Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education (Jan 2020)
Facilitating Growth through Frustration: Using Genomics Research in a Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience
- David Lopatto,
- Anne G. Rosenwald,
- Justin R. DiAngelo,
- Amy T. Hark,
- Matthew Skerritt,
- Matthew Wawersik,
- Anna K. Allen,
- Consuelo Alvarez,
- Sara Anderson,
- Cindy Arrigo,
- Andrew Arsham,
- Daron Barnard,
- Christopher Bazinet,
- James E. J. Bedard,
- Indrani Bose,
- John M. Braverman,
- Martin G. Burg,
- Rebecca C. Burgess,
- Paula Croonquist,
- Chunguang Du,
- Sondra Dubowsky,
- Heather Eisler,
- Matthew A. Escobar,
- Michael Foulk,
- Emily Furbee,
- Thomas Giarla,
- Rivka L. Glaser,
- Anya L. Goodman,
- Yuying Gosser,
- Adam Haberman,
- Charles Hauser,
- Shan Hays,
- Carina E. Howell,
- Jennifer Jemc,
- M. Logan Johnson,
- Christopher J. Jones,
- Lisa Kadlec,
- Jacob D. Kagey,
- Kimberly L. Keller,
- Jennifer Kennell,
- S. Catherine Silver Key,
- Adam J. Kleinschmit,
- Melissa Kleinschmit,
- Nighat P. Kokan,
- Olga Ruiz Kopp,
- Meg M. Laakso,
- Judith Leatherman,
- Lindsey J. Long,
- Mollie Manier,
- Juan C. Martinez-Cruzado,
- Luis F. Matos,
- Amie Jo McClellan,
- Gerard McNeil,
- Evan Merkhofer,
- Vida Mingo,
- Hemlata Mistry,
- Elizabeth Mitchell,
- Nathan T. Mortimer,
- Debaditya Mukhopadhyay,
- Jennifer Leigh Myka,
- Alexis Nagengast,
- Paul Overvoorde,
- Don Paetkau,
- Leocadia Paliulis,
- Susan Parrish,
- Mary Lai Preuss,
- James V. Price,
- Nicholas A. Pullen,
- Catherine Reinke,
- Dennis Revie,
- Srebrenka Robic,
- Jennifer A. Roecklein-Canfield,
- Michael R. Rubin,
- Takrima Sadikot,
- Jamie Siders Sanford,
- Maria Santisteban,
- Kenneth Saville,
- Stephanie Schroeder,
- Christopher D. Shaffer,
- Karim A. Sharif,
- Diane E. Sklensky,
- Chiyedza Small,
- Mary Smith,
- Sheryl Smith,
- Rebecca Spokony,
- Aparna Sreenivasan,
- Joyce Stamm,
- Rachel Sterne-Marr,
- Katherine C. Teeter,
- Justin Thackeray,
- Jeffrey S. Thompson,
- Stephanie Toering Peters,
- Melanie Van Stry,
- Norma Velazquez-Ulloa,
- Cindy Wolfe,
- James Youngblom,
- Brian Yowler,
- Leming Zhou,
- Janie Brennan,
- Jeremy Buhler,
- Wilson Leung,
- Laura K. Reed,
- Sarah C. R. Elgin
Affiliations
- David Lopatto
- Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment, Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA 50112, USA
- Anne G. Rosenwald
- Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
- Justin R. DiAngelo
- Division of Science, Penn State Berks, Reading, PA 19610, USA
- Amy T. Hark
- Biology, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA 18104, USA
- Matthew Skerritt
- Science, SUNY Corning Community College, Corning, NY 14830, USA
- Matthew Wawersik
- Biology, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA
- Anna K. Allen
- Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA
- Consuelo Alvarez
- Biology, Longwood University, Farmville, VA 23909, USA
- Sara Anderson
- Biosciences, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, MN 56563, USA
- Cindy Arrigo
- Biology, New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ 07305, USA
- Andrew Arsham
- Biology, Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN 56601, USA
- Daron Barnard
- Biology, Worcester State University, Worcester, MA 01602, USA
- Christopher Bazinet
- Biological Sciences, St. John’s University, Queens, NY 11439, USA
- James E. J. Bedard
- Biology, University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC, V2S 7M8, Canada
- Indrani Bose
- Biology, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723, USA
- John M. Braverman
- Biology, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA
- Martin G. Burg
- Biomedical Sciences and Cell & Molecular Biology, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI 49401, USA
- Rebecca C. Burgess
- Biological Sciences, Stevenson University, Owings Mills, MD 21117, USA
- Paula Croonquist
- Biology, Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids, MN 55433, USA
- Chunguang Du
- Biology, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
- Sondra Dubowsky
- Biology, McLennan Community College, Waco, TX 76708, USA
- Heather Eisler
- Biology, University of the Cumberlands, Williamsburg, KY 40769, USA
- Matthew A. Escobar
- Biological Sciences, California State University San Marcos, CA 92096, USA
- Michael Foulk
- Biology, Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA 16546, USA
- Emily Furbee
- Biology, Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, PA 15301, USA
- Thomas Giarla
- Biology, Siena College, Loudonville, NY 12211, USA
- Rivka L. Glaser
- Biological Sciences, Stevenson University, Owings Mills, MD 21117, USA
- Anya L. Goodman
- Chemistry and Biochemistry, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA
- Yuying Gosser
- Student Research and Scholarship, City College CUNY, New York, NY 10031, USA
- Adam Haberman
- Biology, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA 92110, USA
- Charles Hauser
- Biology, St. Edward’s University, Austin, TX 78704, USA
- Shan Hays
- Biology, Western Colorado University, Gunnison, CO 81231, USA
- Carina E. Howell
- Biological Sciences, Lock Haven University, Lock Haven, PA 17745, USA
- Jennifer Jemc
- Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL 60660, USA
- M. Logan Johnson
- Biology, Notre Dame College, South Euclid, OH 44121, USA
- Christopher J. Jones
- Biological Sciences, Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA 18018, USA
- Lisa Kadlec
- Biology, Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766, USA
- Jacob D. Kagey
- Biology, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, MI 48221, USA
- Kimberly L. Keller
- Biology, William Woods University, Fulton, MO 65251, USA
- Jennifer Kennell
- Biology, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA
- S. Catherine Silver Key
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, USA
- Adam J. Kleinschmit
- Natural and Applied Science, University of Dubuque, Dubuque, IA 52001, USA
- Melissa Kleinschmit
- Natural and Applied Science, University of Dubuque, Dubuque, IA 52001, USA
- Nighat P. Kokan
- Natural Sciences, Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, WI 53217, USA
- Olga Ruiz Kopp
- Biology, Utah Valley University, Orem, UT 84058, USA
- Meg M. Laakso
- Biology, Eastern University, St. Davids, PA 19087, USA
- Judith Leatherman
- Biological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO 80639, USA
- Lindsey J. Long
- Biology, Oklahoma Christian University, Oklahoma City, OK 73136, USA
- Mollie Manier
- Biological Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
- