Our call for Instructors is primarily aimed at PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career professionals in science and technology, interested in sharing their academic and research experience with high school and undergraduate students through a hands-on, collaborative learning model.
PROFILE AND REQUIREMENTS
Applicants are expected to meet the following criteria:
Have previous experience in teaching, science outreach, or mentoring, through workshops, courses, classes, tutoring, or similar activities.
Be willing to design, plan, and teach a Club through co-instruction, working collaboratively with another selected instructor and maintaining clear, consistent communication.
Commit to full-time participation during the Clubes de Ciencia week, with a minimum of 40 in-person hours throughout that week.
Have availability in the months prior to the event to participate in regular virtual meetings with the Clubes de Ciencia México team and their co-instructor, in order to prepare the Club program, complete academic reviews, and coordinate logistics.
SUPPORT
Selected applicants who do not reside in one of the 10 host cities or in Mexico, may apply for travel support, which may include accommodation, meals, and transportation (airfare or/and bus), subject to budget availability.
Each Club will also have a support equivalent to USD $300 for the purchase and shipment of materials required for the activities.
All selected instructors are required to design and deliver a STEM club (course) under a co-teaching model, working in pairs with another instructor.
Ideally, each pair will consist of one international instructor and one Mexico-based instructor.
The pairing and assignment of instructors will be carried out by the Clubes de Ciencia México team, based on instructor profiles and the specific needs of each site.
WHAT IS CLUBES DE CIENCIA MÉXICO (CdeCMx)?
Clubes de Ciencia México (CdeCMx) is a nonprofit organization founded by young scientists from Mexico and abroad. Our mission is to democratize access to high-quality science education, inspiring and mentoring the next generation of scientists and innovators through international scientific collaboration networks.
WHAT IS THE WEEK OF “CLUBES DE CIENCIA”?
The “Clubes de Ciencia” week is an immersive, one-week program featuring hands-on workshops on cutting-edge scientific topics, social activities, and unique networking opportunities. This initiative connects participants with leading scientists while fostering collaboration and innovation.
WHAT IS A “CLUB”?
A Club is a practical and intensive course designed for high school and undergraduate students, delivered during the Clubes de Ciencia week.
Each Club is designed and taught by a pair of instructors: one based abroad and one based in Mexico. Clubes de Ciencia México is responsible for matching instructors according to their profile and proposed Club.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A CLUBES DE CIENCIA INSTRUCTOR?
Instructors are responsible for designing and delivering a Club using a hands-on and collaborative approach. During the Clubes de Ciencia week, they provide academic guidance to students and work closely with their co-instructor and with the Clubes de Ciencia México academic team.
DO I NEED TO DESIGN A CLUB TO APPLY AS AN INSTRUCTOR?
Yes, all instructors are required to design and implement a Club!
Here’s what you need to know:
- Budget: Each team will receive $300 USD to purchase materials for their Club.
- Travel support: Round-trip flights are provided for instructors based in the US. For other regions, assistance is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
- Formats:
- Co-develop a Club with a Mexican-based instructor.
- Implement a pre-designed Club by renowned collaborators like Nobel Laureate Frank Wilczek or research professors such as Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado.
Key aspects for your Club proposal:
- Focus on a “learn by doing” approach: prioritize practical activities where students can experiment, code, and solve real-world scientific problems.
- Clubs run Monday through Friday for 6-7 hours daily, with an opening ceremony on Sunday and a final symposium on Saturday where students present their results.
Examples of past Clubs:
- Building electronic gadgets to enhance sensory perception.
- Performing bioinformatics analysis to explore students’ ancestry.
- Exploring semiconductors by constructing lasers and microcontrollers.
- Applying machine learning to identify the best tacos in town.
- Investigating ecological diversity in the host city.
Explore past Clubs on our YouTube Channel.
WILL CdeCMx COVER MY TRANSPORTATION COSTS TO THE HOST CITY?
If selected as an instructor and assigned to a host city where you do not reside, you may apply for transportation support, which may include airfare or bus tickets.
Support is subject to budget availability and the policies in place for each edition.
WHAT HAPPENS IF, AFTER BEING SELECTED, I CAN NO LONGER PARTICIPATE?
If you are unable to participate after being selected, it is essential to notify the Clubes de Ciencia México team as early as possible.
Because travel and accommodation arrangements are made in advance, late cancellations may affect program logistics and resource allocation.
CAN I REQUEST A CHANGE OF HOST CITY AFTER BEING ASSIGNED?
Host city assignment is based on the instructor’s profile, Club proposal, and overall program logistics.
For this reason, changes of host city cannot be guaranteed once assignments have been made, except in exceptional cases and subject to availability.
CAN I MODIFY MY CLUB PROPOSAL AFTER BEING SELECTED?
Yes. Once instructors are selected and paired, the Club proposal must be revised and redesigned collaboratively with the assigned co-instructor.
This process is an essential part of the co-instruction model and is carried out in coordination with the academic team during the preparation stage.
HOW DOES ACCOMMODATION WORK FOR INSTRUCTORS?
When accommodation support is provided, Clubes de Ciencia México, with the support of its sponsors and partners, manages reservations directly, based on the number of instructors participating in each edition.
Accommodation is assigned in simple double rooms, shared between two instructors of the same sex, according to host city logistics and availability.
If an instructor chooses to travel with family members, friends, or companions, they must arrange and cover additional accommodation costs independently. Clubes de Ciencia México covers accommodation only for the selected instructor.
