Research Experience for Teachers

July 21 - August 1, 2025

Northwestern University, Evanston Campus

Does the idea of gaining research experience at a university lab sound exciting to you? The Baxter Center's Research Experience for Teachers (RET) is a 2-week paid program that gives local teachers the opportunity to participate in a "tasting menu" of experiments with researchers from Northwestern University's Center for Synthetic Biology and work on classroom materials development with Baxter Center staff. The 2025 RET will run July 21-August 1 on Northwestern's Evanston campus. (Check out a story about the 2024 RET here!)

Synthetic biology uses tools and concepts from physics, engineering, and computer science to build new biological systems. Much of synthetic biology research focuses on reprogramming cells by changing their DNA. Once reprogrammed, cells can take on new, specialized purposes, such as creating sustainable chemicals, next generation materials, or targeted therapeutics. 

Experiments and techniques have included:

• Cell-free protein synthesis
• DNA manipulation/cloning
• Biobits/CRISPR
• Biosensors
• Biobits pilot for water contaminates

All middle and high school teachers who support students in in science classrooms are welcome to apply! We will seek a balanced cohort of teachers from across Chicagoland, and priority will be given to teachers who have not participated in an RET before. (But if you have participated in and love RETs, please don't hesitate to apply!)

Thank you to those who applied to participate this summer! Decisions will be made in early May.