The Hutch Fellowship for Excellence in STEM Teaching (HTF) is a program for secondary science educators seeking an in-depth, biomedical research experience at Fred Hutch. The Hutch Teacher Fellowship provides support for up to two paid summers of cancer-focused biomedical research experience in a host lab and curriculum design activities, with additional school year follow-up. While this program is designed for secondary life science teachers, it is open to other STEM teachers as well.
New for Summer 2025! In addition to our regular Hutch Teacher Fellowship program, we are introducing HTF+SEP, a combined program with the Science Education Partnership (SEP) professional development program for teachers who have not previously completed the SEP program. HTF+SEP will allow teachers to participate in both programs during their first summer as a Hutch Teacher Fellow. Please see the HTF+SEP section below for more information. Teachers interested in the HTF+SEP program option should apply through the regular HTF application.
Check out our Hutch Teacher Fellowship Blog to read about the experiences of our Fellows!



Hutch Teacher Fellowship Application
The priority deadline for 2025 applications has passed
Update: Our programs rely on federal funding from NIH (specifically the National Institute for General Medical Sciences and National Cancer Institute) and budget support from Fred Hutch Cancer Center, both of which face uncertainty and potential cuts. At this time, we are uncertain whether we will receive sufficient funding to hold our programs as planned this summer. While we hope to proceed in some capacity, changes such as reduced participant numbers may be necessary. As a result, acceptance decisions may be delayed beyond the previously published date. We appreciate your patience and support as we navigate this challenging situation.
The application period runs from winter through early spring annually. For Summer 2025, the application for the Hutch Teacher Fellowship opened on December 2, 2024. The priority deadline for applications was March 16, 2025 11:59 pm PST. The priority deadline for the Principal Commitment of Support Form was March 30, 2025 11:59 pm PST. If you encounter questions or problems with the application, contact us at sep@fredhutch.org.
The priority deadline to submit the online application has passed. We are no longer accepting applications for Summer 2025.
Explore our New HTF+SEP Option
If you have not yet completed our 3-week SEP Summer Session professional development program, we strongly encourage you to consider our new HTF+SEP option. This is a combined program with SEP and the Hutch Teacher Fellowship (HTF) that will allow teachers to participate in both programs during their first summer of the HTF program. SEP introduces teachers to important biomedical research laboratory practices, pedagogical approaches, and curriculum resources that can better prepare them for their HTF experience. In addition to what the HTF program provides, HTF+SEP participants can receive an extra $200.00 participant award, access to the extensive SEP kit loan program, training in SEP curriculum and kits, and potential future leadership opportunities within SEP. We strongly encourage HTF+SEP applicants to commit to two consecutive summers, 8 weeks (40 hrs/week) per summer to succesfully manage the activities of both the HTF and SEP programs.
A sample schedule for the Summer 2025 HTF+SEP program is provided below:
Week | Dates | Program | Activities |
0 | June | HTF | Orientation, onboarding, training, and pre-work |
1 | June 30-July 3 | HTF | HTF program begins, first week in host lab |
2 | July 7-11 | SEP | SEP Week 1 – SEP Training |
3 | July 14-18 | HTF | SEP Week 2 – Mentored Research |
4 | July 21-24 | SEP/HTF | SEP Week 3 – SEP Training Sessions & Lab Work |
5 | July 28-31 | HTF | Lab work and curriculum project |
6 | Aug 4-8 | HTF | Lab work and curriculum project |
7 | Aug 11-15 | HTF | Lab work and curriculum project |
8 | Aug 18-22 | HTF | Program ends |
Additional commitments for HTF+SEP include the following:
- SEP Virtual Orientation: Sat, May 3, 2025 | 9:00 – 11:00 am on Zoom
- HTF Virtual Orientation: TBD, May 2025 on Zoom
- Teacher/Mentor Dinner: Thu, June 26, 2025 | 6:00 – 7:30 pm at Fred Hutch
- SEP Fall Kick-off: Saturday, September 13, 2025 | 9:00 am – 2 pm+ at Fred Hutch
- HTF Quarterly Check-in Virtual Meetings: TBD, 1 hour in November, February, and May on Zoom
- SEP Virtual Reflection Day: TBD, 1 hour on a Saturday in early May 2026 on Zoom
Please see the SEP program website for more information about that program. Teachers interested in the combined HTF+SEP program should apply through the HTF application. There will be a place on the application to indicate your interest in HTF+SEP. Questions? Please contact the HTF program manager.
Choosing Between our Professional Development Programs
The Hutch Fellowship for Excellence in STEM Teaching is a summer research experience that involves a cancer research experience paired with the design of innovative cancer-focused curriculum materials. Alternatively, Partners in Science 2.0 @ Fred Hutch is another summer research experience that will appeal to teachers who want to immerse themselves in a biomedical research-focused experience, discover the process of science, and develop their identities as scientists. The SEP Summer Session professional development program is a 3-week summer program focused on developing teachers’ molecular biology skills and pedagogical practices. For more information on the Hutch Teacher Fellowship and how it differs from our other professional development programs for science teachers, please visit our teacher website.
View a Comparison of PS2@FH and our Other Summer Teacher Programs
The Hutch Fellowship for Excellence in STEM Teaching is a part of the Pathways to Cancer Research program funded by a Youth Enjoy Science (YES) grant from the National Cancer Institute (grant number R25CA221770). Pathways to Cancer Research materials are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NCI or NIH. Additional funding provided by the Swarts Foundation.
