Up to ten teachers will be selected to participate in research in nanotechnology labs at NC State, Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill, or the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (UNC-Greensboro and NC A&T University partnership). Participants will work in small teams to conduct research in atomic scale design and engineering. Teachers will also gain hands-on experience in the cutting edge techniques and tools used in nanoscale science and engineering within university nanotechnology facilities. All participants will conduct a research study; example projects are listed on the program website. Teachers will also design lesson plants to implement in their classroom and will share these teaching materials during the program and after they return to their home institution. Teachers also strengthen their relationship with the universities through a cohort-wide citizen scientist project that connects their classrooms to ongoing research at the Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability (STEPS) Center, an NSF-funded Science and Technology Center. Participants will have weekly seminars focused on nanotechnology from faculty and industry leaders. Join us for an interesting summer learning about advances in research, getting involved in your own study, and thinking about new ways to teach science and engineering. Pre-service teachers are also eligible for the program. The program lasts for 5 weeks with follow up during the academic year. Teachers will receive a $7,000 stipend for their work with additional funding available for materials and travel for lesson plan/curriculum dissemination. Teachers must participate for the entire period of the program. Participants are required to attend all daily and weekly meetings, seminars, field trips, and workshops. Applications will be accepted until the program is full. We recommend submitting application materials by March 1, 2026. Note: This is a commuter-based program; on-campus housing is not provided.
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Applicants must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents of the United States. Applications are open to everyone. Because housing is not included, we encourage non-local applicants to consider their accommodation plans prior to applying Participants in the program will benefit from having experience in lesson plan development.
