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Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) across the NNCI

The National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI) will be tentatively* offering teachers the opportunity to experience the excitement of nanotechnology research and to share this experience in their classrooms and with their peers. This program will be offered to teachers by four NNCI sites: Georgia Institute of Technology (GT), University of Minnesota (UMN), University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), and Northwestern University (NU). Contact your local site for more information.

Application for Georgia Tech, University of Minnesota, and University of Nebraska, Lincoln open through April 14, 2023.

Application for Northwestern University open through April 14, 2023.

  • The NNCI RET program is 7 weeks:
    • 6 weeks in summer at the NNCI site - June 19 - July 28, 2023
      • Georgia Tech
      • University of Nebraska-Lincoln
      • University of Minnesota
      • Northwestern University
    • 1 week during the school year 
      • Follow-up visit to your classroom by RET coordinators
      • Sharing your experience at the annual meeting of the National Science Teachers Association 
  • The NNCI RET provides:
    • Stipend – $5,300
    • Travel support to NSTA – up to $1,250
    • Classroom materials support – $535-$570
    • Hands-on research experience in nanotechnology
    • Faculty research advisors and graduate student mentors
  • The objectives of the NNCI RET Program:
    • Grow a multi-site cohort of educators from across the country with research experiences that reflect broad educational, industrial, and societal NSE activities and link them with the Teaching Nano and Emerging Technologies Network, part of the National Nanotechnology Initiative, 
    • Build upon the library of NSE educational materials developed by the NNIN and broadly disseminate these activities,
    • Highlight the work of the NNCI cohort by attending the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) conference and providing a webinar on their curriculum to the Teaching Nano and Emerging Technologies Network, thereby fostering an expansive network of educators integrating NSE curriculum in their classes, and
    • Encourage RET participants (RETs) to present their research in journals and professional society meetings.

For more information on the GT program, email Mikkel Thomas.
For more information on the UMN program, email Jim Marti.
For more information on the UNL program, email Steve Wignall.
For more information on the NU program, email Katy Dean.

Application open February 13 - April 14, 2023.

RET Application Signature Page

A virtual information session on the RET across the NNCI program was held on February 27, 2021. Below are links to presentations from and the video of the session.

* The NNCI RET program hopes to be able to host educators during the summer of 2023 and is moving forward with preparations. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sites are uncertain if they will be able to welcome educators on campus this June. We want to make you aware that, as a networked activity between four universities, if one site is unable to participate, all sites will cancel. If you are accepted to the program, your site’s NNCI RET coordinator will inform you immediately if we are forced to cancel the NNCI RET for summer 2023. We hope you still apply and look forward to working with you this summer.

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