Madison College Teaching Fellows
Learn the principles of scientific teaching and apply them as an instructor at a local community college.
Are you a graduate student or postdoc pursuing a career that includes college-level teaching? Is your discipline biology, chemistry, physics, math, computer science, or a related field? Madison College Teaching Fellows is a professional development program that can help you turn that interest into real experience.
Over one year, Fellows get in-depth training with research-based, inclusive teaching, then apply what they learn by serving as paid instructors of record at Madison College. Through coursework and practical teaching experience, Fellows develop innovative and effective ways to teach STEM.
Applications are currently closed.
If you’d like to know when applications are open, sign up to get email updates about the program.
About the program
Madison College Teaching Fellows is a professional development program that offers graduate students and postdocs in-depth preparation for careers in teaching and leadership at two-year institutions. The program aims to broaden access to this career path while equipping instructors to support diverse learners.
The year-long program takes a unique approach, integrating training in college science teaching with practical teaching experience, all with an explicit emphasis on inclusive, research-based approaches.
During the first semester, Fellows learn about these teaching approaches along with important contextual information for teaching at a two-year institution. Then, under the guidance of an experienced faculty mentor, they apply the principles of scientific teaching to develop instructional materials that engage students in active learning. In the final semester, Fellows implement what they’ve learned by teaching an introductory level STEM course at Madison College, a two-year community college in Madison, WI.
Program at a glance
- Length: One calendar year (spring, summer, and fall semesters)
- Time commitment: About 2 to 12 hours per week (varies by phase; details below)
- Courses: Three 1-credit seminars (INTEGSCI 650, 750, 850)
- INTEGSCI 650 can count toward the Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning.
- Application status: 2028 applications will open in fall 2027
What you’ll do
As a Fellow, you’ll:
- Gain in-depth training in research-based teaching methods
- Serve as a paid instructor of record and gain firsthand experience designing and teaching an introductory STEM course
- Become more effective at supporting a broad range of students and addressing issues of diversity and inclusion in teaching environments
- Experience all aspects of teaching, from developing instructional materials to managing a classroom environment to grading
- Gain an understanding of community colleges and the experiences of transfer-intending community college students
- Help shape this program by reflecting on your experiences throughout
Introductory courses you could teach
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Math
- Computer science
How the program works
The program runs across three semester-long phases, each anchored by a one-credit seminar and mentored by the program director.
Fellows first learn about scientific teaching, then apply what they learned as they prepare to teach a course, and finally teach a real undergraduate course as instructors.
Before applying, please review the program expectations and time commitments below and discuss with your PI (or equivalent).
- Course: INTEGSCI 650: College Science Teaching (1–2 credits; meets Wednesdays, 9-11 A.M. in spring 2027)
- Other Activities
- Participate in monthly Community College Seminar meetings
Complete hiring process at Madison College
- Overall Time Commitment: 2–4 hours per week
INTEGSCI 650 covers the fundamentals of learning theory and practical strategies for teaching college-level science. The cohort works together to learn the core themes of scientific teaching (active learning, assessment, and diversity) so that they can make informed decisions about their teaching in the future.
For the Community College Seminar, Fellows meet monthly in collaboration with faculty and staff at Madison College to discuss topics relevant to teaching at a community college.
In order to teach at Madison College in fall, Fellows must be hired on by the college. During spring, Fellows will prepare for and complete the application and hiring process.
- Course: INTEGSCI 750: Instructional Materials Design for College Science Teaching (1 credit; meets weekly for 1–2 hours, time TBD)
- Other Activities:
- Meet weekly with Madison College faculty mentor
- Prepare to teach in the fall
- Overall Time Commitment: 4–6 hours per week
During this term, Fellows apply the pedagogical knowledge learned in spring to develop a plan to implement Madison College curriculum in the fall semester.
Fellows work with their Madison College faculty mentor to understand the course learning objectives, familiarize themselves with the provided instructional materials, and decide how they will adapt and implement them. Fellows also check in with their peers and the program director to give and receive support as they prepare to teach.
