2025 RET Participants - Biotechnology Outreach Education Center

This year, we have 16 incredible Research Experience for Teachers (RET) Participants from 15 different schools across 6 states. Below, you can learn about each teacher, read what they gained from this experience, and view the academic poster they designed at the end of the program.

Matt Cain

West Branch, IA

Dr. Ratul Chowdhury
Chemurgy Participant

I was born and mostly raised in Iowa. My hometown of sorts was Cedar Rapids, although I have put down pretty strong roots here in West Branch. I have 2 sons, 10 and 16, a couple big dogs, and a wife who graciously put up with me being gone during the week this summer. I teach a plethora of things including physics, engineering, computer science, robotics, and astronomy. I also run our FIRST programs out of our district but for students in the broader area including a bunch of FIRST Lego League teams and FIRST Robotics Competition team 5041 CyBears. My favorite hobbies include walking my dogs, gardening with my wife, DIY projects, Dungeons and Dragons (or TTRPG generally), and playing games with my kids. Maybe surprisingly I was a terrible student in HS and initially in college. I dropped out my 1st semester of college and didn’t go back until I was 23. I ended up finishing my bachelors degree in physics and my masters in science education at the University of Iowa. I am also a first generation college student and one of only 2 people in my entire extended family with a college degree and the only among them with a graduate degree.

I applied because…I previously had a very enriching experience with it many years ago and was excited to reengage with it.

My expectations…A combination of excellent networking, an lab experience that teaches me lots of new skills and knowledge, and opportunities to bring those experiences back to my classroom to enrich my teaching.

Olivia Chamberlain

Des Moines, IA

Dr. Michelle Guo
Guo Participant

Hi! My name is Olivia Chamberlain. I grew up in Johnston, Iowa and attended Iowa State University for my undergraduate degree in Elementary Education. I am a 2nd year, 6th grade math and science teacher at Findley Elementary School in Des Moines, Iowa. At my school I enjoy helping with drama club and being a Girls on the Run coach. Outside of school I spend my time going to yoga, the Downtown Farmers’ Market, being with friends and family and traveling. My favorite place I have traveled to was New Zealand which is where I did my student teaching!

I applied because…I applied to the RET program because I was very excited about the opportunity to grow and develop my teaching skills. I wanted an experience where I would be able to think outside the box and collaborate and share ideas with other STEM teachers. I am excited to have an opportunity where I’ll be inspired to create new and creative experiences for my students in the upcoming school year!

My expectations…My summer expectations for the summer RET program include learning more about the research process and laboratory skills. I am hoping to have experiences that I can share with my students and influence my upcoming school year’s science classes. I am excited to collaborate with and learn from other STEM teachers and participate in professional development that can help me grow as a teacher.

Tricia Chapela

Spring, TX

Dr. Young-Jin Lee
Lee Participant

I grew up in the suburbs of Houston. I currently teach 11th and 12th graders advanced chemistry (dual credit) and anatomy & physiology. I have been teaching for 7 years in a public high school. I enjoy reading and currently find myself exploring better ways to reduce stress. Once I find an effective method, I hope it will become a hobby. Not sure it is unexpected, I am regularly astounded by the creativity of my students. I love the wide range of skill, talent, and perspective that they bring to class.

I applied because…I participated last year and felt this was simply the best professional development I have ever experienced. The wide range of topics and modes of presentations were engaging and demonstrative and I felt like I learned something new with every hour.

My expectations…developing practical experience in a chemistry research lab environment, learning about effective instruction and developing learning opportunities, and developing my ability to use generative AI more effectively in my classroom and planning.

Gladys Ebangi

Lanham, MD

Dr. Jeanne Serb
Serb Participant

I was born in Bamenda- Cameroon in Central Africa. I taught Biology for 26 years in my country and mentored many students leaving from the Higher Teacher’s Training College, University of Bamenda. This is my 6th year teaching in the USA. Presently I teach Biogeochemical Systems, Environmental Science and AP Environmental Science. I love dancing, decorating and cooking. I am a widow now for 8 years.

I applied because…I want to gain lab experience and keep myself busy during this Summer Holiday.

My expectations…Learn new things and make new connections.

Jessica Garland

Ankeny, IA

Dr. Richard Roth
REGEN Participant

I grew up in Johnston, Iowa, and currently live in Ankeny with my husband and our three kids (ages 11, 9, and 3). I earned my degree in Elementary Education from Iowa State University and later completed my master’s degree at Viterbo University. I’ve been teaching 5th grade for 15 years and love engaging students across all subject areas. In addition to classroom teaching, I also run a science and engineering club that brings hands-on STEM experiences to young learners. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family, being outdoors, and finding creative ways to make learning exciting. Something unexpected about me? I love to garden—it’s my favorite way to relax and reconnect with nature.

