An Integrated Series of Student-driven, Research-based Undergraduate Laboratory Courses Linking Chemical Biology, Biochemistry, and Neurobiology

课程改革通过引入一系列三个主题相连的研究型实验室，将三个不同的科学学科(化学生物学、生物化学和神经生物学)联系在一起。在这些学科课程中，学生们合成新的生物显像剂(化学生物学)，使用这些显像剂来分类结核分枝杆菌(TB)酯水解酶的底物特异性(生物化学)，并结合产品来筛选秀丽线虫神经信号的新成分(神经生物学)。三个生物分子科学实验室引入了开放式的、假设驱动的研究设计，增加了学生对科学研究实践的接触。学生练习成为工作科学家所需的技能，包括提出假设、设计实验计划、解决问题以及口头和书面交流结果。此外，学生还在地区性本科生研究会议上组织研讨会。这些课程的学生面临的挑战是，在更大的科学调查(结核病感染和神经元通讯)的背景下，整合多个科学学科和不同的实验室技能。学生参与项目使他们能够贡献新的知识和研究工具，以了解结核病感染的生物化学和神经元通讯。总体而言，这三门相互关联的课程向学生介绍跨学科科学，使学生能够参与当前的研究领域。

Curricular changes link three distinct scientific disciplines (chemical biology, biochemistry, and neurobiology) through the introduction of a series of three thematically-connected, research-based laboratories. In these discipline courses, students synthesize novel biological imaging agents (chemical biology), using these same imaging agents to catalogue the substrate specificity of ester hydrolases from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) (biochemistry), and combine the products to screen for new components of neural signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans (neurobiology). The introduction of open-ended, hypothesis-driven research design into three biomolecular science laboratories increases student exposure to the practice of scientific research. Students practice the skills necessary to be working scientists, including formulating hypotheses, designing experimental plans, solving problems, and communicating results both orally and in writing. In addition, students organize a symposium at a regional undergraduate research conference. Students in these courses are challenged to integrate multiple scientific disciplines and a diverse set of laboratory skills within the context of larger scientific investigations (TB infection and neuronal communication). Student participation in projects allows them to contribute new knowledge and research tools to the understanding of the biochemistry of TB infection and neuronal communication. Overall, the three linked courses introduce students to interdisciplinary science, allowing students to participate in current areas of research.