RCN-UBE: A National Malate Dehydrogenase Protein-Centric Molecular Life Sciences Couse-based Undergraduate Research Network

该项目将服务于国家利益，促进一系列类型的机构的教师采用以蛋白质为中心的本科研究课程，极大地增加来自不同背景的学生的数量，他们将体验到将研究整合到本科教育中的好处。美国STEM行业的经济正在增长，但这些要求苛刻的领域的劳动力却没有跟上步伐。在对STEM教育工作者的需求不断增长的时代，数量惊人的学生在完成学位之前就离开了，这种模式对女性、第一代学生和有色人种学生尤其如此。留住STEM学生的方法之一是让他们参与研究。由于传统本科教师指导的研究机会有限，因此开发方法将研究纳入课程以扩大对所有学生的接触是至关重要的。该项目将建立一个研究和教授相同蛋白质的全国性教师网络。该网络将开发和完善一门以课程为基础的本科生研究课程，以便广泛的学生了解并促进我们对蛋白质的理解。利用基于课程的本科生研究体验(CURE)将研究整合到教学环境中，对STEM学生的动机和坚持性具有显著的积极影响，与传统的本科生研究体验类似。这些经验的持续支持和可获得性至关重要，最好是在每个教员网络中进行，每个教员都在一个共同的研究方向/主题工作。STEM缺少一个以蛋白质为中心的治愈网络，以获得发展生物化学和分子生物学研究技能的强大和可持续的体验。该项目将发展一个合作的生命科学家网络，将生物化学、细胞生物学和其他学科整合到以蛋白质为中心的治疗方法中。为了实现这一目标，该项目将：1)开发一个动态的培训和指导计划，以吸引不同的教员，并促进他们采用苹果酸脱氢酶(MDH)酶治疗；2)创建一个中心的区域基础设施，以最大限度地提高社区利益，从而促进MDH治疗社区的成功，并将有助于网络的长期可持续性；以及3)开发电子和实物资源以及合作伙伴关系，以进一步降低MDH治疗采用的能量障碍，并最大限度地发挥这些目标的影响。该项目将与NSF资助的其他网络、组织和公司建立战略伙伴关系，以优化这些努力。完成后，一个持续合作的教职员工网络将建立起来，让广泛和数量的学生参与蛋白质治疗。该项目由生物科学局(BIO)生物基础设施部和教育与人力资源局(EHR)本科生教育司共同资助，作为他们应对本科生物学教育愿景与变革所带来的挑战的努力的一部分：行动呼吁(http://visionandchange.org/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，被认为值得支持。

This project will serve the national interest by facilitating adoptions of a protein-centric course-based undergraduate research by faculty at an array of types of institutions, dramatically increasing the number of students from diverse backgrounds that will experience the benefits of research integrated into their undergraduate education. The U.S. economy in STEM is growing but the workforce for these demanding fields is not keeping pace. In a time when demand for STEM-educated workers is growing, an alarming number of students leave before completing their degrees, and this pattern is especially true for women, first generation students and students of color. One of the ways to retain students in STEM is by engaging them in research. Because the number of traditional undergraduate faculty-mentored research opportunities are limited, it is critical to develop ways to integrate research into the curriculum to broaden access to all students. This project will develop a national network of faculty who study and teach about the same protein. The network will develop and refine a course-based undergraduate research course so that a wide range of students learn about and contribute to our understanding of the protein. The integration of research into the teaching environment using course-based undergraduate research experiences (CURE) has significant positive impact on motivation and persistence of STEM students similar to that seen from traditional undergraduate research experiences. Sustained support and availability of these experiences is critical and best conducted within a network of faculty each working in a common research tread/topic. Missing in STEM is a protein-centric CURE network for a robust and sustainable experience developing biochemistry and molecular biology research skills. This project will grow a network of collaborating life-scientists to integrate biochemistry, cell biology and other disciplines in a protein-centric CURE. To accomplish this goal, the project will: 1) Develop a dynamic training and mentoring program to attract a diverse array of faculty and facilitate their adoption of CUREs using the malate dehydrogenase (MDH) enzyme; 2) Create a regional infrastructure of Hubs to maximize the community benefits that contributed to the success of the MDH CURE community and will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the network; and 3) Develop electronic and physical resources and partnerships to further lower the energy barriers for the MDH CURE adoption and maximize the impact these aims. The project will implement its strategic partnerships with other NSF Funded networks, organizations, and companies to optimize these efforts. When completed a sustained collaborative network of faculty engaging a wide range and number of students in protein CUREs will be in place. This project is being jointly funded by the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO), Division of Biological Infrastructure, and the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR), 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.org/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.