Upcoming ECB Scholars Workshops!
We are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting two workshops this summer at the University of New Mexico for Cohorts Four and Five!
We are currently accepting applications for Cohort Five, which will begin with a workshop on July 23-25, 2026 in Albuquerque, NM. This cohort will prioritize the Central or Great Plains region of the country, but institutions may still apply from outside the region. The priority deadline to apply is March 15th, 2026.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY for COHORT FIVE!
The ECB Scholars program will provide financial support for teams of three people from the same institution who are well-suited to improve biology TA-TPD. Teams should ideally be a combination of diverse positions such as faculty, department chairs, lab managers/coordinators, graduate students, teaching and learning center staff, etc. An honorarium will be provided for each team member following participation in a year-long, post-ECB workshop learning community.
The application asks about your institution, courses, and TAs. We also want to know why you are interested in developing or honing your institution’s biology TA-TPD, and if you have any specific goals or objectives for your TA- TPD. You may begin the application and finish it later.
We are in the process of reaching out to previously accepted applicants for Cohort Four to begin planning that workshop. Please check your emails or get in touch with the ECB team!
See below for more information, and if you have any questions about the program, you can always reach out to us at ecbscholars@gmail.com.
The current cohorts of ECB Scholars are focused on two adjacent regions:
Cohort 4 (Midwest) will be held in July, 2026 at the University of New Mexico.
Cohort 5 (Central) will be held in July, 2026 at the University of New Mexico.
Prior cohorts of ECB Scholars have been hosted in three regions so far:
Cohort 1 (Southeast) was held July 17-19, 2023 at Georgia State.
Cohort 2 (Southwest) was held June 26-28,2024 at UC Irvine.
Cohort 3 (Northwest) was held July 8-10, 2024 at Portland State.
Future regions:
Cohort 6 (Northeast) is being planned for the summer of 2027.
Do you want to develop or improve TA Teaching Professional Development (TPD) at your institution?
What is the ECB Scholars Program?
The ECB Scholars program is a federally-funded grant (NSF-IUSE: 2614700) designed to support the transformation of institutional Teaching Professional Development for Teaching Assistants (TA-TPD) in the biological sciences. Teaching Assistants are responsible for a large proportion of undergraduate instruction, and they also represent the faculty of the future. By training them in evidence-base teaching methods early in their careers, we can support them in their current positions, improve the educational experience of their students, and train the next generation of biology educators. In this way, we seek to “Evolve the Culture of Biology” education through TA-TPD.
What does the program entail?
Institutional teams will apply to participate as ECB Scholars for one year. Once accepted, Scholars will attend a three-day regional workshop in the summer. At the ECB workshop, Scholars will learn about TA-TPD, engage with like-minded stakeholders from other institutions in their region, and work with mentors to develop a plan to create or transform a TA-TPD program at their home institution. From there, teams will participate in a year-long, structured learning community to support one another, work with mentors, and make meaningful progress on their individual transformational goals.
Who can apply?
Teams of up to three people can apply per institution, which may include faculty, staff, administrators, or other relevant parties invested in biology TA teaching development. Faculty or staff responsible for supervising biology TAs are strongly encouraged to apply, especially those who do not currently offer support for their teaching professional development. We encourage teams to span a diversity of position types, to ensure that practitioners offering TA-TPD are appropriately supported when they return to their campuses. Individuals may apply on their own, but we encourage them to reach out to other stakeholders (e.g. their supervisors) to collaborate with them in the program!
Are expenses paid?
Funding for ECB Scholars will cover travel, lodging, and per diem for attending the regional workshop, as well as an honorarium upon completion of the program.
Who can answer my questions?
If you have any questions about the program or are considering applying, please email ecbscholars@gmail.com.
You also can join BioTAP’s Google Group to stay connected with others invested in biology TA training!
How do I get involved?
Consider applying to be an ECB Scholar! We are prioritizing regional applicants for each respective workshop, and we will visit multiple regions over a five-year period. Look for an announcement about the next location (Cohort 4) soon!
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