Research Experiences for Teachers

Research Experiences for Teachers (RET)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) RET program encourages the active participation of K-12 and community college educators in ongoing engineering, science, and/or computer science research activities at host universities around the nation. NSF RET Sites include pre- and/or in-service K-12 teachers and community college educators as participants. For this RET at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), high school and community college educators are eligible to apply. The goal of this NSF RET program is for high school science, technology, and mathematics teachers and community college faculty to enhance their scientific disciplinary knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and translate their research experiences into classroom activities and curricula. At the same time, the faculty from UIC will deepen their understanding of classroom practices, current curricula, pedagogy, and high school and community college educational environments. The UIC has a robust RET program for high school and community college teachers, who would like to explore computational modeling and simualtions (CMS) applications in high school and community college curricula.

Training STEM Teachers in CMS

Education plays a vital role in the development of high-tech professionals for current and future technologies. In particular, CMS through the study of technology, will promote the use of higher order thinking skills, the integration of academic areas, and a broader focus in areas necessary for future economic growth in the US. As such, CMS and analysis could become major components of the technology education curriculum. Computational education fills a skill gap in which many job openings exist amid a lack of qualified applicants.

This RET site offers opportunities for STEM teachers, working with faculty mentors and industry professionals, to engage in multidisciplinary CMS in STEM research activities. Through this RET program, high school STEM teachers and community college faculty educators, especially those from underrepresented groups, will be trained to develop computational research skills, while gaining knowledge of advanced science and technology concepts in data analysis and CMS in STEM fields. RET educators will be exposed and contribute to the advances of cutting-edge research on CMS projects mentored by faculty mentors and an education advisor. Seminars from the industry professionals, and professional development activities will also be provided, so teachers learn about industry needs, core concepts, and collaborative lesson design.

In this RET Site, targeted participants are high school science, mathematics, and computer science teachers and community college faculty. It is anticipated that participating educators, and students, who would ultimately receive instruction as part of the grant funding, will come to regard CMS as a fundamental tool in STEM education and learning, especially as computational power continues to increase. In this way, students will become more adequately prepared for careers in STEM. The goals of this project are threefold: (1) introduce CMS as a powerful tool for STEM education and learning; (2) prepare teachers to increase the role of CMS in classroom teaching; and (3) motivate high school and community college students to consider STEM as a career path. It is exptected to establish long-term collaborative partnerships among UIC, community colleges, school districts, and local industries in the city of Chicago and its suburbs to bring STEM knowledge in the CMS to high school and community college classrooms.

The goals of the RET Site will be achieved through research training of high school STEM teachers and community college faculty in a 6-week summer program and post-program translation of their research experiences into high school and coummunity college classrooms. STEM educators will be engaged in hands on research experience in CMS through the cutting-edge research projects. The RET participants will then translate the acquired research experiences and knowledge into their classrooms to encourage students, especially those from the underrepresented groups, to pursue STEM degrees and careers. The RET site serves as a long-term network among mentors, educators, and industrial partners, which will eventually benefit high school and community college students' perception of STEM careers. In addition, UIC graduate students will support classroom activities and community outreaches.

Over a three year period, from 2025 to 2028, this RET Site will host a total of 30 high school and community college STEM educators to conduct research in the field of CMS at UIC 1) Chemical Engineering, 2) Civil, Materials, and Environmental Engineering, 3) Mechanical and Industribal Engineering, and 4) Chemistry labratories during the summer program. Through this RET program, STEM teachers, especially those from underrepresented groups, will be trained to develop computational research skills, while gaining knowledge of advanced science and technology concepts in CMS utilized in various proejcts. These projects focus on areas including but not limited to:

(1) Nanotechnology, (2) Data-driven modeling and machine-learning, (3) Drug design and delivery, (4) Biomechanics, (5) Environmental engineering, (6) Computational chemistry, and (7) Environmental electrochemistry. These areas involve using high performance CMS.

In addition to meeting with the faculty mentor, and an education advisor, weekly professional development seminars deliverved by industry professionals will be organized to train the teachers to translate RET outcomes into STEM education through enhancement of the current curricula. It is expected that these activities will significantly assist teachers to encourage more students to pursue STEM degrees and careers by using practical examples. RET teachers will be exposed and contribute to the advances of cutting-edge research on various projects mentored by both faculty mentors and industry professionals. The expected tangible outcomes of the project are to bring CMS curriculum in the city of Chicago and suburbs high school and community college classrooms through the trained RET teachers and involve those teachers in scientific and educational publications.

About

Support for Research Activities:
1. $6,800 stipend for participation in the six-week summer program, and $1,200 upon completion of the implementation and evaluation activities during the following academic year
2. $600 supply fund (for use during summer and following academic year)
3. Travel grants available for participation in meetings or conferences
4. Continuing education credit
5. Access to necessary software, computers, and computational laboratories during the course of the project

Requirements:
1. Perform at least 30 hours/week (4 days a week in-person, and 1 day a week remote) to conduct research with a faculty mentor for 6 weeks, program dates: Mon, 6/22, to Fri, 8/7, excluding the week of July 4th (6/29-7/3).
2. Attend professional development semianr/workshop every Thursday.
3. Design standards-based curriculum elements.
4. Present at summer research expo, which will be held at UIC in the 6th week of the project.
5. Complete the summer research experience successfully, and participate in academic year classroom activities.
6. Integrate the research outcome and curriculum elements into the classroom.

Qualifications:
1. Be a high school or community college STEM teacher in the city of Chicago or suburbs.
2. Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (green card holder).

How to apply:
The application for the 2026 program is open. All materials are due by Dec 31, 11:59 PM CST (Central Standard Time).
The application will remain open until the program is filled. Applicants will be notified by Jan 16, 2026. A complete application consists of an online application form, and a CV.

Go to the RET Online Application Form below.

Questions?
Contact RET director, Dr. Shafigh Mehraeen (email: tranzabi@uic.edu), with questions about the RET program and application.