# NRT: Strengthening Healthcare Innovation through Nurse-Engineer Education

> **NSF 04002526DB NSF STEM Education** · University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA) · $2,998,747

## Abstract

Healthcare is a universal concern, yet many challenges persist in hospitals and clinics, such as preventing medical errors, designing efficient patient care plans, and ensuring quality care. These issues have far-reaching effects influencing patient safety, healthcare costs, and the overall well-being of communities. The National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) award to the University of Massachusetts Amherst creates a new program that combines nursing’s hands-on patient care expertise with engineering’s technical problem-solving skills to tackle some of healthcare’s toughest challenges. The project anticipates training 28 PhD students, including 13 funded trainees, drawn from both fields. By working in hospital settings and partnering with industry, the trainees will learn to identify and understand healthcare problems at the point of patient care, create practical solutions that benefit patients and healthcare workers, and bring these innovations to the bedside as quickly and safely as possible. Through joint mentorship and immersive projects, the program will produce healthcare leaders who can work across different fields to transform healthcare delivery and improve patient outcomes.

The trainees will engage in convergence research that unites advanced engineering methods with clinical and contextual knowledge of nurses. By analyzing healthcare workflows, designing medical devices, and examining factors that affect patient outcomes, trainees will gain skil

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2509107
- **Awardee organization:** University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** VGJHK59NMPK9
- **PI:** Frank C Sup
- **Primary program:** 04002526DB NSF STEM Education
- **All programs:** GRADUATE INVOLVEMENT, SCIENCE, MATH, ENG & TECH EDUCATION
- **Estimated total:** $2,998,747
- **Funds obligated:** $2,998,747
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 09/01/2025 → 08/31/2030

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2509107

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2509107, NRT: Strengthening Healthcare Innovation through Nurse-Engineer Education. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-09 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2509107. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NSF Awards dataset](/datasets/nsf-awards) · CC0 1.0*