ATTENTION: Yale graduate students and postdocs in the life sciences!
Apply to participate in the
Spring 2016 Yale Scientific Teaching Fellows Program
Learn Scientific Teaching by creating,
teaching, evaluating, and disseminating
instructional materials for undergraduate
biology or a related area.
Application Deadline: Dec. 31, 2015
The Yale Scientific Teaching Fellows Program brings the rigor and spirit of research to
teaching. The program begins with a training course in Scientific Teaching. Participants will
apply this knowledge to develop instructional materials that address a teaching/learning
challenge in an undergraduate course. Participants will also learn skills that are valuable for
TA positions, lab mentoring, and an academic career. Fellows will learn how to engage
students, address issues of diversity, and assess learning. In addition, they will build a
community of scientific teachers that is grounded in peer review and maintains high
standards of pedagogy, scientific content, presentation, and creativity. At the end of the
program, instructional materials are often published online as supplementary content
available to a national audience of instructors.
Applicants will be notified regarding acceptance into the course by January 8, 2016.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Yale graduate students and postdocs must meet the following criteria:
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Your major field of study involves the life sciences
You are interested in teaching and developing your teaching skills
You have completed at least 1 semester of your required teaching at Yale by Dec 2015 (n/a
for postdocs)
You have approval from your faculty advisor
Benefits to participants:
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Training in tested and documented teaching strategies for science courses
Transcript notation (for graduate students) and certificate of completion (for all)
Academic professional development (e.g., peer-reviewed teaching statement)
Participants are often recruited to teach courses at Yale rooted in evidence-based pedagogy
(e.g. BIOL 101-104 intro series)
Since the program’s inception in fall 2010, course participants have been offered subsequent
teaching opportunities both on and off campus in recognition of this intensive training
(majors and non-majors biology courses, adjunct opportunities, outreach initiatives).
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Previously, fellows have also had opportunities to develop materials as instructional
supplements for an innovative textbook called “Biology for a Changing World” (WH Freeman,
2012) or a book series called “Controversies in Science & Technology” (Mary Ann Liebert,
2010). Past participants report that this program is excellent preparation for an academic
career.
Spring 2016
Scientific Teaching Fellows Course
Theory & Practice of Scientific Teaching
(non-credit graduate course BBS 879)
Instructors: Jenny Frederick, Kaury Kucera and Beth Morse Luoma
Part I: Learn the essential elements of scientific teaching
Part II: Apply these principles to develop instructional materials
Meets weekly on Science Hill for 2 hours:
Tuesdays, 8:30-10:30am (room TBA)
*Participants are expected to commit to completing the program to the best of their ability.*
Some out of class work is required (reading and brief assignments, plus development of
teaching materials if not completed during designated class time).
How to apply:
To apply for this program, submit the following application materials electronically
(preferably as a single pdf document titled lastname_firstname_STF2016) by Dec. 31, 2015
to: Beth Morse Luoma (elizabeth.morse@yale.edu).
Complete applications must include the following four items:
1. Contact information and advisor signature (complete form on last page)
2. Statement about your graduate/postdoctoral research: (150 words max) Include
a BRIEF description of your research. This statement should be written for a
layperson and should be understandable by first-year college students.
3. Teaching Statement: (2 pages max) Write a statement about your philosophy of
teaching. Include a closing statement addressing what you hope to gain from
participating in this program.
4. Curriculum Vitae: Include research, teaching and mentoring experience.
For more information and/or to download a digital copy of this application, please visit
http://tinyurl.com/STF2016
Questions?
Contact Beth Morse Luoma (elizabeth.morse@yale.edu or 203.432.4038)
Women and underrepresented minorities are encouraged to apply.
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Spring 2016 Yale Scientific Teaching Fellows Program Application
Scientific Teaching Fellows Course for the Life Sciences
Theory & Practice of Scientific Teaching (non-credit graduate course - BBS 879)
Upon acceptance to the program:
- Graduate students will register for the training course and develop instructional materials
for an undergraduate course.
- Postdocs need not register but will be listed on the roster.
APPLICANT CONTACT INFORMATION
NAME: ______________________________________________________________________________
CIRCLE ONE:
Graduate Student
Postdoc
DEPARTMENT OR PROGRAM: __________________________________________________________
YEAR OF STUDY (Graduate students - 1st, 2nd, etc.) or START DATE (Postdocs): __________________
CAMPUS ADDRESS: __________________________________________________________________
PHONE: _____________________________________________________________________________
EMAIL ADDRESS: _____________________________________________________________________
List any training courses in teaching you have taken (e.g., Yale Center for Teaching and Learning programs
and others):
We like to prioritize applicants who will be finishing their time at Yale in the near future. Are there any
reasons why Spring 2016 fits especially well into your current plans?
GRADUATE/POSTDOCTORAL FACULTY ADVISOR INFORMATION
By signing this form, your advisor indicates support of your participation in the HHMI Scientific Teaching
Fellows Program.
ADVISOR NAME: ______________________________ DEPARTMENT: ___________________
EMAIL:
____________________________________________________________________
SIGNATURE: ___________________________________________________________________
*Electronic signatures accepted; alternatively, send a brief email to elizabeth.morse@yale.edu confirming permission.
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