CSUN biology majors are eager for opportunities to work closely with faculty members and gain research experience. However, there are not enough spaces in faculty labs to meet this need. The course BIOL447/L: Full Immersion Research Experience (F.I.R.E. lab)1 helps to bridge that gap, allowing up to 18 students to participate in original, student-directed research. In contrast with many undergraduate lab courses that introduce students to a series of techniques, F.I.R.E. lab instead focuses on introducing students to the full process of scientific inquiry within the confines of a limited set of techniques.
During the first half of the course, students are introduced to a series of research articles that familiarize them with a specialized topic, in this case sleep behavior in C. elegans. During this phase of the course they also become familiar with nematode handling, behavioral assays, and RNAi. During the second half of the course, students perform a series of experiments that they have designed to address a unique question, and have the option of working individually or in groups. Prior to starting their projects, students apply for 'funding' by writing a grant proposal that undergoes rounds of peer review and instructor feedback. Student proposals must include an experimental strategy that is amenable to the twice-per-week class schedule.
In the final weeks of the course, students analyze data, prepare figures, and assemble their work into a poster that they present at a mock conference on the final day of class. Several students go on to present their work at a campus-wide symposium the following semester. Some student projects contribute significantly to peer-reviewed publications2. Moreover, positive outcomes from the initial offering of this course contributed to a successful NSF:CAREER award application. This poster presentation is aimed at faculty seeking to better integrate their research and educational activities, and will include examples of student projects, challenges and successes, and assessment tools.
1. https://sites.google.com/site/biol447/
2. Hill, A.J., Mansfield, R., Lopez, J., Raizen, D.M., and C. Van Buskirk. (2014) Cellular Stress Induces a Protective Sleep-like State in C. elegans. Curr. Biol. 24; 2399-2405.