The 2026 Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program serves in-service educators who would like to learn more about how Internet of Things technologies are being developed to increase crop yields, while decreasing water and other resources needed to farm. IoT4Ag Engineering Research Center’s research and education programs and the larger discipline of Ag-Tech provide many topics for teachers to bring into their classrooms. These topics are relevant to food, energy, water, many STEM disciplines, and can be related to societal grand challenges. RET participants collaborate with IoT4Ag Center members to translate technical research into a YouTube video for peer educator or student audiences and develop standards-aligned, ready-to-use lesson plans that connect to AgTech.
Program dates: July 6 – August 3, 2026
Format: Full time (40 hours/week), in-person
Location: University of Pennsylvania, 3401 Walnut St., 19104
Eligibility: Teachers able to commute daily, who are committed to attending the entire immersive program
Stipend: $4,000, based on completion of educational products by expected deadlines
Note: Best Practices for RET program effectiveness include having pairs of teachers from the same school. We encourage applicants to discuss this opportunity with their colleagues at their schools.
This intensive, immersive 4-week program for educators will provide training in phenomena-based science, using real-world science and engineering projects in the AgTech space. Participants will get a deep dive into the scientific method and process. They will see how the process is implemented and translated into usable technologies through engagement with students, researchers and staff based in the IoT4Ag Center.
Participants will be integrated into some of IoT4Ag’s July programming that is part of the Center’s regular activities. These are not designed for teachers per se; teacher participants however will get an insider view of the types of activities that the Center hosts and participates in for a range of audiences. RET applicants should be open, curious, and willing to be part of activities that may stretch their comfort zones and/or knowledge background.
Participants will leave having produced a short video that translates published research aimed at other researchers into a format accessible to other educators and/or to students. Participants will develop a lesson plan appropriate for their own school/professional needs, which will also serve educators anywhere through dissemination of the IoT4Ag K-12 webpage.
We seek educators who are able and intend to implement their lesson plan into their classrooms or at their schools more generally. Program participants will be invited to submit a budget for needed materials for their lesson plan implementation. Approved materials will be provided by IoT4Ag for use in the following academic year. Teachers who implement their lesson and complete an implementation report during the upcoming academic year will receive additional compensation.
Applications will be reviewed ONLY after all components are received.
Questions can be directed to IoT4Ag’s Education Director, Kristin Field (kfield@seas.upenn.edu).
