On October 27, 2016 at the National Science Teachers Association Conference, the nano@illinois Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) program was highlighted. This NSF-funded program contributes to developing a diverse STEM workforce. Past participants’ summer research experiences, professional development activities in nanoscale STEM fields, and module development were shared. The conference was held in Minneapolis, MN with co-authors Carrie Kouadio, Irfan Ahmad, Lynford Goddard, and Xiuling Li.