This study aimed to explore professional development participants’ individual and collective experiences, thoughts, reflections and evolving beliefs, attitudes and knowledge within the context of a two-week summer research apprenticeship program for secondary science teachers. The findings reveal that four profiles of teachers emerged based on their type and level of involvement in the science laboratory in which they were placed. The analysis of data indicated that teachers from all four profiles enjoyed their laboratory experiences. Throughout their PD journey, participants, gained a better understanding of science as a discipline and its core practices, and in doing so gained an improved level of scientific literacy, which based on their own account, would impact their teaching.