A short medicinal-chemistry inspired laboratory sequence aimed at understanding and controlling bacterial communication.
Laura Brown, Indiana University-Bloomington
Medicinal chemists are organic chemists (often employed by pharmaceutical companies) who synthesize and develop new organic molecules with favorable biological properties. As an illustrative example, penicillin was discovered in 1928 and developed into a drug in 1942. Resistance quickly arose and continues to be a problem, and penicillin is not effective against all types of bacteria. In the decades that followed, medicinal chemists synthesized a variety of molecules that were similar in structure to penicillin, but that either demonstrated enhanced antibiotic activity or did not exhibit the same resistance profile. A new approach to controlling the pathogenicity of bacteria is to simply "trick" the bacteria into remaining in their "normal" non-pathogenic state by controlling the ability of bacteria to communicate with one another by a mechanism termed "Quorum Sensing." Quorum sensing is a form of chemical communication by which bacteria sense each other's presence via concentration gradients of small molecules. I have a collaborator in the biology department who has developed a biochemical assay to identify inhibitors of this process, and the students who sign up for this course will synthesize a small library of molecules to test in this assay.

Synthesis and Analysis of Carbohydrate-based hydrogels
Rebecca Connor, Dickinson College
This CURE has been developed for first-year general chemistry students with a strong background in chemistry who have elected to take an accelerated one-semester general chemistry course. In this CURE, students will have the opportunity to study controlled drug release from carbohydrate-based hydrogels or protein purification using carbohydrate based hydrogels. After learning some basic lab skills and developing their ability to read the primary literature, the students will use what they have learned to design a new synthesis of a carbohydrate-based hydrogel. They will evaluate their hydrogels for mechanical properties and ability to absorb and release model drugs. After their first set of experiments, the class will meet in a "group-meeting" and they will present and discuss their in-progress data. The students will then propose their next set of experiments and perform them. They will write a formal report at the end of the semester detailing their methods used, results generated, and a comparison of their results to the published literature.

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.

Research in Agriculture
Chantel Simpson, North Carolina A & T State University; Chastity Warren English, North Carolina A & T State University
Explores research methods in agriculture including observational, correlational, survey and experimental methods. Uses the scientific method in the design, execution, analysis, and communication of agricultural investigations. Discusses the ethics of research, and evaluation methods. Students will be offered the opportunity to conduct agricultural studies using a variety of methods.

Introduction to Statistical Methods "for the CURE"
Meredith Anderson, Adams State University; Ashley Meek, Adams State University
Students will take data collected from other CURE classes and perform a variety of statistical analyses. They will learn how to prepare data sets for analysis and about experimental design. Students will see how technology facilitates the calculation of summary statistics and the visualization of data.

Visualizing protein aggregates involved in human disease
Whitney Duim, University of California-Davis

General Chemistry II Water Quality labs at Adams State University
Christina Miller, Adams State University; Christopher Adams, Adams State University; Umesh Bhattarai, Adams State University
Adams State is conducting CURES in many of our lower divisional Biology, Chemistry, Geology and Math courses to increase the number and diversity of students who participate in undergraduate research. In General Chemistry II lab we will be replacing our normal labs concerning titration pH and ion solubility with CURES concerning water quality. These water samples will come from surrounding areas that have either been grazed or ungrazed to find out if there are differences in water quality between them. We will be using ion-specific probes to determine the presence and concentration of specific ions in the water samples. We will be using pH probes and titration to determine the acid concentration in water samples.

Genome Hunters (Salty Chips)
Robert Furrow, University of California-Davis

A CURE Project for STEM Education at HBCU - Surface Pattern Design for Chemical Mechanical Polishing Pad
ZHICHAO LI, North Carolina A & T State University
Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process is widespread employed in many manufacturing industries such as semiconductor and aerospace. The objective of the present CURE project is to introduce the specific advanced manufacturing process to sophomore and junior students at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. The CURE course will be combined and implemented through the course of ISEN324 (Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacture). Students in this CURE course will experience a basic training on how to conduct engineering research and development activities in manufacturing industry, develop skills in engineering design and precision manufacturing, and obtain capabilities in applying STEM knowledge to analyze and resolve engineering problems in real industry through modeling, simulation and optimization research steps.

Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience for Aviation students
Chandra Asthana, Elizabeth City State University
In many situations, big jet airplanes encounter runway excursions upon landing that lead to accidents. These accidents have been fetal at times. This research is aimed at identifying the causes for runway excursions and making a research proposal towards finding a solution. The solution may be in terms of pilot training, refined regulations, establishing need for improved weather monitoring system, improved level of communication between control tower and pilot, development of advanced system for the aircraft etc.