Fellows Programs
Interested in STEM careers involving teaching or community engagement? Transform your passion into impact as a WISCIENCE Fellow.
If you’re a STEM graduate student or postdoctoral scholar at UW–Madison looking to expand your reach beyond the lab, WISCIENCE offers three immersive, year-long Fellows Programs that equip you to turn your expertise into meaningful impact in the classroom or the community:
Applications for 2027 will open September 14!
Why apply?
Our Fellows Programs are built on a foundation of:
- Professional Development. Clarify your career goals and gain in-depth training and experience.
- Hands-On Experience. Apply what you learn in authentic settings—whether in a college classroom or through a mentored practicum with a community partner.
- Inclusive, Research-Based Practices. Learn and implement evidence-based strategies that promote equity and engagement in STEM.
- Community and Collaboration. Join a supportive group of peers and build connections with STEM colleagues from across campus.
- Academic Advancement. Take coursework that can count toward the Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning or the doctoral minor in Community-Engaged Scholarship.
Programs at a glance
Three-semester structure
During one calendar year (January–December), Fellows spend each semester focused on a different phase of learning:
- Spring: learning the fundamentals
- Summer: building relationships and preparing materials
- Fall: implementing your learning through a practicum experience
Small group size
Because each Fellows Program is cohort-based, the group size is kept deliberately small (no more than 12 per program) to ensure Fellows can work closely with and learn from one another.
Complementary experiences
Each program is designed to fit into your graduate or postdoctoral journey while expanding your career possibilities and professional network.
Program benefits
These programs are designed for scholars who want to use their STEM expertise to make a meaningful difference—in the classroom, in their communities, or in the broader public sphere. If you’re passionate about making STEM more inclusive, accessible, and impactful, these programs will equip you with the tools and support to lead that change.
Career-Ready Experience
- Stand out on the job market with real-world teaching or community engagement experience.
- Serve as an instructor or complete a mentored practicum with a community partner, giving you a competitive edge for academic, nonprofit, public sector, or industry roles.
- Build a portfolio of work that demonstrates your commitment to inclusive, evidence-based practices.
Mentorship & Community
- Join a cohort of peers who share your passion for making STEM more inclusive and impactful.
- Work one-on-one with experienced educators and community leaders.
- Become part of a growing network of alumni who are transforming STEM education and public service.
Personal & Professional Growth
- Complement the skills you are building in your degree program or postdoctoral work, and gain confidence in your ability to lead and collaborate across disciplines.
- Clarify your career goals while reflecting on your values and how you want to use your expertise to serve others.
- Make a tangible difference in the lives of students, communities, and the broader public.
Program Details
STEM Public Service Fellows
For those interested in connecting their scientific expertise with public service and community engagement.
Highlights:
- Choose a specialization in direct service, science policy, or community-engaged teaching.
- Complete a mentored practicum with a campus, community, or public sector partner.
- Develop skills in science communication, partnership development, and civic engagement.
- Take coursework that can count toward the Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning.
- Participate in a three-course seminar sequence that can count toward the doctoral minor in Community-Engaged Scholarship.
Application Deadline:
October 25, 2026
Madison College Teaching Fellows
For those interested in teaching college-level courses to students from diverse backgrounds—especially at 2-year schools.
Highlights:
- Independently teach an introductory STEM course (biology, chemistry, physics, math, or computer science) at Madison College as a paid instructor of record.
- Learn how to design and deliver engaging STEM instruction that supports diverse learners.
- Gain experience working in a community college setting, where teaching is the primary focus.
- Get guidance from an experienced Madison College faculty mentor as you prepare to teach.
- Help shape a growing program that bridges a research university and a teaching-focused institution.
- Take coursework that can count toward the Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning.
Application Deadline:
October 25, 2026
Scientific Teaching Fellows
For those in the biosciences and related fields interested in teaching college-level science.
Highlights:
- Teach a UW–Madison undergraduate biosciences course and build a strong foundation in college-level science education.
- Participate in a three-semester sequence that includes coursework, curriculum design, and collaborative teaching.
- Learn and apply inclusive, research-based teaching practices that promote student engagement and equity.
- Implement active learning practices and help create a supportive community for students new to UW–Madison.
- Take coursework that can count toward the Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning.
Application Deadline:
October 25, 2026
Which teaching program is right for me?
If you’re interested in teaching, all three Fellows Programs have something to offer—and each has a unique focus and benefits. Learn more about how each program approaches teaching.
Testimonials
I enjoyed that [the practicum] was an independent, but assisted, experience where I learned how to be partner to a community organization. I enjoyed learning as I went, and felt that it was great experience to learn how these community organizations are run.
I use the skills I developed in the Teaching Fellows Program daily. This was one of the most valuable things I could have done as a graduate student. It made me a competitive applicant for tenure-track positions….
The structure of the program was my favorite part. I loved how we learned, created, and then put our knowledge and curriculum into practice. The collaborative nature of this process was also very educational.
The cohort structure of the program…gave me the opportunity to meet other graduate students from STEM fields who also wanted to make an impact on their local communities….That network of like-minded people gave me a sense of belonging as a graduate student.
Considering how academic research can serve communities can be challenging, but learning and doing so with a group of peers was incredibly rewarding. I learned a lot from the different viewpoints and experiences of my fellow STEM Public Service Fellows, and together we built a learning community in which it was safe to explore these challenging ideas.
[This program] changed the way I thought about education and research. I’m truly thankful that I was able to learn pedagogy theory with the teaching fellows program, and I still refer back to frameworks of thinking that I initially learned during my training. To my surprise, learning to teach helped me organize and communicate my research better.
Want to learn more about our Fellows and their experiences?
Information sessions
These drop-in information sessions are held remotely over Zoom. You can join anytime during the session and leave when you need.