I applied because…I signed up for the RET program because I’m passionate about bringing real-world, hands-on learning opportunities to my students. I’m always looking for ways to deepen my own understanding of STEM concepts so I can better engage and inspire young learners. This project is a great opportunity to grow professionally, collaborate with others, and bring fresh, research-based ideas back to my classroom.

My expectations…From this experience, I’m hoping to gain new insights and practical strategies to make STEM learning more meaningful and engaging for my students. I’m also excited to collaborate with other educators and bring back fresh ideas to enhance my teaching and science club activities.

Peter Gay

Mims, FL

Dr. Amber Crowley
Serb Participant

Science Teacher and Department Chair at Astronaut High School in Titusville, FL. I have been teaching for 21 years and currently teach Science Research, Advanced Placement Biology, Biology Honors, and Anatomy & Physiology Honors. I also serve as a Science Fair Director for Brevard County and serve on the State Science and Engineering Steering Committee for the state of Florida. I grew up in Cocoa Beach, FL and my dad was a meteorologist with the Space Program. I got my BS in Microbiology, MS in Agronomy from the University of Florida, my PhD from Auburn University in Plant Pathology specializing in Host-Pathogen Interactions. I worked at an HBCU (Alabama A&M University) as a post-doc where I studied aluminum tolerance in soybeans and suppression of allergen genes in peanut. I then got a Research Associate position at the University of Alaska Fairbanks where I studied viral diseases and cold tolerance in potatoes.

I transitioned to teaching through a grant from Lockheed-Martin (T-MAST: Transition to Math and Science Teaching) through the University of Central Florida receiving an MA in Science Education. I taught middle school for two years in Orlando and have been at Astronaut High School for 19 years.

I married my wife 23 years ago in Alaska and we have seven children between us. We are empty nesters enjoying our free time kayaking with alligators in central Florida and island hopping in the Indian River Lagoon.

I applied because…I wanted an opportunity to make connections for my high school students to do independent research while reaching out to Iowa State research programs for future collaborations. I have an interest in building Biotechnology at Astronaut High School to enhance Science Research projects.

My expectations…Making connections and cross-curricular activities that will be meaningful for short-term and long-term goals to enhance student learning opportunities. Student science research at my high school is quite diverse. Many of my high school students are socioeconomically disadvantaged and would not have college-level research opportunities if not for the Iowa State RET Program in Biotechnology.

James Happe

Urbandale, IA

Dr. Larry Halverson
BIORET Participant

Hi, my name is James Happe, and I am originally from Sioux City, Iowa. I have been teaching at Metro West Academy in Urbandale, Iowa, since 2000. Metro West is the alternative high school for Urbandale, Waukee, and ADM. We currently have about 70 students in our program. I teach Biology, Environmental Science, Earth Science, and health. My hobbies include rock collecting, gardening, and woodworking.

I applied because…I completed the RET program 2 years ago, and it was a wonderful experience. I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with other educators who are passionate about their teaching careers.

My expectations…I want to bring as much of the research experience as I can back to my classroom. I want to get ideas for real life hands on experiences that I can share with my students.

Malissa Jeffrey

Spencer, IA

Dr. Jeanne Serb
Serb Participant

I grew up in and graduated from Estherville, IA. From there, I went to Iowa Lakes Community College for two years and then to UNI to get my degree in Biomedical Biology. After working in the corporate world for four years, I went back to school at BVU to get my Secondary Education degree. I have lived in Spencer for ten with my two sons, Chris and Harrison, and husband, Nick. We have two dogs, Remy and Beans. I currently teach Chemistry, Consumer Chemistry, and Forensics at Spencer High School, but I have taught nearly every content area of science over the past eight years. My hobbies include gardening, watching movies with my family, baking and cooking, and taking my dogs for walks. I also enjoy going to concerts with my husband.

I applied because…This will be my fourth year with the RET program. I continue to apply because I know how valuable the community is. The relationships we develop with each other and our lab teams over the summer lasts through the school year and is a fantastic resource for support and ideas. It’s also important to me to stay passionate about what I’m doing in the classroom. This program provides me with a “reset” over the summer to re-energize myself and continue building my teacher toolbox.

My expectations…I can’t wait to meet the other members of the cohort, see my lab team, and find out what surprises Eric and Maureen have in store for us!

