Hutch Teacher Fellowship
The Hutch Fellowship for Excellence in STEM Teaching is a two-summer program for science educators seeking an in-depth, biomedical research experience at Fred Hutch. The fellowship provides support for two paid summers of research, with additional school year follow-up. While this program is designed for secondary life science teachers, it is open to other STEM teachers as well. Check out our Hutch Teacher Fellowship Blog!
COVID-19 Contingency
We plan to resume our Hutch Teacher Fellowship in the summer of 2021, with the understanding that the final format of the program will depend upon evidenced-based understanding of the risk posed by COVID-19. If possible, the program will run as expected and described. However, given the pandemic, the program's format may be virtual, or a hybrid of virtual and on-campus. The program’s duration may also be impacted. We will provide updates as more information becomes available closer to the program start date.
Hutch Fellowship Application
Application opens January 1, 2021 and closes March 15, 2021 11:59 pm PST
The Principal Commitment of Support Form is due by March 31st, 2021, 11:59 pm PST
Before you apply, we recommend that you review the application pdf (coming soon) which has a summary of the application questions. Please note that the PDF is for reference only, and to be considered for the fellowship, you must complete the online application.
Hutch Teacher Fellowship Requirements
1. Complete the online application form.
2. Obtain administrator or supervisor recommendation. After finishing the application, an automatic email will be sent to your listed principal/school representative with a link to a Commitment of Support Form. Your principal/ school representative must submit this form by March 31, 2021, 11:59 pm PST. Please communicate with your recommender to advise them that the recommendation form is only sent after you submit your application.
Eligibility
Fellowship applicants must be:
- A middle or high school science teacher
- Currently employed and teaching science
- Available for the entire duration of the program
- Interested in learning more about cancer research and related careers
- Willing to collaborate to develop cancer-related curriculum in conjunction with Fred Hutch scientists/education staff and other fellowship teachers
- Committed to piloting lessons with students and developing lesson revisions
We especially encourage applications from past SEP participants, teachers from racial and ethnic groups traditionally underrepresented in health sciences and persons with disabilities, as well as teachers with economically disadvantaged backgrounds, or those who work largely with students from such backgrounds.
Unless teachers and researchers make prior arrangements together, the mentor will have the primary responsibility for selecting a teacher to work with. We will review initial applications and make recommendations to the mentors.
Program Commitment
Teachers will negotiate the exact times and dates of their fellowship with their mentor, with most teachers spending 7-8 weeks in the lab each summer. The expectation is the equivalent of 12 weeks/year, inclusive of time spent working on curriculum and piloting lessons in classrooms. Pilot lessons are created by participants, but teachers may also pilot SEP curriculum.
Compensation
To offset lost work opportunities, teachers receive an $8,000 award after completing each summer research session of the program. An additional $2,000 is available at the end of each school year, based on completion of school year activities (piloting and revising curriculum). The program also covers up to $600 of parking and transportation costs per year. Unfortunately, we are not able to cover the costs of meals or lodging. The total funds available for the two-year fellowship is approximately $20,000.
The Hutch Fellowship for Excellence in STEM Teaching is a part of the Pathways to Cancer Research program funded by a Youth Enjoy Science (YES) grant from the National Cancer Institute (grant number R25CA221770). Pathways to Cancer Research materials are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NCI or NIH.