KINGSVILLE (February 14, 2023) — Faculty at Texas A&M University-Kingsville are looking for a few good STEM teachers for three-years of summer research opportunities funded with $600,000 in grant money from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Dr. Mohammad Motaher Hossain, associate professor of mechanical and industrial engineering, is the principal investigator for the project entitled Research Experience for Teachers (RET) Site: Integrating data-driven Renewable Energy Across Disciplines (I-READ).
He is joined by Dr. Hua Li and Dr. Kai Jin, professors in the mechanical and industrial engineering department and Dr. Marsha Sowell, associate professor in the teacher and bilingual education department, as co-principal investigators; and Dr. Hui Shen and Dr. Xiaoyu Liu, associate professors in the civil and architectural engineering department, as senior personnel.
Hossain and his team are looking for STEM teachers who teach in grades 6-12 and are interested in working on designated research projects over six weeks during the summer. They are collaborating with teachers from four local school districts: Corpus Christi, Flour Bluff, Bishop and Kingsville.
“This is important for middle and high school STEM teachers as it provides them with opportunities to conduct cutting-edge research and develop innovative curricular modules based on their experience. It will help their students in achieving education goals and prepare the STEM workforce for the future,” he said.
“The project will also improve the research environment of our university and strengthen the collaboration between TAMUK and nearby school districts, industries and community colleges,” Hossain said. “Through this RET site, the university will lead the effort to enrich STEM research and education environment in South Texas. In the long run, it can help the university with recruitment and retention of students in STEM disciplines.”
“The goal of the program is to create a dynamic multidisciplinary environment and a Community of Practice (CoP) where research, education and outreach are integrated to provide middle and high school STEM teachers with opportunities,” he added. “We aim to increase the highly needed future STEM workforce from underrepresented groups by introducing STEM school teachers, especially Hispanics, women and teachers who were first-generation college graduates, to cutting-edge, data-driven renewable energy research.”
This RET site will train 10 STEM teachers every year for three years in a collaborative group setting to design and complete research projects and to develop research-related curricular modules to inspire students interested in STEM.
For more information or to apply for this program, visit the website at https://tinyurl.com/4t2kyku2 .
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