ACEP offers paid research experience for science teachers

ACEP offers paid research experience for science teachers

Middle and high school science teachers in Anchorage and Unalaska can apply for a paid, two-summer fellowship connecting educators with university researchers working on real-world energy and climate challenges.

The Alaska Center for Energy and Power at the University of Alaska Fairbanks is accepting applications for the Murdock Partners in Science program. The initiative pairs teachers with faculty mentors from UAF and UA Anchorage.

Participants will collaborate with a faculty mentor to design and carry out a two-year research project while gaining hands-on experience in energy and environmental science. Over two consecutive summers, fellows will:

• Conduct guided research in a university lab
• Participate in professional development
• Receive mentorship from an experienced educator coach
• Translate research into inquiry-based classroom lessons

Teachers will also collaborate with their peers and other participants from Partners in Science universities in the Pacific Northwest. They will share ideas to strengthen instruction in STEM fields - science, technology, engineering and math.

"We're thrilled to support Alaska's incredible science education community through the Murdock Partners in Science program," said ACEP's Annalise Klein Gerlach, who leads the program.

"As a former science teacher, I'm especially excited for ACEP to champion excellent STEM teachers through high-quality professional development and classroom innovation," she said.

Teachers will focus on one of four key research themes in 2026-2027:

• Wildfires and critical infrastructure
• Critical minerals and mining waste
• Biomaterials for building insulation
• Volcanic activity and geothermal development

These topics reflect the importance of energy and climate systems in Alaska, which are complex and deeply connected to everyday life, and provide meaningful, real-world context for classroom learning.

Future programs will offer opportunities for teachers not only in Anchorage and Unalaska but also Fairbanks and other rural communities. In addition to current science teachers, the fellowship is open to students training in the profession.

Applications are due Friday, April 1. Interested educators can learn more and apply by visiting the program webpage.

The program is funded by the Murdock Charitable Trust.

ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Annalise Klein Gerlach, [email protected]

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