A 鶹Ʒ team led by Greg Strimel, interim head of Technology Leadership and Innovation and associate professor in the Purdue Polytechnic, has received a nearly $1.99 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to prepare K-12 teacher leaders who can bring advanced knowledge of microelectronics and semiconductors into their classrooms.
The five-year project, funded through the NSF’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, will establish the Microelectronics Master Teacher Fellowship Program. The initiative will recruit and prepare practicing teachers to serve as fellows in high-need districts, where they will lead the integration of microelectronics-focused STEM curricula.
Strimel, interim head and associate professor of technology leadership and innovation, is the principal investigator. The project is an interdisciplinary collaboration with co-principal investigators Tamara Moore, Morgan Hynes, and S. Selcen Guzey from Purdue’s College of Engineering and College of Education.
"This award provides an opportunity for Purdue to build national leadership in preparing teachers who can connect microelectronics research with K–12 education,” Strimel said. “The Master Teacher Fellows program will not only expand teacher expertise but also strengthen pathways for students into critical technology fields.”
The initiative directly addresses the national demand for a skilled workforce to advance U.S. competitiveness in the microelectronics sector. The program leverages key partnerships with the Regional Opportunity Initiatives, Naval Surface Warfare Center–Crane, and the Silicon Crossroads Microelectronics Commons Hub. It will serve districts including Washington Community Schools, Lafayette School Corporation, Loogootee Community Schools, and 鶹ƷHigh Schools.
The project builds on the success of the SCALE K-12 program, which develops curriculum and provides professional development to help teachers introduce semiconductor concepts to students. Tamara Moore, who leads the SCALE K-12 initiative, will serve as a co-principal investigator on the new grant.
“By equipping teachers with cutting-edge knowledge in microelectronics, we are not only giving them the tools to spark student curiosity but also empowering them to prepare young people for careers that directly shape our nation’s future,” Moore said.
Supported in part by Micron Technology, Inc., the project will also contribute research on effective strategies for teacher leadership and retention in high-need districts.
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