Applications are currently closed.

The next application cycle for PMN leaders for the 2027-2028 cohort will begin in summer 2026. Please check back here for more information at that time.
 

Learn more about the program from this recent webinar provided by the project team on March 17th, 2026.

Program Overview  

The Green Chemistry Professional Mentoring Networks (PMNs) project will bring together teams of early-career and experienced chemistry instructors to adapt and implement green chemistry across chemistry curricula at two- and four-year institutions in the United States while gaining valuable insights into best practices in curricular reform. This program is led by Beyond Benign and Monmouth University and is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF Award 2439515).

The goals of this community transformation program include: 
 

1. Broadening the community of chemistry instructors and curriculum developers who adapt and implement green chemistry curriculum materials through peer support and mentorship;
2. Addressing the gap in the existing U.S. chemistry curriculum and the updates within the new ACS guidelines for bachelor’s degree programs that now require including green chemistry in chemistry coursework;
3. Generating new open-access curriculum resources adapted from existing examples to build a collection of educational materials for future adoption by the community;
4. Creating leadership opportunities for instructors and curriculum developers to champion green chemistry both at their home institutions and elsewhere in the community;
5. Understanding factors that accelerate or hinder green chemistry curricular reform; and
6. Building the green chemistry education community of practice towards maturing and stewardship for long-term sustainability.

Participants will join one of four networks centered around Beyond Benign’s Green Chemistry Commitment’s (GCC) four student learning objectives, namely:
 

1. Theory: Have a working knowledge of the Twelve Principles of green chemistry
2. Toxicology: Have an understanding of the principles of toxicology, the molecular mechanisms of how chemicals affect human health and the environment, and the resources to identify and assess molecular hazards.
3. Laboratory Skills: Possess the ability to assess chemical products and processes and design greener alternatives when appropriate.
4. Application: Be prepared to serve society in their professional capacity as scientists and professionals through the articulation, evaluation, and employment of methods and chemicals that are benign for human health and the environment.

Each of the four PMNs listed above will have two (2) leads and eight (8) regular participants. Through the PMNs, participants will engage in regular collaboration, discussion, and peer mentoring (both virtual and in-person) to support the effective use of green chemistry teaching resources. With the support of mentors and leaders in the PMNs, participants will then be better positioned as agents of change within their institutions and the broader chemistry community. The project’s leadership, in addition, will collect data (surveys, interviews, and teaching artifacts) on how the PMN program impacts the knowledge and practices of its participants (the chemistry instructors and curriculum developers), their students, and their departments/institutions.

What’s Involved - Program Structure and Components

Each PMN cohort will include up to 10 members, including the two PMN leads/facilitators and up to eight regular participants. The leads for the first year (Cohort I - 2026/2027) have already been selected, and as such applications are being accepted for regular participants at this time. Each applicant will apply on behalf of themselves for a position in one of the four PMNs offered. The four PMNs offered each academic year will include two in the Fall semester/term (September - December) focused on the first and second student learning objectives (Theory and Toxicology) and two in Spring semester/term (January - April) focused on the third and fourth student learning objectives (Lab Skills and Application). The program will run every year from 2026/27 through 2029/30 (four cohorts, or application cycles). While participants can apply to multiple PMNs in a given year, they will only be permitted to partake in one (1) PMN in a given year.
 

Participants accepted in the first PMN cohort will be engaged in a series of core program activities:
 

• Virtual Summit - Participants will attend a virtual summit (~4 hours long) in summer, which will bring together members from the upcoming academic years’ PMNs as well as advisory committee members, PMN leads, and project staff to discuss upcoming work, undertake participant interviews, and plan for the following year. Note that this summit alternates each year with the in-person summit.

• Regular Virtual PMN Meetings - During the semester-long Fall and Spring PMNs, participants will attend approximately eight virtual biweekly meetings. During these sessions, participants will:
  • (a) learn about green chemistry resources and best practices and strategies for adaptation and implementation;
  • (b) establish goals and troubleshoot challenges and barriers to resource adaptation and implementation; and
  • (c) come together as a community of practice to share feedback and recommendations and take actionable steps for change. Participants may be required to complete assignments prior to or after these virtual meetings, including researching potential curriculum materials, sharing reflections on their projects, establishing action plans, etc. 

• In-person Summit - Participants will attend an in-person summit (~2 days) in summer, which will bring together members from the previous and upcoming academic years’ PMNs as well as advisory committee members, PMN leads, and project staff to discuss progress and findings, share best practices and insights, discuss upcoming work, network, undertake participant interviews, and plan for the following year. Note that this summit alternates each year with the virtual summit.

   

• Post-PMN Follow-up - For participants who are unable to implement their adapted materials in the same semester they participate in their PMN, a follow-up with the project leadership will take place to collect data on their implementation success and understand how their proposed change is progressing.

Participants will ideally focus on adapting and/or implementing an online, open-source green chemistry module such as those hosted on the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) (https://gctlc.org/) for use in an undergraduate chemistry course or for broader dissemination, however the program is not prescriptive; any peer-reviewed scholarly materials may be used for this purpose. PMN leads and mentors will guide the participants in the selection and refinement of appropriate materials for use in their courses or laboratory instruction. As an example, adaptations may include modifying an existing module for a different educational level or teaching context (e.g., laboratory vs. lecture, 2yr vs 4yr college, etc.).

Research and Data Collection

For participants who opt to partake in the research component of the project, the researchers seek to understand how mentoring networks influence behavior change and institutional transformation. Specifically, the study will explore what enables educators to become active change agents in their departments and how these networks ultimately benefit themselves and their students. The project leadership will collect the following data from consenting PMN leaders and participants at various points throughout the academic year:

• Reflective diaries (weekly surveys on classroom practices and participant experiences in the PMN)
• Registrar and institutional data (consenting participants only)
• Student survey responses
• Semi-structured Interviews
• Post-PMN surveys

Benefits of Participation

PMN participants will receive:

• A $2,400 stipend for eligible participants.
• Access to green chemistry teaching modules and content such as the GCTLC, along with best practices for use across diverse teaching contexts.
• Ongoing support from a community of chemistry educators, curriculum developers, and peer mentors.
• Travel support to attend the in-person summit.
• Access to a funding pool (up to $4,000 per PMN) to support green chemistry curriculum adaptation and implementation projects, including purchasing materials.
   

For more information on eligibility, important dates, and how to apply, please visit our Application Guidelines page. 

Questions?

Contact Dr. Jonathon Moir (project Co-PI and Director of the GCTLC) at [email protected].