A course‐based undergraduate research experience in biochemistry that is suitable for students with various levels of preparedness

Abstract

Due to resource limitations at predominantly undergraduate institutions, research opportunities for non‐senior students can be limited. To provide opportunities for a variety of students to gain exposure to research, a course‐based undergraduate research experience (CURE) was designed and conducted. Coupled inquiry was used to allow underclassmen and upperclassmen to participate. Students first utilized a bioinformatics approach to develop hypotheses concerning protein interactions with the receptor Mer tyrosine kinase (MERTK). Students designed experiments to identify specific sites of interactions with SH2‐domain proteins utilizing an assortment of basic biochemical techniques. The semester culminated in students testing their hypotheses and producing manuscripts. Underclassmen that participated in the course also benefitted from mentor–mentee relationships developed with upperclassmen due to the collaborative nature of the course. The structure of the course also allows for further studies to be conducted based on novel findings and is highly adaptable to receptor tyrosine kinases found in other tissue types. © 2019 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 47(3):220–227, 2019.

Mock grant application roleplay as an alternative to lab‐based activities in molecular biology

“…While these technical skills are crucial, there other skills outside of the lab that is important but often overlooked in traditional lab sessions 3 . Educators highlighted that many undergraduates that completed lab‐based courses cannot still synthesize new experimental designs and do not understand the limitation of different approaches 4 . Hence, I introduced a mock grant application module in my course as an alternative to the lab‐based activities to promote these skills without the need for lab facilities.…”

Transitioning undergraduate research from wet lab to the virtual in the wake of a pandemic

“…Another aspect of teaching that has not been given enough attention is the online management of undergraduate research and biochemistry/molecular biology teaching labs. [5][6][7] In our undergraduate program (as in most institutions), students take research for credits, and earn it by committing to lab work for a few hours per week (3 hr per credit in our institution). Typically, undergraduate students in the sciences work with their mentors in the lab on a specific project, doing lab-based experiments and analyses.…”

“…For regular course work, lectures are given online and students continue to work on assignments and homework as they usually do. Another aspect of teaching that has not been given enough attention is the online management of undergraduate research and biochemistry/molecular biology teaching labs 5–7 . In our undergraduate program (as in most institutions), students take research for credits, and earn it by committing to lab work for a few hours per week (3 hr per credit in our institution).…”

Propelling a Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience Using an Open-Access Online Undergraduate Research Journal

“…A broad range of science-based CUREs have been developed within disciplines (e.g., biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, geography) as well as across disciplines (Brownell et al, 2015;Kerr and Yan, 2016;Sarmah et al, 2016;Shanle et al, 2016;Alford et al, 2017;Ballen et al, 2017;Ayella and Beck, 2018;Light et al, 2019;Shelby, 2019;Stoeckman et al, 2019;Wolkow et al, 2019). Bhattacharyya et al (2020) showcase the wide range of diversity in CURE design (Bhattacharyya et al, 2020).…”

“…Bhattacharyya et al (2020) showcase the wide range of diversity in CURE design (Bhattacharyya et al, 2020). Some CURE courses focus on one main biological model such as expression of p53 tumor suppressor gene in yeast (Brownell et al, 2015), protein interactions with Mer tyrosine kinase (Shelby, 2019), mutagenesis of lactate dehydrogenase (Ayella and Beck, 2018), or the effect of nicotine and caffeine on the development of zebrafish (Sarmah et al, 2016). Some involve students collaborating with an outside institution to conduct their research projects such as the Rosetta Research Experience for Undergraduates where students undertake their CUREs outside of the institution following a 2 weeks programming boot camp (Alford et al, 2017).…”