Research Experience for Teachers (RET) Program 2026

 

Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program returns June 2026: Applications open March 6.

The Colorado BioScience Institute’s Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program offers a unique opportunity for middle and high school science and biomedical pathway teachers to engage in a hands-on, transformative experience that will enhance both their teaching and student learning.

Program Details:

The RET program is a 4-week externship, running from June 1-26, hosted at bioscience companies throughout the metro area. This is a unique opportunity for educators to collaborate with scientists and gain firsthand experience in a life sciences company.

Key Dates & Requirements:

· Kick-off: June 1 (in-person professional development, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM)

· Final virtual professional development: June 26 (2-hour live virtual session, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM)

· Online coursework: To be completed by June 28

· Onsite commitment: Participants should be available to work in-person at their host site on June 2-5, 8-11, 15-18, and 22-25.

RET participants will be eligible to receive a $3,500 stipend and 1.0 graduate credits upon completion of the full 4-week program, which includes fulfilling the required externship hours, professional development training, and classroom learning experience project.

Application Process: Deadline March 27

Interested teachers should register their interest by submitting their full name and email through this event listing. Following the submission of interest, teachers are asked to provide a resume, an administration letter of recommendation, and answers to the below questions to rschowalter@cobioscience.com.

Application Questions:

· What is your motivation for applying to the RET program?

· What do you hope to gain by participating in the program?

· How do you envision applying your learnings from this externship experience into your classroom?

Thank you to our generous sponsors and 2026 participant hosts, AlloSource, Edgewise, STAQ, and TriSalus.