ACEP offers paid research experience for science teachers
Participants in the Arctic Remote Energy Networks Academy Alaska learn about solar energy at the National Laboratory of the Rockies’ Alaska Campus in Fairbanks.
March 26, 2026
By Yuri Bult-Ito
Middle and high school science teachers in Anchorage and Unalaska can apply for a paid, two-summer fellowship connecting educators with university researchers working on real-world energy and climate challenges.
The Alaska Center for Energy and Power at the University of Alaska Fairbanks is accepting applications for the Murdock Partners in Science program. The initiative pairs teachers with faculty mentors from UAF and UA Anchorage.
Participants will collaborate with a faculty mentor to design and carry out a two-year research project while gaining hands-on experience in energy and environmental science. Over two consecutive summers, fellows will:
- Conduct guided research in a university lab
- Participate in professional development
- Receive mentorship from an experienced educator coach
- Translate research into inquiry-based classroom lessons
Teachers will also collaborate with their peers and other participants from Partners in Science universities in the Pacific Northwest, sharing ideas and strengthening science instruction.
“We’re thrilled to support Alaska’s incredible science education community through the Murdock Partners in Science program,” said ACEP’s Annalise Klein Gerlach, who leads the program.
“As a former science teacher, I’m especially excited for ACEP to champion excellent STEM teachers through high-quality professional development and classroom innovation,” she said.
Teachers will focus on one of four key research themes in 2026-2027:
- Wildfires and critical infrastructure
- Critical minerals and mining waste
- Biomaterials for building insulation
- Volcanic activity and geothermal development
These topics reflect the importance of energy and climate systems in Alaska, which are complex and deeply connected to everyday life, and provide meaningful, real-world context for classroom learning.
Future programs will offer opportunities for teachers not only in Anchorage and Unalaska but also Fairbanks and other rural communities. The fellowship is open to in-service and pre-service science teachers.
Applications are due Friday, April 1. Interested educators can learn more and apply by visiting the program webpage.
The program is funded by the Murdock Charitable Trust.
Please contact Annalise Klein Gerlach with questions.