Summer Research Internships

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Eligibility and How to Apply

Frequently Asked Questions

AZ-START (Arizona Science Teacher Advancement and Research Training) is a professional development program that links the state's K-12 science teachers with the science research infrastructure throughout the state. The program will enable teachers to work with faculty at the state universities and research partners in government and agricultural resource agencies throughout the state in paid summer research internships.

Each intern will engage in a biological research project on a topic of his/her choice. Research may take place in a research lab or in the field. A research database is available to help interns search for and locate an appropriate mentor for his/her research project. The research may be conducted at a location convenient to the intern. For example, an intern living in the Flagstaff area may engage in his/her research project at NAU or at the Coconino County Agriculture Research Station, while an intern living in Tucson might do his/her research at the University of Arizona.

Courtesy of a grant from the Science Foundation Arizona, in-service Arizona middle and high school science teachers selected to participate in the AZ-START Summer Research Internship will receive scholarship suport based upon the amount of time each intern spends actively engaged in research. An intern who spends the entire summer (at least 8 weeks, 40 hours/week or more) on his/her research project would receive the maximum award of $7,200. The intern who spends less time on research will have his/her scholarship pro-rated accordingly. The internship may be renewed for a second summer. Acceptance in the first summer does not guarantee renewal in the second summer. All awards are contigent on available funds.

Approximately 30 in-service Arizona middle and high school science teachers will be selected to participate in and receive financial support from the AZ-START summer research program in 2009. Additional teachers from other states may apply and may be selected as well; unfortunately, out-of-state teachers are not eligible to receive the financial support.

Teachers in rural areas of Arizona (excluding Pima and Maricopa counties) are encouraged to apply. If you have questions, contact Ellie Warder, Program Coordinator at warder@u.arizona.edu or (520) 621-5903.

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