Molecular Parasitology
Paul Ulrich, Georgia State University
Of the approximately 1000 different proteins that populate eukaryotic mitochondria, ~50% have no known function. Molecular Parasitology is a course-based intensively engages undergraduates by investigating roles of uncharacterized, mitochondrial proteins in trypanosomatid parasites. Students utilize basic bioinformatics (subcellular localization, conserved domain prediction, BLAST, secondary structure) to predict protein function followed by construction and transfection of GFP-fusion constructs into cell lines to validate their predictions. The CURE is designed to encourage independent problem-solving, science identity, and support career success.

Phage Investigations
Sonia Singhal, Johnson C Smith University
Bacteriophages -- viruses that infect bacteria, or "phages" for short -- are the most abundant organism on the planet. We can harness them to fight diseases, restore environmental functions, and search for new genes. However, we only know about a tiny fraction of all the bacteriophages that exist. In this lab-based course, students will participate in hands-on research by isolating and characterizing their own bacteriophages from the environment.

Microbial Community Diversity and Interactions
Rachel Bleich, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Recycle Your Life: Investigating best practices for improving recycling
Michael Black, Georgia State University
This CURE is designed to introduce STEM-thinking and research tools to students with an interest in furthering environmental goals. As the entryway for most starting students is recycling, this CURE is aimed at helping students understand some of the disconnect between understanding recycling (why it is important and what can be recycled) and behaving in a way that matches that understanding (recycling appropriately).

Bioenergy Materials for Renewable Energy: A Theoretical and Experimental Approach
Jalaal Hayes, Delaware State University
This course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) will focus on the topic of biomass energy.

Analyzing datasets in crime and policing teach the nature and process of science
Michael Watson, Fisk University

Inhibitors for Malate Dehydrogenase
Dawn Marin, Gaston College
The goal of this CURE is to design, synthesize and test inhibitors of Malate Dehydrogenase. Students will study the structure of the enzyme and propose possible inhibitors that could form intermolecular bonds with the enzyme. Students will choose potential inhibitor molecules that can be purchased or easily synthesized and purified. The binding of inhibitors will be screened using computational docking calculations. Successful Inhibitors will be tested using enzymatic assays.

Neurobiology of Alcohol CURE
Elizabeth Crofton, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Excessive alcohol use is highly prevalent in college students. Alcohol causes a multitude of alterations in the brain that can eventually lead to alcohol use disorder, but this shift is not fully understood. Evidence suggests that adolescents are particularly vulnerable to developing substance use disorders. Therefore, research into the neurobiology of alcohol has broad interest inside and outside the college classroom. The goal of this research project is to investigate the effects of chronic alcohol on gene and protein expression in specific regions of the rat brain. Students will critically evaluate existing alcohol research and design a well-controlled study to investigate a feasible and testable question. Students will use rodent brain histology, quantitative PCR analysis, or western blotting to investigate their hypothesis. This work will provide a better understanding of the effects of alcohol and provide students laboratory and research skills.

Drosophila as a Model Organism for Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Rick Topinka, American River College
There is concern that chemical exposure may contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) such as autism. Drosophila (fruit fly) is a model system for NDDs and flies with mutations in genes homologous to known human autism-risk genes exhibit behavioral abnormalities. As part of the course-based undergraduate research experience in this biology class we will be exposing developing flies to environmental toxins and measuring one aspect of their behavior, either mating behavior or grooming behavior. In addition, we will be investigating whether neural development is impaired in these flies using dissection and fluorescent labeling of particular brain structures.

Flow Cytometry Based CURE – Genotoxic Stress and Immune Cells
Charlie Benson, Georgia State University; Megan Dickherber, Georgia State University
This lab will focus on learning laboratory techniques commonly used in cellular immunology and cancer cell biology research. Over the course of the semester students will conduct research investigating the impact of genotoxic stress and DNA damage agents on immune cell phenotype and function. It is not well characterized how diverse types of immune cells are changed following exposure to such agents. It is important to understand how exposure to such stressors influences cell biology as many such agents are used therapeutically in medicine (radiation and chemotherapy). In particular, the field of cancer immunotherapy relies on the function of immune cells to recognize and attack cancer cells. Thus, the impact of these standard therapies (radiation) on the immune cells themselves is useful knowledge that could help optimize immune based therapies. During the course they will learn the scientific process while also learning common research techniques for eukaryotic cell culture and diverse flow cytometry assays.