Professor Prabhas Moghe

What is a white paper (WP)?

While white papers vary, a typical WP contains (a) review of the scope of an emerging field; and (b) identifies new opportunities, or gaps, for research and development. In both government and industry, WPs are important in guiding policies related to national security, scientific and business competitiveness, and in eliciting calls for proposals in areas of emerging opportunities and critical need.

What is a white paper in the context of a graduating PhD trainee?
The envisioned WP is similar to the traditional white paper in several respects.  It involves a brief review of the background of the chosen field of your thesis as well as the challenges and gaps in the field.  However, it also contains higher-level descriptions of the scientific approach undertaken in the PhD thesis, and refers to key activities/experiments/findings.  The WP ends with a section on opportunities for future directions (think, broader implications: scientific models, applications, technologies, inventions).

Why do a WP?

IGERT trainees are selected and trained to become dynamic thinkers and communicators.  They are expected to assimilate advances in sciences and technology and communicate these effectively to a broader, multidisciplinary audience.  A WP is an embodiment of integration of such diverse skills, and should help you learn to "package" and "market" your ideas in academia, or industry.

How does a WP differ from traditional "Future Directions" chapter in PhD theses?

Unlike the envisioned WP, the typical final chapters in PhD theses are written for the specialist and tend to be a bit narrow, and are often disconnected from broader implications and translational opportunities.  Such chapters often include a long list of ideas or projects that were not completed. 

How should IGERT trainees prepare a WP?

IGERT trainees can adapt the several WP templates that recent IGERT graduates have generated -- suggested length is 10 pages, plus references.  Pay attention to clarity of writing, vision, and relevance to and fit within the overall field and its future.  The most time-effective and integrative approach would be to write a WP in lieu of your final thesis chapter.  Where major edits and references to the main thesis are necessary, include the WP in the Appendix, or else, include the WP as the final chapter of your PhD. thesis (check with your advisors, of course).   Contact Dr. Moghe with your feedback on this process.

What is the fate of a WP?

The WP becomes a part of your PhD thesis and is thus your scientific legacy.  It will be uploaded on the IGERT website and included in our WP portfolio, for dissemination to our advisors, academia, federal agencies, industrial partners, and innovation developers.  It will be given out to the future trainee cohorts to learn from and to review. Finally, it becomes a "face" to the world for your and your advisors' research enterprise.