Challenges for activating undergraduate research: a summary from the 2021 American Society for Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Educators
ABSTRACT Based on a growing understanding of the many benefits of undergraduate research, advocacy for undergraduate research experiences has increased, with an emphasis on implementing course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs). To understand existing efforts to promote undergraduate r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Society for Microbiology
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.00099-24 |
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| author | Ginger Orton Matthew A. Barnes Shifath Bin Syed Joshua W. Reid Allie C. Smith |
| author_facet | Ginger Orton Matthew A. Barnes Shifath Bin Syed Joshua W. Reid Allie C. Smith |
| author_sort | Ginger Orton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Based on a growing understanding of the many benefits of undergraduate research, advocacy for undergraduate research experiences has increased, with an emphasis on implementing course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs). To understand existing efforts to promote undergraduate research as well as challenges to implementation on higher education campuses, we hosted a session about undergraduate research at the 2021 American Society for Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Educators. Session participants were surveyed about their experiences with undergraduate research on their home campuses, and we then conducted additional research on the undergraduate research offerings at the participants’ home institutions. Survey responses and the discussion group identified many challenges to impactful undergraduate research facilitation. Several overarching themes emerged across survey responses and breakout room discourse, including funding, mentor recruitment, early skill development, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and identifying and connecting with students. In this perspective, we elaborate on this discourse to inspire and assist those seeking to foster undergraduate research in the field of microbiology and beyond. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d06c5cd14d634633ab86af48004ae87b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1935-7877 1935-7885 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-d06c5cd14d634633ab86af48004ae87b2025-08-20T03:14:12ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyJournal of Microbiology & Biology Education1935-78771935-78852025-04-0126110.1128/jmbe.00099-24Challenges for activating undergraduate research: a summary from the 2021 American Society for Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate EducatorsGinger Orton0Matthew A. Barnes1Shifath Bin Syed2Joshua W. Reid3Allie C. Smith4Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, Davis College, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USADepartment of Natural Resources Management, Davis College, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USAHonors College, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USAABSTRACT Based on a growing understanding of the many benefits of undergraduate research, advocacy for undergraduate research experiences has increased, with an emphasis on implementing course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs). To understand existing efforts to promote undergraduate research as well as challenges to implementation on higher education campuses, we hosted a session about undergraduate research at the 2021 American Society for Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Educators. Session participants were surveyed about their experiences with undergraduate research on their home campuses, and we then conducted additional research on the undergraduate research offerings at the participants’ home institutions. Survey responses and the discussion group identified many challenges to impactful undergraduate research facilitation. Several overarching themes emerged across survey responses and breakout room discourse, including funding, mentor recruitment, early skill development, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and identifying and connecting with students. In this perspective, we elaborate on this discourse to inspire and assist those seeking to foster undergraduate research in the field of microbiology and beyond.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.00099-24experiential learningundergraduate researchundergraduate research experience (URE)course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) |
| spellingShingle | Ginger Orton Matthew A. Barnes Shifath Bin Syed Joshua W. Reid Allie C. Smith Challenges for activating undergraduate research: a summary from the 2021 American Society for Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Educators Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education experiential learning undergraduate research undergraduate research experience (URE) course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) |
| title | Challenges for activating undergraduate research: a summary from the 2021 American Society for Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Educators |
| title_full | Challenges for activating undergraduate research: a summary from the 2021 American Society for Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Educators |
| title_fullStr | Challenges for activating undergraduate research: a summary from the 2021 American Society for Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Educators |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenges for activating undergraduate research: a summary from the 2021 American Society for Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Educators |
| title_short | Challenges for activating undergraduate research: a summary from the 2021 American Society for Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Educators |
| title_sort | challenges for activating undergraduate research a summary from the 2021 american society for microbiology conference for undergraduate educators |
| topic | experiential learning undergraduate research undergraduate research experience (URE) course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.00099-24 |
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