- Course: INTEGSCI 850: Mentored Practicum in College Science Teaching (1 credit; meets biweekly for 1–2 hours, time TBD)
- Other Activities: Teach a course at Madison College as instructor of record
- Overall Time Commitment: 8–10 hours per week
In the final semester, Fellows implement what they’ve learned by teaching a STEM course at Madison College as the instructor of record. During this mentored teaching experience, each Fellow serves as a part-time faculty member and gets paid for their time teaching. Fellows check in with their peers and the program director to receive support as they teach their course.
Which teaching program is right for me?
WISCIENCE offers two other Fellows programs that involve teaching: one in which Fellows collaboratively teach a bioscience course at UW–Madison, and one focused on teaching related to community engagement.
Eligibility
Review the eligibility requirements before starting your application.
You are eligible to apply if the following is true:
- Currently a graduate student in a PhD program or postdoctoral scholar at UW–Madison, and will continue to be through the fall 2027 semester.
- Please note: unfortunately, if you are a F-1, H1-B, or J-1 visa holder, you are ineligible to participate at this time due to updated federal restrictions to visas and/or CPT authorization.
- Completed 18 credits in the discipline (or a closely related discipline) that you are applying to teach in (biology, chemistry, physics, math, or computer science).
- Interested in and enthusiastic about teaching; willing to try new teaching approaches and teach in new settings.
- Interested in and enthusiastic about teaching a diverse student population.
- Able to complete the program in its entirety from January 2027–January 2028.
- This includes College Science Teaching and monthly meetings in spring 2027; Instructional Materials Design for College Science Teaching and regular meetings with a Madison College faculty mentor in summer 2027; and Mentored Practicum in College Science Teaching (serving as a instructor of record for a course at Madison College and attending regular faculty mentor meetings) in fall 2027.
- Approval from your PI/advisor to participate in this program (you will be asked to provide this approval in writing if selected).
- Willing to provide feedback to contribute to the program’s ongoing development.
How to apply
Applications for the 2028 program will open in fall 2027. Read about the application process below.
Step 1: Talk to your PI/advisor
Your PI/advisor needs to approve your participation in the program. We will need this in writing if you are accepted. Plan to have this conversation before you submit your application.
Prepare for your conversation
If you’re not sure what to say to your PI, here are some prompts to think about beforehand to help guide your conversation.
- What do you hope to gain from this program?
- How will this program support your career goals?
- How will you manage your time and balance Fellows activities with other duties (e.g., research, TAing, etc.)?
- Based on where you’re at in your graduate or postdoc career, why is this year a good time to participate in this program?
Step 2: Fill out an application
A complete application has five parts. Here’s what to prepare and what each one should include.
Your online form should include:
- Your contact and program information
- The subjects you are qualified for and interested in teaching
Please highlight:
- Teaching experience (specify your role/responsibilities for each course)
- Research and mentoring experience
- Any courses, trainings, or workshops that you have taken related to teaching
Please address these topics:
- Why you are interested in a teaching experience at a 2-year institution
- What you consider important for teaching at a 2-year institution
- Your career goals
Please include:
- A list of your existing obligations (research, teaching, etc.) and known conflicts from January 2027–January 2028.
- Include any time periods that you would be unavailable for program responsibilities as well as any recurring weekly commitments.
This will allow us to verify your eligibility to teach in the subjects that interest you.
Step 3: Interview (for select applicants)
Select applicants will be invited to an interview. This is an opportunity to share more about yourself, your career goals, and what you hope to get out of the program. It’s also a good opportunity to learn more about what participation in the program would be like.
Testimonials
I learned SO MUCH! This program helped me advance as an instructor in ways I didn’t realize I would/could. Without this program, I think I would feel a lot more out of depth in terms of applications and teaching in general. I’m glad I got some experience ahead of time through this practicum!
This was an excellent opportunity to experience teaching at a community college with guidance and support along the way.
Teaching my own course was a very valuable learning experience that went far beyond just talking about pedagogy.
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More WISCIENCE Fellows Programs
WISCIENCE offers three year-long Fellows Programs in teaching and community engagement. See all three to compare their focus, time commitment, and deadlines.