A course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) where students collaborate on authentic biological research in a laboratory setting. Emphasizes experimental design, laboratory techniques, data analysis, and scientific communication while generating real-world results.
Athena Title
Applied Lab Research Technique
Prerequisite
[(BIOL 1107 and BIOL 1107L) or (BIOL 2107H and BIOL 2107L)] and [(CHEM 1212 and CHEM 1212L) or (CHEM 1412 and CHEM 1412L)]
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
Students will develop skills to be a resourceful laboratory worker.
Students will learn how to interpret a laboratory protocol and set up an experiment.
Students will become well-practiced in laboratory skills.
Students will be able to critically interpret results.
Students will gain practice communicating results through scientific writing and oral presentation.
Topical Outline
Basic laboratory safety
Pipette and balance usage
Basic laboratory calculations
Culture media preparation
Sterile technique
Culture-based bacterial isolation and quantification
Optical density measurement
DNA extraction
PCR
Gel electrophoresis
Experimental design, methods development, and troubleshooting
Data collection and storage
Basic data cleaning, analysis, and visualization
Formal scientific writing
Presenting scientific data
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