Julia Little

Fayetteville, NC

Dr. Matt Hufford
BIORET Participant

I am an older, lateral entry high school science teacher in Fayetteville, North Carolina, home of the Army’s Fort Liberty. I grew up in St. Albans, West Virginia, where my dad worked as a mechanical engineer for the chemical giant Union Carbide. I majored in chemical engineering as an undergraduate at Virginia Tech and worked briefly for Union Carbide myself until I went to medical school. I had an Army scholarship the last three years of med school, so I did my general surgery residency at Walter Reed Hospital. I met my gastroenterologist husband in the Army, and we have four grown daughters. After I retired as a doctor, I wanted to encourage students to pursue science, so over the past nine years I have taught Earth & Environmental Science, Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. I enjoy walking my German Shepherd and reading. Something unexpected about myself is how I would like to learn to play the piano after I retire from teaching.

I applied because…I like to recharge during the summer as a teacher through professional development and travel. I have found that networking with other science teachers has been most valuable, especially as North Carolina finally has adopted NGSS standards. I particularly enjoy the challenge of working on lab research projects, even when the background concepts are quite challenging to understand. Although I did not grow up with cell phones or computers, and I label myself as technically-challenged, I hope to learn better data analysis skills through my Hufford Lab ISU RET assignment. I am an ISU RET-returner, because this PD experience has been the best of my teaching career. To inspire my students, I, myself, must be inspired, which Iowa State’s RET program does.

My expectations…bonding with energized RET science teachers and REU students; learning lab techniques from undergraduates, PhD students, and post-docs in the Hufford lab; gathering maize data outside in the sunshine and fresh air; learning how to do plant crosses; challenging myself to grow as a teacher through our professional development times together; figuring out how to better use AI for student creativity/lab inquiry/projects; and wading through Peas Creek at Ledges State Park.

Grace Mullins

Ankeny, IA

Dr. Kaoru Ikuma
BIORET Participant

am originally from Ankeny, Iowa, and live there currently. I am going into my first year teaching and am still on the job hunt. I just completed my student teaching in Kindergarten and 6th-grade math and science. I enjoy baking, reading, and spending time with my friends and family. Something unexpected about me is that the outdoors hates me.

I applied because…I am hoping to refresh my brain on important topics and get a deeper understanding of the research going on here at Iowa State. I hope to meet new people and have a supportive network of people as I start my first year of teaching.

My expectations…include time to reflect, dive into summer research, new friends, building my knowledge on education topics (Friday PD) and seeing old friends.

Alonie Nefalar

Bowie, MD

Dr. Olga Zabotina
BIORET Participant

Born and raised in the Philippines, I bring a global perspective to my role as a Life Science teacher at Suitland High School in District Heights, Maryland. I’m currently teach Biology, Environmental Science, and supporting students through our Virtual Learning Program. With several years of experience in secondary science education, I am passionate about helping students connect classroom concepts to real-world environmental and biological issues. Outside the classroom, I enjoy gardening and dancing. Something unexpected about me: before becoming a teacher, I had a career in cultural dancing in the Philippines and performed in festivals across the country.

I applied because…I applied to the RET/REU program because I am eager to engage in authentic research experiences that will deepen my understanding of current developments in STEM fields. As a K–12 teacher, I believe that working alongside professional scientists will not only enhance my own content knowledge and instructional practices but also empower me to bring real-world scientific inquiry into the classroom. I am especially excited about the opportunity to translate cutting-edge research into meaningful learning experiences that inspire my students and open their eyes to future careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.

My expectations…My expectations for the summer RET/REU program include getting real, hands-on experience with research and learning more about what scientists and engineers do. I’m looking forward to working with university faculty and other teachers, sharing ideas, and learning new ways to bring STEM topics to life in the classroom. I hope to come away with fresh ideas, deeper knowledge, and some great lessons I can share not only with my students but also with my colleagues, so we can all better support our students and help them see how science connects to the real world and future careers.

Denise Rogers

Glen Allen, VA

Dr. Thomas Lubberstedt
REGEN Participant

I am a native of Orange County, California. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology education from Claflin University. As an undergraduate student, I was selected to participate in internships at the Medical College of Wisconsin and the University of Minnesota. Upon graduating from Claflin University, I taught in South Carolina for five years before relocating to Richmond, Virginia. I earned a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in environmental science and administration from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master of science in pharmacy with a concentration in forensic science from the University of Florida. I have over 30 years of experience teaching middle school science, high school biology, anatomy, forensic science, ecology, and high school summer remediation science classes. I have also served as an instructional specialist for math and science for two years and taught science courses for students in grades 6 –12 in an alternative school setting. In addition, I also taught science at ChallengeU, an online graduation recovery program. During the spring of 2019, I earned an educational specialist degree in curriculum and instruction. Currently, I teach high school biology and AP environmental science for Richmond City Public Schools in Richmond, VA. The love that I have for science and children can be seen as I expose students to new and exciting concepts and share my travels and research experiences with everyone.

