Partnerships for Research Opportunities to Benefit Education

PROBE Recruitment of Fellows

The Joan and James Leitzel Center for Mathematics, Science and Engineering Education at the University of New Hampshire has received funding for the first year of a three year project, PROBE: Partnerships for Research Opportunities to Benefit Education.  The PROBE Project is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation’s GK-12 initiative (NSF#0338277); an interactive program designed to support the linking of graduate fellows in science and mathematics with grade 9-12 students and teachers. The PROBE project will provide support for 10 UNH graduate Fellows and four advanced undergraduate Fellows each year to serve as resources for grade 9-12 students and teachers in science and mathematics in New Hampshire. The program will include an emphasis on authentic inquiry in grade 9-12 classrooms, participation in the NH Science and Engineering Exposition [May 2004], and a variety of summer science training programs; providing science methods, instrumentation support, and research experiences for teachers and students [e.g. Project SMART - a UNH-based high school student research program].   Please see the presentation given to graduate students on Feb 19th in Spaulding 120.

All applicants must be accepted into a specific Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics-related discipline (STEM) program and recommended by their respective departments.  Each PROBE Fellow will work with the lead teacher’s partner school and spend a maximum of 20 hours each week supporting science and mathematics teachers.   Fellows will travel to their partner school 2 days each week to work with students, teach inquiry-rich lessons, and plan with teacher-leaders for an evolving inquiry experience for the students.  Fellows will meet with their PROBE faculty advisors biweekly and on alternative weeks they will meet as a team with the PROBE project manager.  

Requirements:

Each of the UNH CEPS and COLSA departments [16 total] may advertise and nominate up to 3 graduate students (typically in their first year at the time of application) to apply for the 10 graduate Fellow positions.  Interested students should submit applications through their respective departments.  Candidates must be citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States at the time of application.  Priority will be given to those exhibiting the following characteristics:

• Knowledge of department resources and scientific career pathways
• Strong research design skills; possibly via undergraduate or graduate projects or both
• Interest in future teaching with demonstration of communication skills
• Consideration of the Teaching Excellence Program and the Preparing Future Faculty Program
• Demonstration of group interaction and communication skills
• Demonstration of autonomous productivity
• Professional dedication

Departments should expect Graduate Fellows to:

• Communicate department strengths with other UNH-based Fellows and with high school teachers and students
• Provide brief reports to department members regarding other department resources and strengths on campus
• Share strengths and challenges regarding high school programs and student/teacher interactions in regard to scientific preparedness and inquiry
• Help to identify prospective UNH scientific posters for presentation at NH Science and Engineering Exposition
• Advance in their own research programs at least as fast as other graduate students working as department teaching assistants.

 Support:  

The PROBE project will support 10 graduate fellows, 4 undergraduates, and 9 teacher-leaders for each of the three years.  The stipends for each of the 10 graduate Fellows is set at $30,000 per year [calendar year support] plus tuition at the UNH rate.  Partial support is provided for travel of the Fellows to the partner schools.  Appointments are for 1 year and renewable annually for a maximum of 3 years of total support.  Tenures will typically average 2 years.

Applications shall include...
1. A letter of endorsement and support that addresses the requirements set out above from a University of New Hampshire faculty member, in a STEM discipline (see program description).   The faculty member will normally be the student's graduate program advisor.

2. A statement by the student of his or her research experiences, current research, programmatic progress and career objectives and any prior teaching experiences. (Three pages or less)

3. Copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts or other evidence of background and accomplishments, such as GRE results or relevant employment experience. Transcripts may be unofficial copies. 

4. If the student is a candidate for admission to UNH, a copy of the UNH graduate application materials may be substituted for item 3 above.

*Fellows may need to complete a criminal record check prior to working with students in public schools.

Application deadline: March 8th, 2004 or earlier deadlines as set by the respective departments.                 

Respective CEPS and COLSA departments shall recommend 2-3 applicants.  Each department should forward those applications (via e-mail or campus mail) by March 8th  to Barbara Hopkins [address below].  The PROBE staff will review applications and interview candidates.  Awardees will be notified by April 1^st, 2004.  Appointments will commence on May 21, 2004.

Barbara A. Hopkins

Joan and James Leitzel Center for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education

Parsons Hall - University of New Hampshire

Durham, NH 03824

Tel: 603-862-2684

email:  Barbara.Hopkins@unh.edu,