Research Experiences for Teachers (RET)

Experience Science through the lens of Research Operations!

The goal of the RET program at Penn State is for participating STEM teachers to gain insights into scientific thinking, cutting edge scientific knowledge and questions, how researchers approach the exploration and data collection process, and the ways in which research efforts connect to the larger systems that both support it and are impacted by it. 

To do so, Penn State’s Center for Nanoscale Science hosts a unique two-week Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program for middle and high school teachers funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) that allows participants from all scientific disciplines (chemistry, physics, biology, earth/environmental science, general science, math, engineering, and technology)  to authentically experience how scientists think about, approach, and pursue their scientific research activities through two very important vantage points... 

1. a close-up, hands-on look at the tasks (design, preparation, safety, data collection, data analysis, etc.) involved in conducting an experiment under the guidance of a graduate or postdoc researcher
2. a birds-eye view of the lab as a whole: the expertise and array of questions that a research group explores and investigates; the equipment, instruments, and techniques used to obtain their data; the operational systems, support services, and personnel that allow quality research to occur at the lab, building, and institution levels; the energy and resources required to conduct excellent research; and opportunities to improve the process

Year 2: Teachers will have the opportunity to apply for a 2.5-week return experience the following summer to conduct a fully immersive laboratory research project within the same lab if the faculty and graduate mentor wish to offer this follow-up opportunity.

In the first summer, teacher pairs are placed in a research lab with a graduate student mentor to run a three-day experiment while learning where the experiment fits into the lab’s overall research focus, instrumentation, and operational structures.  Zooming out, teachers will explore how the lab fits into the institutional systems and personnel that support the large research infrastructure at Penn State. Teachers will also gather operations-related data in the lab; engage with facility coordinators and staff from EH&S, Physical Plant, and Procurement via presentations, discussions, and interviews; and learn about local municipality and university services via field trips to the waste-water treatment plant, refuse and recycling center, compost facility, and data center. Bringing the acquired systems-level thinking back down to the laboratory setting, teachers will review the Standard Operating Procedure associated with their experiment with an eye towards adding a sidebar that integrates responsible resource use, waste handling, and material sourcing aspects into the document. 

Teachers will also work together as a cohort to identify connections between the summer experience and their own science students, classrooms, school, and community. Pennsylvania STEELS standards will serve as the framework for bringing these ideas back to the school setting and applying them to curricular opportunities. 

A mini-grant program supports the implementation of related follow-up educational efforts that teachers wish to implement with their own students, curriculum, or school. If scientific interests of the lab and teachers mutually align, then teachers will be invited to return for a second summer and contribute to a full three-week laboratory project in the same lab and meaningfully incorporate aspects of their experience into a classroom lesson. 

TO APPLY:

Click here for a link to the details and application. 

(NOTE:  Due to funding constraints, all applicants must be US citizens.)

Along with the application form, your application should include:

– Two letters of recommendation, one of which should be from your school principal. These letters must be submitted separately by mail or e-mail to the address below.
– A current resume
– A sample of a lesson you have designed and implemented in your classroom

Deadline: April 1, 2026

WANT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RET PROGRAM?

Click here.

Or, contact:

Kristin A. Dreyer
Program Director for Education & Outreach
Penn State MRSEC - Center for Nanoscale Science
104 Davey Lab, University Park, PA 16802
Email:  kad4 @ psu.edu (remove spaces)