Appalachian GEAR UP has partnered with Society for Science to launch the Western North Carolina Research Fellows Program. This program will build a STEM educator community focused on increasing student pathways to authentic research opportunities among GEAR UP 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.
Eligibility
- 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, Jackson, Burke
- Must have interest in enhancing classroom instruction through student-led research
Compensation & 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.
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 & 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.
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.
Western NC STEM Research Ambassador
The Western North Carolina STEM Research Ambassador will be selected from individuals who are well-versed and embedded in the western North Carolina school community and able to assess the needs, preferences, and barriers to engagement of western NC educators. They will also have extensive experience with and knowledge of teaching STEM research design and supporting students in entering science fair competitions. They will provide strategic support in helping teachers augment existing STEM and research curricula with the Society for Science’s STEM outreach programs and student research competitions.
The western NC Research Ambassador and two Lead Fellows will support two Fellow cohorts of up to twenty western NC teachers in developing programming goals centered around expanding their content knowledge of research and experimental design, developing and implementing authentic research experiences with students, and building infrastructure to provide research opportunities for students in the future. The Ambassador will run a one-day workshop hosted in western North Carolina to launch the program that will be used to establish the Fellow cohorts and set individual goals for each Fellow for the year. Each cohort will be guided by a Lead Fellow who will coordinate logistics and programming for the cohort throughout the year and will in turn be supported by the Ambassador. The Ambassador and Lead Fellows will present about their cohort experience, outcomes and impact at the 2026 Academic Innovation Conference, or other related, local conference.
The Ambassador and Lead Fellows will attend the Society for Science’s national Research Teacher Conference from October 3 through 5 in Washington, DC to learn from and engage with the national STEM research teacher community. The conference will provide the Ambassador and Lead Fellows with the opportunity to connect with STEM and research teachers from all over the country to broaden their resource networks and learn about Society for Science programs and competitions. By attending conference sessions led by expert research teachers, the Ambassador and Lead Fellows will acquire new ideas, resources, and potentially even virtual presenters to share with their cohort Fellows during cohort meetings. Their attendance at the national conference will enhance and broaden their ability to support their cohorts throughout the year.
Scope of Work
- Help to manage the recruitment and registration process for all annual Fellows
- With support from Society for Science, plan, organize and run a local in-person, one-day workshop for program Fellows to meet their cohort, learn research teaching strategies, and set program goals
- Attend and support the virtual monthly cohort meetings for each cohort of Fellows
- Plan and set regular calls with Society for Science staff
- Review all Fellow reports and collaborate with Society for Science staff around the progress of Lead Fellows and other cohort Fellows
- Oversee the project’s progress throughout the year, ensuring deliverables by the end of the year
- Create two program report summaries in December 2025 and July 2026
- Attend Society for Science’s Research Teachers Conference from October 3 to October 5, 2025, to learn from a national community of research educators (all expenses are paid)
- Present about the program experience, outcomes and impact at the 2026 Academic Innovation Conference, or other related, local conference
- Become well-versed in programming and resources of Society for Science to support western North Carolina schools and help promote opportunities to a larger network of educators
- Build meaningful relationships with North Carolina superintendents, district STEM coordinators, science fair directors, teachers, and students to expand access and participation in authentic student research and the Society’s other STEM education programming
- Identify and collaborate with relevant STEM organizations or universities and other STEM non-profits to discuss potential partnerships to support STEM educators with building authentic student research opportunities
Competencies
- Strong communications skills (written and oral)
- Excellent organizational and time management skills
- Ability to think creatively
- Strong presentation skills
- Demonstrated ability to work with others as a team, to multi-task and to be a self-starter
- Affinity for serving rural North Carolina classrooms in STEM education and research
Compensation & Incentives
This is a part-time, 12-month independent contractor role that will be paid $15,000 through August of 2026 with the possibility of contract extension. This role is fully remote from the Society for Science’s Washington DC office; however, the contractor must live in or near western North Carolina. Up to $3,000 for mileage, lodging, meals, and conference-related fees will be reimbursed. This role will also have all expenses paid for a trip to Washington DC to attend the Society for Science’s national Middle School Research Teachers Conference from October 3 to 5, 2025.
Prior Education and Experience
Required:
- Undergraduate degree and a minimum of 5 years work experience in STEM education or research in North Carolina
- Experience with conducting research or facilitating or mentoring student research
- Computer proficiency including Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Live in western North Carolina and be able to travel, as needed, around the region to different GEAR UP schools/districts
Desirable:
- A degree in education or a STEM field
- Experience with creating STEM middle and/or high school curricula
- Experience with running professional development for educators
- Experience with classroom teaching
- Experience with Society for Science Education Programs or Competitions
- Experience with North Carolina’s STEM curricula
- Experience with North Carolina’s science fair structure