Hutch Teacher Fellowship

 

The Hutch Fellowship for Excellence in STEM Teaching is a two-year program for secondary science educators seeking an in-depth, biomedical research experience at Fred Hutch. The fellowship provides support for two paid summers of research experience in a host lab and curriculum design activities, 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 to read about the experiences of our Fellows!

 

Hutch Fellowship Application

The application for the 2025 Hutch Teacher Fellowship will open on December 2, 2024. 

1. Complete the online application. This includes uploading a current resume or CV. 

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 Principal Commitment of Support Form. Please communicate with your recommender to advise them that the recommendation form is only sent after you submit your application.

Fellowship applicants must be:

  • A middle or high school science or STEM teacher
  • Currently employed and teaching science or STEM courses
  • 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

In addition, please note that a social security number (SSN) or tax identification number (TIN) is required on intake forms. 

We especially encourage applications from:

  • Past SEP participants
  • Teachers from backgrounds systemically excluded from careers in biomedical science. This includes individuals from underrepresented races/ethnicities, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds 
  • Teachers who work largely with students from such backgrounds 

Unless teachers and researchers make prior arrangements together, the lab mentor will have the primary responsibility for selecting a teacher to work with. We will review initial applications and make recommendations to the mentors.

Teachers will negotiate the exact times and dates of their fellowship with their mentor, with most teachers spending 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 existing SEP curriculum and provide feedback to curriculum designers. 

First year Fellows are expected to:

  • Work on a research project with their mentor
  • Write an article about their lab experience to be published on the Hutch Teacher Fellowship Blog
  • Develop a research poster to share with SEP teachers at a summer meeting
  • Develop and pilot draft curriculum materials with their students during the school year
  • Attend weekly check-in meetings in the summer and quarterly check-in meetings during the school year

Second year Fellows are expected to:

  • Work on a research project with their mentor
  • Develop and present a research poster and talk to share with SEP teachers at a fall meeting
  • Pilot draft curriculum materials with their students during the school year
  • Revise and publish curriculum materials on the SEP website
  • Attend weekly check-in meetings in the summer and quarterly check-in meetings during the school year

The total funds available for the two-year fellowship is approximately $20,000. 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. In addition, the program also covers up to $600 per year for public transportation and/or parking costs specifically related to participation in program activities on the Fred Hutch campus by providing an ORCA transit card and/or parking pass in a Fred Hutch parking garage (please inquire for more details on public transportation and parking costs). Unfortunately, we are not able to cover the costs of meals, lodging, or mileage. 

Choosing Between our Professional Development Programs

The Hutch Fellowship for Excellence in STEM Teaching is a summer research experience that involves a cancer research experience paired with the design of innovative cancer-focused curriculum materials. Alternatively, Partners in Science 2.0 @ Fred Hutch is another summer research experience that will appeal to teachers who want to immerse themselves in a biomedical research-focused experience, discover the process of science, and develop their identities as scientists. The SEP Summer Session professional development program is a 3-week summer program focused on developing teachers’ molecular biology skills and pedagogical practices. For more information on the Hutch Teacher Fellowship and how it differs from our other professional development programs for science teachers, please visit our teacher website.

View a Comparison of PS2@FH and our Other Summer Teacher Programs

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. Additional funding provided by the Swarts Foundation.

Program Manager: Kristen Bergsman PhD