In accordance with sponsor policies, instructor travel arrangements are subject to the following guidelines:
Instructors are expected to arrive one day before the official opening date and depart on the same day as the program’s closing ceremony.
WHAT DO TRANSPORTATION PER DIEMS COVER?
Transportation per diems cover only the main travel to the host city, either airfare (when necessary) or bus transportation.
If traveling by personal vehicle, tolls may be covered, but gasoline expenses are not included.
Local transportation such as taxis or other personal travel expenses are not covered and must be paid independently.
IS IT MANDATORY TO ATTEND THE ENTIRE CLUBES DE CIENCIA WEEK?
Yes. Participation as an instructor requires full-time availability for the entire Clubes de Ciencia week.
Partial participation is not possible, as the program relies on continuity and sustained academic engagement.
WHAT IS THE DESIRABLE PROFILE OF AN INSTRUCTOR?
The call is primarily directed to PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career professionals in science and technology.
Previous experience in teaching, mentoring, or science outreach is highly valued, as well as interest in collaborative work and student training.
DO I HAVE TO SPEAK SPANISH TO PARTICIPATE?
Speaking Spanish is highly recommended but not mandatory. Clubs are conducted in both Spanish and English, and students are informed beforehand about the language of instruction. We strive to pair non-Spanish-speaking instructors with fluent co-instructors to ensure seamless communication.
HOW DO I BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR?
- Look out for the call for instructors on our official website.
- Create a profile on our application platform.
- Complete your application and submit your Club proposal.
- Await notification of your selection!
HOW MUCH TIME DOES THE COMMITMENT AS AN INSTRUCTOR REQUIRE?
The commitment includes two stages:
Pre-program preparation: participation in virtual meetings in the months prior to the event for academic planning and coordination.
Clubes de Ciencia week: full-time, in-person participation, with a minimum commitment of 40 hours during the week.
HOW CAN I IMPROVE MY CHANCES TO BE SELECTED?
The selection process is competitive, with acceptance rates of approximately 10%. Here are some tips to strengthen your application:
- Propose unique, engaging, and non-traditional activities that combine experimentation, programming, and critical thinking.
- Select innovative scientific topics that inspire curiosity and creativity.
- Design straightforward activities to explain advanced concepts. For example:
- The Higgs boson as an energy “piggy bank.”
- Viruses as stealth agents.
- Entropy as a salt shaker.
CAN I PARTICIPATE IF I DON’T LIVE IN MEXICO OR THE USA?
Yes, absolutely! We welcome applications from researchers based in any location. Final selection of applicants outside our primary regions will depend on funding availability.
WHERE DO THE CLUBES DE CIENCIA PROGRAMS TAKE PLACE?
Clubes de Ciencia programs are held in person at different locations across Mexico.
Locations may vary each year, and assignment is based on the instructor’s profile, Club proposal, and overall program logistics.
CAN I INVITE A TEACHING ASSISTANT (TA) OR COLLABORATOR FOR MY CLUB?
Instructors may suggest profiles of students or collaborators as potential Teaching Assistants (TAs). However, all individuals interested in participating as TAs must apply individually through the corresponding call.
TA selection is conducted exclusively by the Clubes de Ciencia México team, based on academic and equity criteria.
The application or suggestion of profiles does not imply automatic acceptance, even if the instructor who suggested them is selected. Certificates of participation are issued only to individuals who are formally selected and actively participate in the program.
HOW AND WHEN CAN I APPLY?
Applications are submitted through the Clubes de Ciencia México platform once the official call is published.
Dates and registration links will be announced on this page and through official communication channels.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR INSTRUCTORS
January 6: Instructor Call Opens
February 1: Extended Deadline — Instructor Call Closes
March 1: Instructor Call Results Announced
July–August: Clubs of Science Program Weeks
Tentative Clubs of Science 2026 Dates
July 6–11: Guadalajara & Mérida
July 19–25: Aguascalientes & Monterrey
July 26 – August 1: Guanajuato, Chihuahua & La Paz
August 2–8: Ensenada, Oaxaca & Xalapa
HOW DOES THE MATERIALS SUPPORT FOR CLUBS WORK?
Each Club receives a materials support equivalent to USD $300, intended for the purchase and shipment of materials required for activities. This support is managed in coordination with the Clubes de Ciencia México team and is subject to each edition’s guidelines and timelines.
Clubes de Ciencia México is responsible for purchasing all previously approved materials. If materials cannot be obtained on time through our providers, instructors will be notified in advance so that necessary adjustments can be made to the Club proposal.
Each Club is designed for approximately 20 students and has a one-week duration; therefore, instructors are asked to propose reasonable quantities of materials aligned with the program format.
For materials requiring purchase and shipment from the United States, the process may take up to two months from purchase to delivery at host locations, and this timeline should be considered during planning.
Materials purchased directly by Clubes de Ciencia México (CdeCMx) for the development of the clubs are the property of the organization and are used exclusively for educational purposes. At the end of each edition, these materials are stored for reuse in future activities; therefore, individual donations of materials to participants or instructors are not made.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON COMMUNICATION AND LOGISTICS
Timely and consistent communication with the coordination team and host city is essential to confirm participation and logistical needs.
Travel and accommodation arrangements are made in advance, typically during April. Failure to confirm within the established timelines may prevent the management of logistical support, even if an instructor has been selected.