The application window for the 2026 Summer Research Experience for Teachers program is NOW CLOSED!

Here at The Engineering Place, we have compiled some of our favorite resources for teachers to use in their classrooms. We hope these materials are helpful to your students as they explore the vast field of engineering.

2026 Summer Research Experience for Teachers

Exploring Climate Change Through AI and Engineering Research

Teachers and students are invited to collaborate with Dr. Edgar Lobaton, a distinguished electrical engineer recognized with numerous teaching awards, and his cutting-edge research team. Together, they will explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the way scientists study climate change.

Participants will become part of the research team, contributing to the development of a K–12 accessible robotic imaging device. Using state-of-the-art AI tools, this project will launch a citizen science program that empowers students and educators to advance real-world research findings.

Teachers and high school students will work side by side to:

• Engage in authentic engineering research while collaborating directly with the research team to solve real-world problems.
• Utilize AI-driven research models and imaging devices to analyze samples, contributing vital scientific data as active citizen-scientists.
• Engineer functional imaging prototypes by producing custom components and mastering the hands-on assembly and operation of hardware systems.
• Translate 2D imaging data into tangible 3D computer models, mastering the tools used to interpret and visualize complex structures.
• Design student-friendly instructional materials and provide critical feedback on system accessibility to refine the design for future classrooms.

The Engineering Place team will serve as the bridge between authentic research and K–12 instruction. Through weekly meetings during the research experience and ongoing academic year support, they will provide the expertise, resources, and guidance needed for teachers and students to thrive in the lab and successfully develop their projects.

Note: Preference given to Teacher/Student team/s from the same school, but all are encouraged to apply.

Specifics

• Stipend: $6,000 for summer
• Stipend: $1,000 for academic year implementation
• When: June 22 – July 20, 2026 (no work on July 3, 2026)
• Location: NC State College of Engineering: Centennial Campus in Raleigh, NC 
• Engineering Lab: Lobaton Lab in Engineering Building II
• Application Deadline: March 31, 2026

Program Outcomes

Teachers and students will achieve comprehensive hands-on expertise by building, testing, and critically evaluating a functional imaging device. They will develop high-quality instructional resources (e.g., videos) to demystify assembly and enhance accessibility. Key technical outcomes include mastering the operation of the imaging system to capture scientific data and gaining proficiency in interpreting, visualizing, and 3D printing microscopic models. Teachers will gain a deeper understanding of scientific and engineering practices and how this translates into their science and engineering curriculum. Ultimately, participants will serve as program ambassadors, bringing the experience and citizen-science research methodologies back to their schools to empower broader student engagement.

Suggested prerequisites for a successful experience 

• Prior experience programming in Python or working with microcontrollers such Arduino and Raspberry PI are recommended but not required.

Teacher Application Requirements and Expectations

• Be a high school STEM or computer science teacher at a school within the United States with 3 years of classroom teaching experience.
• Provide own transportation and work in-person at NC State University throughout the RET.
• Have a teaching appointment for the 2026-2027 school year
• Have a device that is capable of running computer programs and supporting virtual meetings.
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.
• Devote 40 hours per week to the program during the four-week session. This is considered a full-time commitment and you may not enroll in classes or hold other jobs during the day. 32-36 hours a week will be spent in the research lab working on a research project and 4-8 hours a week will be spent participating in professional development conducted by The Engineering Place team.
• Complete work requirements to program standards. Please note that failure to uphold program expectations may result in removal from the program.
• Participants will be paid a stipend for
  • the research experience
  • Implementing the developed grade-level-appropriate research project from your research experience during the 2026-2027 school year.

Participant Benefits:

• Teachers will receive a $7,000 stipend for completing the summer research and implementing the citizen science research project in their classrooms.
•  Work with experienced research faculty on emerging and socially relevant research topics
• Implementation support during the academic year 
• Increased knowledge of the Next Generation Science Standards and 
• End the experience with lessons learned during the summer that you can use in your classroom to engage and connect your students with engineering research.

Activity Lesson Plans

Engineering Activities

Feel free to use and modify these lesson plans as much as you like.* If you have any questions, concerns, or comments please send an email to coe-theengineeringplace@ncsu.edu.

*The materials created by The Engineering Place are free for use but must be appropriately credited to The Engineering Place and cannot be used for commercial purposes.

Other Helpful Sites

• Link Engineering by the National Academy of Engineering
• Engineering Girl
• Engineer Teen
• Try Engineering
• Teach Engineering
• Women in Engineering Proactive Network
• Engineering Tomorrow

The Engineering Design Process

The Engineering Design Process that we use is adapted from the version designed by Boston Museum of Science’s Engineering is Elementary program. The Engineering Design Process is a consistent repetitive series of steps for developing or improving a product or system. Educators are encouraged to explain this 5-step process to students, as well as display it in their classrooms as a reference.

• The Engineering Design Process Poster (print-ready PDF, 14.22 in. x 10.67 in.)
  Note to Firefox users: The pdf version of the poster may not display properly in Firefox’s built-in pdf viewer. If this happens, you can go to Firefox’s preferences, choose applications and switch to another viewer.
• The Engineering Design Process Poster (higher resolution image, 11.0 in. x 8.25 in.) The image will open in another window. To download the image, follow your browser’s method of saving the image to your hard drive.
• The Engineering Design Process Poster (low resolution image) The image will open in another window. To download the image, follow your browser’s method of saving the image to your hard drive.
• View a text description of the poster.

Visit our programs page to learn more about how we work with schools and other groups!

Description of Graphic

The Engineering Design Process

1. Ask
   • What is your design supposed to do?
   • How will you know if it is doing what you want? What could keep you from making it do that?
   • How will you test your design?
2. Imagine
   • Apply knowledge and creativity to brainstorm ideas together.
   • Agree on one to try!
3. Plan
   • Consider your materials and resources.
   • Sketch/draw the details.
   • Pitch your plan.
4. Create
   • Follow the plan.
   • Test it out and compare your results to what you wanted or expected.
5. Improve
   • Analyze your test results.
   • What change would make the biggest impact on meeting your goal?

• The engineering design process is a series of steps that you repeat to develop or improve a product, process or system. You can start anywhere in the process, however, most engineers begin at ASK or IMPROVE.
• Failure is always a part of the process … so is learning from failure!