Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: STEM Research
Shakhawat Bhuiyan - Biological Sciences
Co-Author(s): Glendora Carter, Jarvis Christian College
The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) through Targeted Infusion Projects (TIP) supports the development, implementation, and study of evidence-based innovative models and approaches for improving the preparation and success of HBCU undergraduate students so that they may pursue STEM graduate programs and/or careers. The TIP project at Jarvis Christian College (JCC) seeks to develop and implement course-based undergraduate research experiences (CURE) in the biology curriculum, provide access to scientific research experiences for undergraduate students and increase the research capacity in the biological sciences. To prepare students for active learning and problem solving in the classroom, we proposed an extensive collection of online activities for students. We utilized the free online interactive resources and Pearson Campbell’s MasteringBiology to enhance the biology curriculum. The online resources provided dynamic study modules/powerpoints to enhance students’ self-paced study for solving quizzes and periodic tests that improved students’ overall grade. The J-CURE program sought to draw the Biology/Chemistry students into the research program in the biological sciences. The participants were required to conduct an independent research project on biological sciences with a member of the Jarvis faculty and to present their results in scientific regional and national conferences. The J-CURE program recruited five students in each summer, 2017 and 2018, for 8 weeks, and three students in each Fall and Spring semester. Students were employed to work with one of the participating research mentors at the institution and received a stipend for 8-weeks summer research and academic year. This exposure allowed undergraduate students a greater understanding of research and increased the students’ interest in biological sciences. During the summer 2017 and 2018, a total of 10 undergraduate students completed their undergraduate research projects, published research abstracts in the conference database, and presented their research in the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) or/and Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference in STEM. The overall students’ research engagement and presentation in national conferences were increased significantly in 2017 and 2018 as compared to the previous years. In conclusion, the proposed program is a strategy for increasing the capacity of JCC to produce more STEM graduates who are competitive for graduate school and STEM careers.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): National Science Foundation grant: Award #1719607
Faculty Advisor: None Listed,