March 2019 Newsletter

Recent Publications

A Faculty Development Model for Transforming a Department's Laboratory Curriculum with Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences
This article describes how a Department of Biological Sciences redesigned 12 existing laboratory courses using the principal design elements of course-based undergraduate research experiences. The authors used a multiyear Faculty Learning Community (FLC) to train and support faculty as they developed, implemented, and peer reviewed these courses. The strategies for recruiting and engaging faculty to participate in the program, lessons learned from the experience, and plans for expanding the program across other disciplines and campuses are discussed in the paper.

Enhancing Undergraduate Research Experience Through a Food Science Research Project
This mixed-methods study investigates whether a comprehensive food science research project that was incorporated into the laboratory component of an Experimental Study of Foods course would enhance student knowledge, confidence, and interest in research. Recommendations are also given for enhancing group dynamics, mentorship, and improving future projects.

A course-based undergraduate research experience in biochemistry that is suitable for students with various levels of preparedness
In this biochemistry CURE, students design and conduct their own experiments relating to protein interactions with the receptor Mer tyrosine kinase (MERTK). This CURE is unique in that it enrolls both underclass and upperclass students, and the benefits of this experience on both groups of students are discussed.

Publishing Research With Undergraduate Students via Replication Work: The Collaborative Replication and Education Project
The Collaborative Replications and Education Project (CREP) is a framework for undergraduate students to participate in the production of high-quality direct replications. This article highlights the features of CREP, explains the dissemination of student work, and discusses the benefits of CREP for both students and instructors.

Announcements and Opportunities

Job Opportunities

UC Davis is recruiting a program coordinator to help expand CURE offerings in the First Year Seminars Program. The position includes directing a wet lab "CURE incubator" for biology-focused seminars but will also encourage and support the development of a wide range of CUREs. Use [link https://www.employment.ucdavis.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/Welcome_css.jsp 'this website'] to apply for this position.

The Steinhauer Lab is seeking a postdoctoral scholar for a research and teaching position in the Department of Biology at Yeshiva University in New York, NY. The research project will utilize molecular and cellular biology approaches, including, but not limited to, genome editing, transgenesis, molecular biology, cytology, and imaging. The postdoctoral scholar will also teach an undergraduate genetics lab course in fall semesters, which is designed to engage students in the lab research project. Follow this link for more information!

Survey Opportunity

Are you teaching a CURE this semester? A team of biology education researchers at Arizona State University are looking to survey students nationwide who are enrolled in CUREs about their anxiety. If you are interested in helping out with this, please contact Sara Brownell: [link https://sols.asu.edu/sara-brownell 'https://sols.asu.edu/sara-brownell']

Funding Opportunity

Please visit the CUREnet site to learn more about how others have funded their CUREs and share your own experiences.

Resources

CEREUS Educational Network Appalachian Workshop

The Consortium Exchanging Research Experiences for Undergraduate Students (CEREUS) Educational Network will be hosting a workshop for professional educators in the southern Appalachian region to learn about how to implement plant-based CUREs in biology classrooms. Participants will receive curricular materials and assistance developing their own CUREs. The workshop will take place June 5-7, 2019 on the campus of the University of North Carolina, Asheville. Contact Jen Rhode Ward for more information: jrward@unca.edu

CURE Institutes - Georgia State University and Community College of Rhode Island

CUREnet is hosting two upcoming Institutes. Participants will learn about and use evidence-based instructional strategies to develop plans, instructional materials, and assessment tools for integrating a science research project into their science laboratory course. Emphasis will be on life sciences, but participants from other natural sciences and social sciences are welcomed. For more information, visit: CUREnet Institutes

CURE Development Fellows

With support from the National Science Foundation, CUREnet is sponsoring three groups of CURE Fellows. The first group, CURE Development Fellows, have been selected for their plans to build capacity for CURE instruction at their own campuses and beyond. Products and resources that they develop will be posted on the CUREnet site. Applications for an addition cohort of CURE Fellows will go live soon! Head over to the CUREnet website to learn more.

Have news to share?

Use this page on the CUREnet website to submit publications, announcements, and job posts to be featured in the next quarterly CUREnet newsletter.

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