CURE Examples
Discipline
Core Competencies
- Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering) 5 matches
- Developing and using models 4 matches
- Planning and carrying out investigations 4 matches
- Analyzing and interpreting data 6 matches
- Using mathematics and computational thinking 4 matches
- Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering) 3 matches
Nature of ResearchResults 1 - 7 of 7 matches
Design2Data
Ashley Vater, University of California-Davis
The D2D program is centered around an undergraduate-friendly protocol workflow that follows the design-build-test-learn engineering framework. This protocol has served as the scaffold for a successful undergraduate training program and has been further developed into courses that range from a 10-week freshman seminar to a year-long, upper-division molecular biology course. The overarching research goal of this CURE probes the current predictive limitations of protein-modeling software by functionally characterizing single amino acid mutants in a robust model system. The most interesting outcomes of this project are dependent on large datasets, and, as such, the project is optimal for multi-institutional collaborations.
Core Competencies: Using mathematics and computational thinking, Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering), Analyzing and interpreting data, Planning and carrying out investigations, Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering), Developing and using models
Nature of Research: Wet Lab/Bench Research, Basic Research, Applied Research
Target Audience: Upper Division, Non-major, Major, Introductory
CURE Duration: A full term, Multiple terms
Laser spectroscopy of atmospherically relevant molecules and clusters in helium nanodroplets
Paul Raston, James Madison University
Superfluid helium nanodroplets present an ideal medium for the study of chemical dynamics at the molecular level. Their low temperature, enormous heat conductivity, and weakly interacting nature allow for the investigation of various things, such as how molecular rotation is effected by a solvent, and how molecules interact with each other. These two topics will be addressed in the lab by (1) measuring the spectra of unexplored molecules in helium nanodroplets and determining their rotational constants; this data will then be used to test known models describing the interaction between the molecule and helium solvent, and (2) synthesizing and characterizing unexplored molecular clusters in an effort to better understand molecular solvation; students will solvate the "unexplored molecule" with an atmospherically relevant species (O2, N2, H2O), and investigate the resulting clusters with laser Stark spectroscopy.
Core Competencies: Using mathematics and computational thinking, Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering), Analyzing and interpreting data, Developing and using models, Planning and carrying out investigations, Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering)
Nature of Research: Basic Research
State: Virginia
Target Audience: Upper Division, Non-major, Major
CURE Duration: A few class periods, Multiple terms
TRANSFER STUDENT CURE: Multi-organismal genomic analysis of molecular determinants of protein assembly.
Dylan Murray, University of California-Davis
Core Competencies: Analyzing and interpreting data, Planning and carrying out investigations
Nature of Research: Basic Research
State: California
Target Audience: Introductory
CURE Duration: Multiple terms
Does grazing influence the structure of aquatic and riparian communities?
Tim Armstrong, Adams State University; Megan Dudley, Adams State University; Dan Gibson-Reinemer, Adams State University
This CURE will examine the effects of grazing using a natural experiment in the mountains surrounding the San Luis Valley, Colorado. The eastern Sangre de Cristo Mountains have not been grazed for at least 50 years, and the western San Juan Mountains continue to be grazed. We will test if grazing affects the structure of aquatic and riparian communities as part of a larger interdisciplinary project.
Core Competencies: Planning and carrying out investigations, Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering), Analyzing and interpreting data
Nature of Research: Field Research, Basic Research
State: Colorado
Target Audience: Major
CURE Duration: Multiple terms
Emerging Contaminants in Arizona
Frank Marfai, Phoenix College
Core Competencies: Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering), Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering), Analyzing and interpreting data, Using mathematics and computational thinking, Developing and using models
Nature of Research: Basic Research, Applied Research
State: Arizona
Target Audience: Introductory, Upper Division, Non-major, Major
CURE Duration: Multiple terms, A full term
Support for medically vulnerable rural communities amidst COVID-19
Andre Stevenson, Elizabeth City State University
Individuals living with preexisting conditions often depend on community-based, supportive services to maintain their quality of life. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, access to these services has been disrupted or discontinued for many clients, due to mitigation efforts that aim to stem the spread of the virus. Agency closures and reduced service capacity, have an especially detrimental impact on rural communities, where fewer alternative mechanisms of institutional support and care exist. Students will assist with administering surveys to clients in order to better understand their experiences in areas including mental health, household needs, exposure to COVID-19, working conditions, and health management.
Nature of Research: Basic Research, Applied Research
State: North Carolina
Target Audience: Major
CURE Duration: Multiple terms
Animal Genome to Phenome - A CURE for food security
Mulumebet Worku, North Carolina A & T State University
Core Competencies: Developing and using models, Analyzing and interpreting data, Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering), Using mathematics and computational thinking
Nature of Research: Informatics/Computational Research, Basic Research, Applied Research
State: North Carolina
Target Audience: Major, Introductory
CURE Duration: Multiple terms