The MRL provides opportunities for teachers to participate in laboratory research and develop leading-edge curriculum projects.
In this program, local science teachers participate in laboratory research under the mentorship of MRL graduate, post-doctoral and faculty researchers. Teachers work collaboratively to translate their research experiences into the development of inquiry-based lab projects for science classrooms. The total teacher stipend over the course of the two year program is $10,000.
The MRL also hosts an annual workshop for intermediate, middle and high school science teachers.
For more information on the RET program please see the "2025 RET Info" link below or contact frank_kinnaman@ucsb.edu with any questions.
NOTE: We are migrating to a new website. The old website is at http://mrlweb.mrl.ucsb.edu/education/teachers
Applications are accepted year round
This program does not provide housing, so we are limited to applications from local teachers.
For the first summer of the MRL RET program (RET1), teachers are placed as interns in UCSB research groups for 6 weeks.
For the second summer of participation (RET2), teachers work for 4 weeks developing a science curriculum for presentation to their colleagues at our annual workshop. Participants are encouraged to develop units in which students will collect hands-on scientific data, make responsible conclusions about the meaning of the data and communicating their findings to other teachers.
![Teacher smiles at camera while pipetting](/sites/default/files/styles/image_for_fulll_width_/public/images/Nikki%201-RET%20image.jpg?itok=zdUpW__2)
The next workshop will be in March 2023.
The teaching resources developed by the teachers will be presented at annual workshops for science teachers throughout the Santa Barbara County area.
Are you using a RET curriculum project in your own classroom?
If so, please take our short SURVEY!
Latest RET Curriculum Projects
![Laura Branch](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/images/ret-projects/P7250730_0.jpeg?itok=Yq2u5lQ-)
Absolute Age Dating Carbon Burial in the Monterey Formation using U-Pb Zircon Geochronology
Teacher: Laura Branch
Science Field:
![William Webb](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/images/ret-projects/P7250727.jpeg?itok=LtYYhTbE)
Computational Analysis of the Hydrophobicity of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Receptor Binding Domain
Teacher: William Webb
Science Field:
![Steven Addison](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/images/ret-projects/P7080783_0.jpeg?itok=5_BrRYXW)
Methane Pyrolysis
Teacher: Steven Addison
Science Field:
![Lindsey Agnew](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/images/ret-projects/P7080786_0.jpeg?itok=OZj-k1x4)
Surface Modification by DBD Plasma Treatment
Teacher: Lindsey Agnew
Science Field:
Latest RET Research Projects
Automated Marine Water Sampling
Teacher: Casey Cleland
Science Field: General Science
![Ian Moore](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/images/ret-projects/ian.jpeg?itok=iq3FxZVc)
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Teacher: Ian Moore
Science Field: General Science
![Janell Webb](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/images/ret-projects/janell%20web.jpg?itok=ckQZL4Ry)
Identifying key factors that drive DNA methylation reprogramming of human PGCLCs
Teacher: Janell Webb
Science Field: Life Science