Benefits and Implementation of a Course-Embedded Undergraduate Research Experience

Heather Kirkpatrick, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
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Abstract

Course-embedded undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) develop research of undergraduates outside of the traditional one-on-one professor – student mentorship structure. These experiences may last a single class period, such as an outdoor lab where students collect and interpret data or extend to semester-long projects where students develop complex research questions and experimental design. These experiences follow a four-step structure: (1) introducing knowledge, skills, and abilities; (2) reinforcing skills; (3) applying skills; (4) knowledge dissemination.
During this presentation, I will first discuss a course-embedded undergraduate research experience implemented over two courses, Introductory Mineralogy and Introductory Petrology, during the 2025-2026 academic year. In this project, students examined mineral inclusions within detrital zircon from a river in California. They developed research questions related to the size and abundance of inclusions. Skills for this project were developed and refined during mineralogy and petrology labs and lectures. Students' work was presented at the yearly department research symposium. After, three (out of eight) students from the course chose to complete undergraduate research projects related to zircon petrogenesis and mineral inclusions.
Next, I will discuss general benefits of CUREs in courses, especially those courses early in students' curriculum. Implementation of research experiences at the sophomore level allows students early access to the research process and increases student research options. Generally, early research experiences not only allow students to decide whether undergraduate research is something they hope to pursue in the future, it allows students to see the intricacies of scientific research. Potential metrics of success included (1) student evaluations of the course and project; (2) evidence of improved academic outcomes; and (3) evidence of deliverables such as a group final report or presentation at a student symposium or research meeting. Additional benefits include workforce development and student retention.

Session

Geoscience education