NSF Biology Research Experience for Teachers (BIORETS)
In conjunction with the NSF, UND's School of Medicine & Health Sciences hosts a Biology Research Experience for Teachers from Rural and Tribal Schools (BIORETS).
This BIORETS Site award to the University of North Dakota (UND), located in Grand Forks, N.D., 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.
Program organizers will select up to eight teachers from Northern Great Plains region to participate in the Summer 2025 BIORETs cohort. All accepted teachers must be science teachers who have a contract to teach during the 2024-25 school year.
Priority will be given to teachers from rural and tribal schools. If you have questions about the program, please email Dr. Van Doze at van.doze@UND.edu.
Applications
Applications for 2025 are opening soon
- Program dates TBD
Benefits for teachers
- Opportunity for hands-on biomedical research
- Participate in professional development activities
- Participants will receive:
- $8000 stipend
- Room & board allowance
- Travel costs (up to $800)
- Materials and supplies to implement curriculum in their classroom.