Western NC STEM Research Fellows Program Application

Society for Science is running a Western North Carolina Research Fellows Program funded through Appalachian State University GEAR UP by the U.S. Department of Education (award #P334A240077).

This program will build a STEM educator community that is focused on increasing student pathways to authentic research opportunities among GearUp middle schools in western North Carolina. This year-long, cohort-based professional learning model facilitates peer-to-peer collaboration and collective problem solving, while empowering teachers to create effective, engaging STEM learning opportunities tailored to the needs and circumstances of their students. The program will increase opportunities for students to do authentic STEM research and to participate in science fair in western North Carolina and eventually build a robust and self-sustaining local STEM ecosystem in the region that is tied to and supported by the Society for Science’s national STEM research community.

The Society is currently accepting applications for 2 roles for this program, Fellow and Lead Fellows. Roles descriptions and compensation are highlighted below.

Eligibility Requirements, Fellow and Lead Fellow:

Must be a teacher in a GEAR UP School in one of the following counties in North Carolina: Graham, Clay, Swain, Cherokee Central, Transylvania, Macon, Madison, Polk, McDowell, Catawba, Burke, Jackson.
Must have interest in enhancing classroom instruction through student-led research.

Fellow

Scope of Work, Fellow:
Throughout the program year September 2025 – June 2026, the Western NC Fellows will:

Attend the in-person, one-day workshop to meet their cohort, learn research teaching strategies, and set program goals
Develop actionable goals with specific measures and outcomes to:

Expand content knowledge of research and experimental design
Develop and implement authentic research experiences with students
Build infrastructure to provide research opportunities for students in the future

Attend monthly virtual meetings with cohort and Lead Fellow to learn and share project progress
Present program outcomes and impact to cohorts at final virtual meeting
Write two progress reports (in December 2025 and June 2026)

Compensation and Incentives, Fellow:
Each Fellow will be paid a $1,250 stipend and have a supply budget of $1,000 and a travel budget of $650. Fellows will also receive the Science News Learning program, which will provide a rich archive of journalism and lesson plan resources that can be used to engage their students in research.

Lead Fellow

Scope of Work, Lead Fellow:
A Lead Fellow will complete all requirements of a Fellow and will also:

Co-lead their cohort with the Ambassador at the in-person workshop
Plan a monthly, virtual cohort meeting calendar, determine the content and agenda for each meeting, and track monthly meeting attendance
Collect all cohort Fellow reports and share them with the Ambassador and Society for Science program staff
Meet with Ambassador and Society for Science staff to share information about the cohort’s progress
Attend quarterly calls with the Ambassador and Society for Science staff
Attend Society for Science’s Research Teachers Conference from October 3 to October 5, 2025, to learn from a nation community of research educators (all expenses are paid)
Learn about all Society for Science programs and competitions and share opportunities with cohort Fellows and other colleagues
Present about their cohort experience, outcomes and impact at the 2026 Academic Innovation Conference, or other related, local conference.

Compensation and Incentives, Lead Fellow:
Each Lead Fellow will be paid a $2,250 stipend and have a supply budget of $1,000 and a travel budget of $650. Lead Fellows will also have all expenses paid for a trip to Washington DC to attend the Society for Science’s National Research Teachers Conference from October 3 to 5, 2025. Lead Fellows will also receive the Science News Learning program, which will provide a rich archive of journalism and lesson plan resources that can be used to engage their students in research.