Isolation and characterization of antibiotic-producing soil bacteria
Maria Messner, Lenoir Community College
One of the biggest threat in hospitals is the rising cases of people who harbor antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. Therefore, it is critical to find and characterize novel antibiotics to combat the resistant strains. Most of the antibiotics used in healthcare settings come from anti-biotic producing bacteria and fungi found in the soil. The goal of this CURE will be to isolate antibiotic-producing bacteria and fungi from the soil in the local area, and to determine the chemistry of the antibiotics. An extension of the project will be to determine how the presence of antibiotic-producing microbes affect other organisms resident in the soil, as it is unclear as to why microbes use energy to produce antibiotic factors.

Body Blueprinting: How we form our tissue architecture
Lathiena Manning, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Heterogeneous Anodes Rapidly Perused for Oxygen Overpotential Neutralization (HARPOON) as a module in the introductory chemistry laboratory
Lori Del Negro, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

DNA Barcoding
Heather Aloor, Durham Technical Community College; kathy zarilla, Durham Technical Community College
Using a DNA barcoding protocol from the DNA Learning Center, Cold Spring Harbor, students will be exposed to authentic research in an introductory biology class. Students will experience a multi-step, several week project requiring planning, implementation and documentation similar to that of a molecular biology research lab. Students will be expected to explain their project results both orally and in writing. Students will also be able to relate the research activity to the lecture content of the course.

Using C elegans for environmental toxicity testing
Porche' Spence, North Carolina Central University; Carresse Gerald, North Carolina Central University
This course consists of teaching the students the skills necessary to complete an independent innovative collaborative research study, which will focus on the application of environmental toxicology concepts. Learning objectives will consist of: (1) Discussing the fundamental principles and methods of toxicology; (2) Classifying the factors impacting the fate of chemicals throughout the body; (3) Discussing the potential biological effects associated with chemical exposures; (4) Analyze the impact of toxic levels of chemicals on major organ systems; (5) Explaining the complexity of toxicological issues impacting the field of toxicology; (5) applying the process of science to enhance the interpretation and integration of the environmental toxicology concepts. A group of 3- 5 students will collaborate to investigate the dose response testing of an environmental toxin on the soil dwelling nematode, C. elegans, a well-established eukaryotic model. By conducting toxicity testing with known known environmental contaminates, students will analyze the reproductive cycle and how chemicals can affect the stages of development. C. elegans have a 3 day life cycle, are translucent and have 900-1000 somatic cells. Due to the chemotactic behavior of C. elegans, they seek food (bacteria) and have the innate ability to travel through concentration gradients, which makes them easy to use in toxicity studies. Students enrolled in this CURE course will learn how to: (1) synthesize simple microbiological techniques by culturing E.coli, the bacteria that serves as the C. elegans food source and (2) utilize C. elegans for detecting toxins in soil ecosystems.

Investigating the genetic diversity of Morella cerifera, a traditional medicine of American Indians of the Southeast.
Conner Sandefur, University of North Carolina at Pembroke
In order to provide all UNCP Biology majors with a authentic research experience, we are implementing a CURE in our genetics lab course (a one credit course required of all Biology majors, taken concurrently with a three credit lecture section). This CURE will investigate phenotypic and genotypic intraspecies diversity of Nicotania tabacam originating from North Carolina and Oklahoma.

Analysis of antibiotic-resistance in bacteria isolated from organic food products from local supermarkets and Farmers' markets in Fayetteville, NC
Danielle Graham, Fayetteville State University

How might urbanization affect avian diversity and community structure?
Jay Mager, Ohio Northern University
The loss of species diversity in response to increasing development of natural areas has been staggering.

Exploring Topics & Issues Related to Criminal Justice
Renee Lamphere, University of North Carolina at Pembroke
The purpose of this CURE is to allow students to explore and research a topic or issue of interest to them in the criminal justice system. Students will work in small groups to research a topic or issue related to CRJ. They will learn to utilize the electronic resources offered by the UNCP library, and must submit an annotated bibliography with a minimum of 10 sources, 8 of which must come from the UNCP library website and must be current, peer reviewed journal articles. Students will then take the information they found, synthesize it looking for the most important information, and create a research poster with their relevant findings. Students will then present these posters during an open poster session, which will be attended by the course professor, classmates, other criminal justice students, and other criminal justice faculty. Students will be given the opportunity to present their posters at campus and regional conferences.

Learning by Design: Learning Anatomy Through Construction of Body Prototypes
Tyjuanna LaBennett, North Carolina Central University
Developing a course-based undergraduate research experience would serve two purposes in the Human Anatomy & Physiology course. First, it would allow students an opportunity to engage in learning that supports the development of practical skills needed for becoming successful as nursing clinicians, pharmacists, nutritionists, public health educators, and physical trainers. When students are allowed to use their creative abilities in search of answers to perplexing problems, unlimited possibilities arise. Therefore, it is necessary, even in a world of technology crazed (social media hooked) students, to tap into their intrigue of discovery by using traditional hands-on methodologies melded with emerging technologies to stretch capacities beyond the obvious. As a proponent of traditional hands-on approaches, it is clear that enhancing traditional methods with technologies that support learning is the primary goal with the CURE approach. Through discovery, students will learn how prototypes are developed and will use methods and equipment suggested by the Fab Lab Director for designing workable limbs and models through CAD equipment. By researching problems associated with amputations, strokes and neurological problems or disorders, students learn how to develop a prototype to address the mechanical issue that may hinder human activities or movement. Once a plan is developed, students design models that serve to alleviate movement type problems associated with the limb. Students learn details of bones, joints and the elements that cause malfunctions of bones and joints. In addition, the cost of design and development of prosthetic limbs will be indicated.