RET and REU Researcher Information
The Biotechnology Outreach Education Center (BOEC) is here to partner with you in developing a strong, meaningful, broader impacts plan. Our proven model places a teacher or pre-service teacher in your research lab for a summer experience, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in hands-on research and professional development.
Why Host an Educator?
We take care of the details so you can focus on what matters most: advancing discovery and expanding your impact beyond the lab.
With a strong record of success, the RET program provides a credible, ready-to-reference model for inclusion in grant proposals and broader impacts plans.
By mentoring a teacher, your influence extends far beyond the lab—reaching hundreds of students and inspiring future generations of scientists.
Experienced program coordinators guide participants through continuous, integrated professional learning that bridges research and classroom practice.
Bolder Broader Impacts
Every scientist has a research identity—a footprint that shapes their field, collaborators, funding, and legacy.
True impact also means understanding how your research connects to your local community and society.
Building a broader impact identity alongside your research helps create lasting, meaningful change.
The Office of Biotechnology can help you integrate these goals through the Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Program.
Teacher recruitment, selection, and onboarding including securing net IDs, safety training, W-9 forms, COI forms, contracts, university email accounts and apartment arrangements (if needed).
Administrative needs including mini-grant purchases, mileage reimbursements, stipend payments, continuing education credit, and certificate of completion.
Facilitate the ongoing partnership between teacher and researcher as needed.
Provide teacher year-long mentoring and support biweekly throughout the academic year.
Support teachers as they develop a curriculum piece at the end of the summer related to the research experience taught in their classroom the following academic year.
Provide year-end metrics for your grant writing purposes from the outside team who manages our pre-post data as well as focus group conversations.
Meet with teachers on the first Tuesday of each month (FToM) virtually to stay connected and encourage collaboration among the RET group.
Provide virtual, day-long learning in November and February following the summer experience to continue the summer connections and extend ISU connections.
Or contact:
Maureen Griffin
Office of Biotechnology
1210 Molecular Biology Building
Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3260
- 515-371-1258
- maureeng@iastate.edu