Watkins Fellowship

With financial support from the Watkins Foundation of Wichita, the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at WSU is continuing the “Watkins Foundation Summer Research Participation Fellowships for Teachers of Science,” a program to aid teachers of science in the classroom.

We are offering a limited number of Watkins Summer Research Participation Fellowships. This program features eight weeks of research participation under the guidance of one or more WSU faculty members from the departments of biology, chemistry, geology or physics. Full-time teachers from secondary schools, community colleges and teaching-oriented four-year colleges are eligible for these awards.

The teachers selected will work with the faculty member and his/her group in a current research project, and will be given necessary background and training to make a contribution to the success of the project.

The ultimate goal of the experience is to provide the teachers with knowledge and techniques that can be used in their classrooms to make science exciting to their students and convey to them how new discoveries are made. A stipend of $4,000 will be paid to participating teachers. 

To qualify for a Watkins Summer Research Participation Fellowship, you must be a teacher of science and planning to continue in that role in the next academic year. Length of service as a teacher is not a deciding factor. You must be able to identify an eight-week period when you can devote full time to research participation.

• A statement describing your interests in biology, chemistry, earth sciences or physics if you are selected as a fellow. Explain how this program will improve your teaching efforts.
• If you are involved in a special science education program of any kind in your school or college, please describe it here.
• Please include a brief vita of your educational background, experience as a teacher, and any other employment experience which was science related.
• Be sure to include teaching awards or recognition, and any education related to the teaching of science you’ve had.
• Submit a letter of recommendation submitted by your supervisor, department chair or dean.

Fellows will be selected based on established record or promise as a teacher, perceived benefit to the teacher and program and ability to match the desired area of research with an available faculty researcher.

We will evaluate the success of this program by asking the fellows to write a brief report describing how they incorporated their experiences into everyday classroom teaching or the impact it had on their appreciation of science.

For more information or to discuss potential research topics contact WSU Department of Chemistry, 316.978.3120 or chemistry@wichita.edu.

For information or to discuss potential research topics contact any of the following:

Dr. Jim Bann, Department of Chemistry, 316-978-7373

Dr. Moriah Beck, Department of Chemistry, 316-978-5476

Dr. Jian Wang, Department of Chemistry, 316-978-7411

Dr. Kapildeb Ambel, Department of Physics, 316-978-3992

Dr. Hussein Hamdeh, Department of Physics, 316-978-3994

Dr. Tom Luhring, Department of Biology, 316-978-6046

Dr. Mark Schneegurt, Department of Biology, 316-978-6883