NSF Research Experiences for Teachers

Inquiry-based Bioengineering Research and Design Experiences for Middle-School Teachers

Terri Camesano and Kristen Billiar, co-PIs

Description

For this program, WPI recruited a total of 20 middle-school science teachers (~7 per year) primarily from Worcester Public Schools to participate in a 6-week long intensive summer research experience in the Life Sciences and Bioengineering Center at Gateway Park, a newly constructed facility that houses all of WPI's research facilities in bioengineering. Teachers worked alongside faculty and graduate students, participating in high-level research projects in fields such as tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and infection control on biomaterials. The long-term goals of WPI's RET in Engineering Site program were to motivate and improve middle school student-learning in engineering and establish a collaborative partnership between the Worcester middle-school teachers and WPI engineering faculty through inquiry-based experiences in bioengineering.

Teacher Role

 For information on teacher's role and time commitment go to Role of Teacher and Time Commitment. 

Faculty & Research

 For information on participating faculty members and research areas go to Faculty Mentors and Research Areas.

Target Participants

Middle-school science or mathematics teachers with an interest in biomedical engineering and inquiry-based learning techniques.

Compensation

For information on pay, graduate credits, professional development, etc. go to Logistics and Benefits. 

Program Dates 

The exact dates are June 19, 2013 to July 31, 2013. The program will begin approximately a week after the Worcester Public School System’s last day of class.

The time commitment was 6-weeks, 40hr per week, flexible hours, plus 2 follow-up workshops during the following school year.

Location

Life Science and Bioengineering Center at Gateway ParkWorcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcester, MA

APPLY NOW: click here 

Questions Please contact Prof. Camesano at terric@wpi.edu, or you may call Ms. Felicia Vidito at +1-508-831-5250.