In 2015, the SC INBRE network received an $18 million NIH award. In 2017, the State of South Carolina was awarded a $20 million NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1 award, MADE in SC. Consisting of the state’s three comprehensive universities (USC, MUSC and Clemson), in collaboration with partner institutions throughout the state, these two programs serve to expand biomedical research capacity and strengthen our focus on advanced materials research.

In an effort to strengthen the pipeline of South Carolina K-12 students that are ready to engage in biomedical and advanced materials research and building upon the success of the Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program at Furman University, these combined initiatives support up to 14 teachers per year.

Managed from Furman University, the SC RET program enables teachers to engage in a six-week immersion research experience at an institution in their local area. These experiences (the first for many) expose teachers to modern research methods and allow them to link their research activities to classroom activities designed to increase their students’ knowledge and awareness of science. Teachers will be directed in carrying out unique, individualized research projects resulting in a scientific poster session presentation.

This program represents a full time commitment and provides financial support to participants. Teachers selected for the program may register for ED PD 662, Research Experience for STEM Teachers, 4-6 credit hours of recertification / professional development credit. Course serves to connect summer research experience with tangible teaching artifacts to bring back into the classroom. Course credit is offered through Furman’s Office of Graduate Studies.