To advance undergraduate education, CIRTL at Northwestern provides professional development programs for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in STEM and SBE (social, behavioral, economic) disciplines.
The Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) is a network of universities working together to enhance undergraduate education through the development of future faculty.CIRTL at Northwestern is designed to build a community of practitioners within and across disciplines – both locally and nationally – to improve undergraduate student learning in the STEM and SBE disciplines.
Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows are invited to participate in our local on-campus and national online cross-network programs.
On-Campus Programs
Mentored Discussions of Teaching (MDT) - a quarter-long program that fosters discussion about teaching and learning through classroom observations, meetings with a faculty mentor, and readings on select pedagogical topics.
STEM Teaching MOOCs and MCLC - The online CIRTL MOOCs, "An Introduction to Evidence-Based Undergraduate STEM Teaching” and "Advancing Learning Through Evidence-Based STEM Teaching", and an accompanying on-campus MCLC (MOOC-Centered Learning Community) that meets weekly to support participants enrolled in each MOOC.
Teaching Certificate Program (TCP) - in the context of a supportive learning community, participants in this yearlong program engage in ways to improve teaching and learning in their disciplines.
Searle Teaching As Research (STAR) Program - an advanced program where participants implement a classroom-based research project.
CIRTL Workshop Series - workshops offered at the Searle Center throughout the year on topics relevant to teaching and learning in STEM and SBE.
Online Events*
CIRTL drop-in events - include online events and event series such as CIRTLCasts and CIRTL's journal club. These events give current and future faculty an opportunity to learn about and discuss a wide range of topics related to STEM teaching and learning. No advanced registration required.
CIRTL Workshops - are tailored to helping graduate students and postdocs develop specific materials that can advance their teaching and research expertise. These workshops, led by faculty and staff from CIRTL institutions, cover a range of topic, like writing and implementing an individual development plan, and writing and refining teaching statements. Workshops require advanced registration and space is limited.
CIRTL Courses - are focused on teaching and learning and give graduate students and postdocs an interactive, synchronous, online learning experience led by faculty and staff from CIRTL Network universities. Courses require advanced registration and space is limited.
*Participants are required to create a free CIRTL Network Account to register for online events.
For more information, please contact:
Rob Linsenmeier, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Neurobiology
Nancy Ruggeri, Director, Graduate and Postdoctoral Learning, Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching
Lauren Woods, Assistant Director, CIRTL at Northwestern
