Catalyst Project: Strengthening the Biology Program at Virginia Union University with Course-Based Undergraduate Research

Catalyst项目为历史上的黑人学院和大学提供支持，以建立教师的研究能力，加强科学、技术、工程和数学本科教育和研究。预计该奖项将进一步提高教师的研究能力，提高学院的研究和教学水平，并让本科生参与研究经验。因此，弗吉尼亚联合大学试图提高其本科生物专业的教育经验，使他们在坚持专业的同时，在系里建立强大的研究文化。该项目包括建立斑马鱼核心设施，在关键的本科生物学课程中实施新的基于课程的本科研究经验（CUREs），以及让本科生作为这些课程的同伴教育者/导师参与其中。整个项目的核心是建立斑马鱼核心设施。核心设施将包括一个带斑马鱼繁殖槽的aquanering eRack， 7个成像站（每个站都有立体显微镜、相机和用于图像捕获和处理的计算机），以及一个研究级荧光立体显微镜，用于全载代谢物追踪、免疫细胞化学和原位杂交。它将在弗吉尼亚联合大学的两门本科生物学课程中支持新的CURES：生物学二年级的必修细胞生物学课程，以及生物学三年级和四年级的“独立研究”选修课。CUREs将得到该机构研究人员的专业知识的支持，涉及的主题包括中枢神经系统的pH调节，环境污染物的致畸影响，金属有机框架在药物输送中的使用，以及脂蛋白介导的脂质运输，使用斑马鱼作为模型系统。该项目包括每年聘请三名本科生作为同伴教育者/导师的计划。除了参加CUREs之外，这些学生还将受益于暑期研究经验和专业发展活动，这些活动将支持他们作为同伴教育者/导师的指定角色。最终，该项目有望增加生物系教师和学生的研究活动，从而提高学生进入STEM劳动力的准备质量。该奖项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知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Catalyst Projects provide support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities to work towards establishing research capacity of faculty to strengthen science, technology, engineering and mathematics undergraduate education and research. It is expected that the award will further the faculty member's research capability, improve research and teaching at the institution, and involve undergraduate students in research experiences. Accordingly, Virginia Union University seeks to enhance the educational experience of its undergraduate Biology majors so that they persist in the major while building a strong culture of research within the department. The project involves the establishment of a Zebrafish Core Facility, the implementation of new Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) in critical undergraduate Biology courses, and the engagement of undergraduate students as peer educators/mentors in those courses.Central to the entire project is the establishment of the Zebrafish Core Facility. The Core Facility will include an Aquaneering eRack with zebrafish breeding tanks, seven (7) imaging stations (each with a stereomicroscope, camera, and computer for image capturing & processing), and a research-grade fluorescence stereomicroscope that will be used for whole-mount metabolite tracing, immunocyto-chemistry, and in-situ hybridization. It will support the new CURES in two undergraduate Biology courses at Virginia Union University: a required Cell Biology course for Biology sophomores, and an “Independent Research” elective for Biology juniors and seniors. CUREs will be supported with the expertise of the institution’s research faculty in addressing topics ranging from the regulation of pH in the central nervous system, the teratogenic influence of environmental contaminants, the use of metalorganic frameworks in drug delivery, and lipoprotein-mediated transport of lipids, using zebrafish as a model system. The project includes a plan to engage three undergraduate students as peer educators/mentors annually. In addition to participating in the CUREs, those students will benefit from summer research experiences, and professional development activities that will support their designated roles as peer educators/mentors. Ultimately, the project promises to increase research activity of both faculty and students in the Department of Biology, thereby enhancing the quality of student preparation for entry into the STEM workforce.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.