Research Opportunities for Science Educators (ROSE) Program

Applications now being accepted for Summer 2023!

Are you interested in performing cutting-edge research in state-of-the-art facilities? Would you like to learn the latest in the development of chemical theories? Would you like to know more about research opportunities at the University of New Mexico (UNM)?  UNM has partnered with the State of New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) since 2021 to create a program designed to bring science teachers to UNM for an intensive four-week program working in an existing research group (this year's ROSE Program will be held Monday, June 5 to Friday, June 30, 2023). Participants will receive a stipend of $1200.00 per week for four weeks.  Housing will be provided on-campus for those that do not have local housing, and all participants will receive a UNM parking pass.

Applying is easy.  Our online application asks for your name, school, email address, and short answers to a few simple questions, and can be found here.

To learn more about the individual research opportunities, please see this list of current project abstracts.  This opportunity will allow you to participate in an active research project that seeks to answer important discipline-specific scientific questions. Prior experience in research is not a requirement to participate in this program. We have expanded the number of participating faculty from last year, and previous applicants and ROSE Scholars are invited to apply in 2023. We look forward to receiving your application. Please direct questions to unmrose@unm.edu. Full consideration will be given to applications received by March 17, 2023. We will begin to notify accepted scholars by March 31, 2023.

Principal investigators interested in hosting ROSE Scholars in their laboratory in Summer 2023 are encouraged to contact one of the organizers (Prof. Steve Cabaniss, Prof. Jeff Rack, or Prof. Susan Atlas) and provide a brief description of their research opportunity, along the lines of these Project descriptions.

The ROSE (Research Opportunities for Science Educators) Program aims to energize and enhance the teaching of high school science in New Mexico by leveraging the research resources of UNM and the educational resources of PED. High school science teachers (ROSE Scholars) join ongoing projects for “hands on” participation in discovery-based research and bring their new ideas, tools and enthusiasm back to their classrooms. Over the next several years we expect to build a vibrant statewide community of ROSE Scholars and UNM faculty, facilitating ongoing communication and sharing of educational and scientific resources.

Benefits of the ROSE Program include:
  • Enabling educators to refresh their knowledge and develop new skills while gaining appreciation for and inspiration from current scientific research;
  • Helping UNM recruit well-prepared STEM students by familiarizing their teachers with UNM faculty, laboratories and research opportunities;
  • Supporting and publicizing funded, state-of-the-art research projects at the University of New Mexico.

ROSE Scholars spend most of their summer experience on their research projects, expanding their knowledge state-of-the-art methods and improving their understanding of the science they teach. They have access to UNM library, laboratory facilities, and shared resources including the Center for Advanced Research Computing (CARC) supercomputing center, and receive training in research and safety techniques. Additional ROSE program activities include orientation, weekly lunch meetings, panel discussions with chemistry faculty on teaching and learning introductory chemistry, research presentations and “taking it back” sessions for Scholars to discuss how to utilize new concepts and tools in their classrooms.

Summer 2022

ROSE brought 20 New Mexico science educators to the UNM Albuquerque campus for 5 weeks in Summer 2022 to work on research projects with faculty principal investigators (PIs). The 2022 ROSE Scholars were selected and matched with PIs during the Spring semester.  ROSE Scholars received competitive stipends of $1200.00 per week for five weeks, and on-campus housing was provided for those who live outside of the Albuquerque metro area. All participants received a UNM parking pass.