Meeting Abstract

P1-5  Monday, Jan. 4 15:30  Scaling Up: Adapting a Phage-hunting Course to Increase Earlier Participation of Students in Research STAUB, NL*; POXLEITNER, M; BRALEY, A; SMITH, H; PRIBBENOW, C; JAWORSKI, L; LOPATTO, D; ANDERS, K; Gonzaga University; Gonzaga University; Gonzaga University; Gonzaga University; Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison; Grinnell College; Grinnell College; Gonzaga University staub@gonzaga.edu

Authentic research experiences are valuable components of effective undergraduate science education. Furthermore, research experiences during the first two years of college are especially critical to increase persistence in STEM fields. To offer a research experience for all students (350+) in Gonzaga University’s introductory biology course, we modified the traditional two-semester Phage Hunters course (SEA-PHAGES) by streamlining the first semester experience and integrating research from the second semester lab into upper division courses. Both quantitative and qualitative assessments indicate that the learning gains of our one-semester phage discovery course are significant and are comparable to other course-based research experiences.