NSF AI grant $1.72M: "Noyce teacher fellows" who can leverage AI in STEM teaching (UC Davis)
The NSF awarded about $1.72M to prepare high-quality STEM teachers who can effectively leverage AI to advance student learning (Noyce scholarship, Track 2). It supports 12 STEM professionals to become grade 7–12 teachers, integrating AI's benefits — personalized learning, timely feedback, and identifying student needs — through both practice and research.
Grant overview (primary data)
- Award amount$1,715,167
- RecipientUniversity of California-Davis（CA）
- ProgramRobert Noyce Scholarship Pgm
- Period2025-10-01 〜 2030-09-30
- FunderU.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) / NSF
Key points
- Prepares high-quality STEM teachers (grades 7–12) who can effectively leverage AI
- Supports 12 STEM professionals to become teachers via an integrated credential + MA with AI integration
- Applies AI's benefits — personalization, timely feedback, identifying needs — through practice and research
- Hands-on in high-need schools; an AI-in-education conference builds a teacher community
- About $1.72M, led by UC Davis, Noyce scholarship, 2025–2030
The NSF awarded about $1,715,167 to UC Davis's Noyce Track 2 project "Creating STEM Teacher Fellows To Leverage AI" (NSF Award 2448486; program: Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship; October 2025 – September 2030).
Per the abstract, the project serves the national need to address lagging STEM achievement by preparing highly qualified STEM teachers who can effectively leverage AI to advance student learning. AI holds significant promise for enriching learning through personalizing experiences, providing timely feedback and support, and helping teachers identify and address student needs. It supports one cohort of 12 STEM professionals (biological & physical science, computer science, engineering, mathematics, and statistics majors) to become grade 7–12 teachers through a program combining research-based pedagogy with strategic AI integration.
Participants complete an integrated post-baccalaureate teaching credential and MA program while gaining hands-on experience using AI tools in high-need schools. The project provides training in, and conducts teacher research on, AI applications for advancing student learning, and participants host an "AI for Advancing Learning in STEM Education" conference to share their research and practical strategies with other educators, building a broader community of teachers skilled in leveraging AI. It partners with the high-need Twin Rivers Unified School District and the nonprofit Wicket, which empowers STEM learners via technology.
Why it matters
An example of using AI by strengthening the teacher's capacity to apply it to learning. A useful read on U.S. research investment and classroom implementation for those tracking AI in education, teacher preparation, and the STEM workforce.
FAQ
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Sources (primary)
Source: NSF Award Search (U.S. National Science Foundation, public domain). Amounts are the obligated amount. For privacy, we do not handle principal investigator names.
- NSF Award (original, official)
- NSF Award ID: 2448486