I enjoy swimming/working out, dancing, singing and spending time with family. I also enjoy just about everything to do with nature and the great outdoors. Over the last two years, I have lost over 100 pounds and I just completed the RVA Monument 10K race last month!

I applied because…I have always enjoyed incorporating biotechnology into my lessons and I am always looking for new and innovative approaches to teaching.

My expectations…Learning new procedures, techniques and research material/practices while networking with other teachers and mentors.

Josh Selep

Bolingbrook, IL

Dr. Mark Wright
Chemurgy Participant

I’m from Bolingbrook, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago. I just finished graduating from Iowa State with a degree in chemistry and secondary education. I game, play Dungeons and Dragons, and like hiking. Something unexpected about me is that I’m dyslexic, so don’t try to get me to spell or tell you directions. I still don’t know my lefts and rights.

I applied because…I applied to be an RET because I did it last year as a REU, and it was a great experience.

My expectations…Getting to meet and learn about a lot of people, learning more about different aspects of research, and getting inspiring professional development.

Ashok Sookdeo

Lanham, MD

Dr. Nicole Valenzuela
Serb Participant

I am originally from Guyana, South America, where I worked with the government to address complex environmental health issues. I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Guyana and went on to earn graduate degrees at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica. Since moving to Maryland in 2012, I have qualified as a science educator and have been teaching at Fairmont Heights High School in Prince George’s County Public Schools since 2013. I currently serve as the lead teacher for the Environmental Studies Program, where I apply my diverse background in education, leadership, environmental policy, and curriculum development. I am passionate about natural resource conservation and strongly advocate for environmental literacy. I also sponsor our Green Club and FFA chapter, organize enriching field trips, and provide training for fellow educators. Outside the classroom, I enjoy playing cricket, traveling, and discovering new places.

I applied because…I applied to the RET program this year because it was the single most impactful professional development experience of my teaching career. Having participated last year, I witnessed significant growth in my instructional practices, as evidenced by improved scores on formal observations, positive feedback from my students, and my own self-assessment. The biweekly meetings, ongoing mentorship, and participation in the Curiosity Program were pivotal in shaping this progress. Given the profound impact of last year’s experience, I saw this year’s opportunity as one I simply couldn’t pass up—a chance to continue growing both personally and professionally.

My expectations…This summer, I hope to broaden my knowledge of research practices, explore new instructional strategies, and build strong professional networks through the RET program. I am especially excited about the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from educators across the United States, gaining insights from their diverse experiences to enhance my own teaching and leadership practice.

Ellie Soosloff

Creston, IA

Dr. Amy Kaleita
REGEN Participant

I am a high school math teacher in Creston Iowa entering my 5th year of teaching. I grew up in Elgin Illinois, and moved to Iowa for college where I attended Drake University completing a BA in Mathematics and Spanish Minor alongside my BSE in Secondary Education. This past summer I finished my MA in Mathematics through Texas A&M as well to begin offering Calc 1, College Algebra, and Statistics for community college credit at Creston High School. I also teach Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calc, and Probability & Statistics. It’s a full load but I love it!

I applied because…I have a passion for continuing my own learning, and being able to show my students not only why the math works how it does, but how it can be applied. I always love telling my students about how math and STEM are constantly growing and changing, and what better way to do that then to go help grow and develop research myself.

My expectations…I hope to develop my own knowledge about how research is done this summer. I’m excited to gain experience and make connections with other teachers and researchers to learn everything that I can. I’m especially looking forward to potentially developing something I could take back to my own classroom.

Nathan Van Vante

Johnston, IA

Dr. Amy Toth
BIORET Participant

My name is Nathan Van Zante. I grew up in a small town in SE Iowa called Fremont. Growing up I always loved building and creating new things. At the time I thought I would become an Engineer, but it actually lead me to a career in Education and it ended up being a perfect fit. I currently teach 6th grade Math and Science at Johnston CSD, but have experience teaching 6-8 grade.

As for hobbies, whether it is woodworking, wiring, programming, or 3D printing, I absolutely love building new things. My most popular build was a working Thor hammer. It is currently on my traveling STEM trailer along with many other builds that I use to teach others about STEM.

I applied because…I love learning and sharing that learning with others. What better way than doing scientific research alongside professionals?!

My expectations…To become a better educator for my students. Either through science practices, professional development, or the research itself.