This BIORETS Site award to the University of North Dakota (UND), located in Grand Forks, ND, will support eight teachers from rural and tribal schools for a six-week research experience followed by two weeks of curriculum development and training (with BioRad kits) during the summer. This program will provide the teachers actual research experiences in environmental biology as it pertains to gene regulation. Teachers will gain hands-on lab experience working alongside undergraduate research participants, participate in professional development workshops, and assist in developing and co-instructing the one-week Molecular Biology Boot Camp for high school students held at UND. Following the summer, utilizing materials from the research labs, teachers will use the curriculum they developed in their classrooms to increase the exposure of rural and tribal high school students to molecular biology and scientific research. The grant provides materials and supplies to implement the classroom research project. UND faculty will serve as a resource throughout the year. Teachers are invited to present their research and curriculum plans at the Summer Research Symposium and/or the Fall Research Symposium. Note: Dates of the program are somewhat flexible, designed to coincide with the end-of-summer research symposium. An earlier start date is a possibility. Please contact us through the program url with any questions.
Biology, Biomedical, STEM, Genetics, Environment, Pedagogy
Be a high school STEM teacher within the Northern Great Plains region. Have at least one year of classroom teaching experience. Have a current teaching appointment and a contract for the next school year. Agree to use the curriculum materials developed during the research experience. Be a US citizen, national or permanent resident of the US. No prior research experience is needed. Required documents include a resume, a personal statement including reasons for participation in the program, and a letter of recommendation from current school administration (optional).
