RCN-UBE: A National Network for Integrating the Study of Microbiomes into Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences

微生物群在植物或动物宿主的健康和发育中发挥着重要作用，并有助于维持土壤、水和空气中的基本平衡的营养和元素循环。研究微生物群及其对生态系统和环境的影响是科学界面临的一项新的令人兴奋的挑战。新技术提供了一个机会，通过在科学过程中的培训和参与研究，为本科生带来微生物组研究的兴奋。利用以课程为基础的本科生研究经验(CURE)模式，微生物组项目允许学生进行实验，揭示当地环境微生物组的多样性和复杂性。微生物组研究经验网络(REMNet)项目将组织一个由微生物组专家和治疗从业者组成的全国网络，他们将为大学教职员工创建一套资源，让全国的本科生参与微生物组研究。REMNet将提供和分发适合本科生课堂的元基因组分析工具和教案，并将促进我们对当地环境微生物组多样性的理解。REMNet将与美国微生物学会(ASM)在全国会议上密切合作，例如ASM-本科教育工作者会议和少数民族学生年度生物医学研究会议，以招募新成员。纽约城市大学现有的微生物治疗研究项目是微生物学真实研究经验的主要机构，目前每年为数百名来自不同种族和学术背景的学生提供服务；随着新学校的招生，这一RCN-UBE项目将把这一努力扩大到全国范围。REMnet将扩大本科生对微生物组研究的参与，并将导致新资源的开发和用于微生物组数据分析的工具的标准化。该项目由生物科学局生物基础设施部和教育与人力资源局本科教育司联合资助，作为他们努力应对本科生物学教育愿景与变革：行动呼吁(http://visionandchange/finalreport/).This奖反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估)的一部分。

Microbiomes play an important role in the health and development of their plant or animal host, as well as contributing to the nutrient and element cycles that are fundamental to maintaining balance in soil, water, and air. Research into microbiomes and their impact on ecosystems and the environment represents a new and exciting challenge for the scientific community. New technologies offer an opportunity to bring the excitement of microbiome research to undergraduate students through training in the scientific process and engagement in research. Using a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) model, microbiome projects allow students to conduct experiments that reveal the diversity and complexity of local environmental microbiomes. The Research Experiences in Microbiomes Network (REMNet) project will organize a national network of microbiome experts and CURE practitioners who will create a set of resources for college faculty to involve undergraduate students across the country in microbiome research.The REMNet will provide and distribute tools for metagenomic analysis tools and lesson plans appropriate for undergraduate classes and will advance our understanding of the diversity of local environmental microbiomes. The REMNet will work closely with the American Society of Microbiology (ASM) at national meetings such as the ASM-Conference for Undergraduate Educators and Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students to recruit new members. Existing microbiome CURE research projects at the City University of New York, the lead institution of the Authentic Research Experience in Microbiology, currently serve hundreds of students from diverse ethnic and academic backgrounds each year; this RCN-UBE project will expand this effort to a national scale as new schools are recruited. The REMNet will broaden participation in microbiome research by undergraduates and will lead to the development of new resources and a standardization of the tools used for microbiome data analysis.This project is being jointly funded by the Directorate for Biological Sciences, Division of Biological Infrastructure, and the Directorate for Education and Human Resources, Division of Undergraduate Education as part of their efforts to address the challenges posed in Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: A Call to Action (http://visionandchange/finalreport/).This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.