Problem Mentor (PM) Responsibilities

1. PMs are expected to attend an Open House at the beginning of the semester in order to meet with students who are interested in their proposed research problem and answer questions or discuss possible directors for the project.
2. Prospective PMs who are interested in mentoring student teams on students’ self-proposed projects are expected to attend Open Houses at the beginning of the semester and submit their bids evaluating the project value through EasyChair.
3. During the course of the semester, technical directors are expected to meet with the teams they supervise on a regular basis (ideally weekly or biweekly) in order to discuss their progress and challenges as well as to provide guidance as needed.

4. All technical directors are expected to attend the midterm and final presentations of their teams.

   The PMs are responsible to review the bids concerning their projects and provide feedback to the INSuRE administration so selection and matching can be made.

Faculty Responsibilities

1. The faculty member is expected to arrange and hold regular research meetings with both students and collaborate with the technical director. Faculty members are expected to participate in research discussions with the PM.
2. The faculty member is expected to attend the midterm and final presentations of their team.

Program Operations

Below describes the INSuRE+C program's operation timeline. The details of each phase of the timeline is documented below as well.

• Problem Descriptions. At every Fall semester, Problem Mentors propose new or updated research problem descriptions (some may be of these can be used in both INSuRE+E and INSuRE+C tracks).
• Open House. An Open House for INSuRE+C may be held at the beginning of the Fall semester, where faculty and students may meet with the PMs to discuss the research direction that they plan to collaborate on for the proposed research problems. Alternatively, faculty may request an individual meeting with the Problem Mentors.
• Proposal Submission. Faculty members, together with 2-3 students on a team, will submit one research proposal, outlining the research direction they intend to pursue. The proposal should include their interest and expertise in the specific proposed projects.
• PM Feedback. Problem mentors will then be notified to review the submitted proposals that concern their proposed projects through EasyChair and provide their feedback to the INSuRE administration.
• Problem Assignment. A matching of teams and PMs will then be decided by the INSuRE administration.
• Research Process. The team will hold regular research meetings to discuss the progress.
• Milestones. Milestones will include final reports/presentations in the Fall where the teams report on the status and the
  results of their efforts so far, and midterm reports/presentation in the Spring where the teams report on their progress and present their future (Summer) directions, together with the expected results.
• Continuing Projects into the Summer. Upon agreement from both the PMs and the student-faculty teams, the projects will continue through the summer semester.
• Publishing Papers. A ready-to-be publish paper or artifact is expected at the end of the Summer semester.
• Face-to-Face Meetings. Each team is encouraged to meet face-to-face once per semester. Travel expenses for US citizens or permanent residents will be covered by the INSuRE administration office.
• Summer Support. Summer support for faculty and students that are US citizens or permanent residents will be provided. For faculty on each team, they will receive $21,000, while each student will receive $15,000.

 

Updated: Dec 6, 2024