CESaME

Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education

CESaME - Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education  > Programs - STAR Program

Programs - STAR Information and Application

STAR is a summer research internship for aspiring science and mathematics teachers. The program is offered by the California State University in partnership with the US Department of Energy national research laboratories, NSF, NASA, federal agencies, and private research organizations. Over the past 3 summers STAR has offered 85 placements at nine research sites in California, and is expanding in 2010 to include sites in Colorado, Maryland, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Washington. Applications for the summer of 2010 are available now. The deadline to apply is January 31st, 2010.

***Apply now for STAR 2010***

 

How to apply for STAR 2010:

First, be sure you meet the minimum qualifications which will be used in the selection process:

• Applicants must have an interest in becoming a science or mathematics teacher at the secondary level (grades 6-12).
• Applicants must be either a CSU student in California AND/OR a Noyce Scholar in California, Colorado, Maryland, Tennessee or Washington.
• Applicants must be a science, engineering or mathematics major.
• Applicants must be a minimum of junior standing with strong science and mathematics course background.
• Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
  
• Applicants must have U.S. citizenship or resident alien status
  

 

Once you have determined you are eligible to apply for STAR, please complete the following steps:

1. Fill out the STAR application online. (note: some sites require a supplemental application in addition to the STAR application. These sites are notated in the STAR application and a link is provided to the required supplemental application.)
2. Submit unofficial copies of your undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) transcripts via email to cesame@calpoly.edu and include "STAR Transcripts" in the subject line.
3. Submit a copy of your resume to cesame@calpoly.edu and include "STAR Resume" in the subject line. If you do not have a resume, please feel free to use the sample resume template to create one. If you already have a resume, please be sure it addresses each of the items from the sample resume template.
4. Request a letter of recommendation to support your application. The recommendation should come from an advisor, professor, principal, teacher or other individual who can attest to your science background, research experiences, commitment to science teaching and overall potential for success in the STAR program. Recommenders: please complete the recommendation form (Word doc) and a letter of recommendation. The form and letter should be emailed to CESaME at cesame@calpoly.edu.

Open House Opportunities at LLNL and JPL

If you are interested in STAR and would like to learn more, consider attending one of two Open House opportunities available over the coming months. Travel assistance may be available at some CSU campus for CSU students. (Contact your MSTI Director, or email us to find out more.)

Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory - RSVP to cesame by Wed, Nov 11th
Fri, Jan 22nd, 2010 at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory - RSVP to cesame by Wed, Jan 12th

Open House flyer (PDF)

STAR Program Information

Who: STAR applicants must fit one of the following affiliation qualifications: 1)CSU undergraduate, credential or graduate student in a science, engineering or mathematics field of study with an interest in pursuing a middle or high school science teaching career, 2) a Noyce Scholar from any institution in California at the undergraduate, credential or graduate level in a science, engineering or mathematics field of study, or 3) a STAR Fellow alum who is in the first three years of their teaching career. All applicants must have an interest in teaching science or mathematics at the middle or high school level.

What: An eight-week summer research internship and science education program at a Department of Energy or NASA laboratory for aspiring or early career teachers. STAR Fellows will receive a $4,000 stipend for their participation in the summer research experience. Housing stipends for participants who need to relocate for the summer may also be provided by the STAR program. For more information about the types of research opportunities available at each lab site, download the 2009 STAR Program Abstract Book.

When: June 14 - August 7, 2010. (Note: a full eight week commitment is required) Some sites offer a nine or ten week program, which would extend to August 13, or August 20, 2010.

Where: STAR is offered at ten research sites in California and five research sites across the country: Colorado, Maryland, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Washington. Note: applicants can apply to research sites that are within the state of their campus affiliation.

California Sites: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) NASA Ames Research Center Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) NASA Dryden Flight Research Center NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Romberg Tiburon Center Sandia National Laboratories / California SETI Institute SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

National Sites: Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Colorado Oak Ridge Naitonal Laboratory in Tennessee Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Washington

Why: STAR Fellows will be able to better connect the doing of science and mathematics to the teaching of science and mathematics by:

1. Experiencing cutting edge research at a federal laboratory or research center in a paid summer research internship, with the possibility of returning in subsequent summers
2. Learning more about what it means to be a 6-12th grade science or mathematics teacher
3. Getting to know other teacher-scientists and participate in a larger community of science and mathematics teachers
4. Becoming part of the larger scientific community and develop relationships with research scientists at federal laboratories and research centers to help in your career development and teaching activities.

Selection Criteria:

Students will be selected using the following criteria:

• Undergraduate major (primarily physics, chemistry, biochemistry, geosciences, biology, engineering and mathematics).
• Interest in and commitment to becoming a science or mathematics teacher.
• GPA (minimum of 3.0 required).
• Faculty letter of support and references.
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien status (depending on research site).
• Placement in a research laboratory at one of the program sites.

STAR Intern Expectations:

1. Participate in the full eight-week summer research internship to conduct scientific research at a federal laboratory or research center.
2. Prepare and present a research poster describing summer research at the end of the program.
3. Engage in weekly seminars and workshops focused on science and mathematics teaching.
4. Participate in Opening and Closing Conferences on the first and last Saturdays of the program.
5. Participate in teacher-scientist community building activities (in person and online) during and after program participation.
6. Participate in STAR Program evaluation activities, during and after program participation.

Overall Goals of the STAR program:

1. Attract undergraduate science and mathematics majors to teaching careers by providing them with professional identities as scientists as well as educators
2. Allow future science and mathematics teachers to gain first-hand experience within applied research settings
3. Cultivate increased interest and prestige in the science and mathematics teaching profession to address the severe shortage of science and mathematics teachers in California.
4. Anchor pre-service teachers in a community of scientific practice, they will come to better understand what it means to be a scientist and a teacher of science or mathematics.
5. Foster inquiry-based science teaching and learning strategies and increase science and mathematics interest and learning among K-12 students
6. Reduce science and mathematics teacher attrition
7. Open the door to expanded outreach between national labs, universities and K 12 schools that will also include experiments, field trips, and guest scientists

This program is managed by CESaME on behalf of the California State University.

If you have any questions about the STAR summer program, contact:

Dr. John Keller, STAR Program Director
(805) 756-2095
jmkeller@calpoly.edu
Building 25, Room 221

OR

Kaylene Wakeman, STAR Program Coordinator
Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education (CESaME)
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
(805) 756-2859
kwakeman@calpoly.edu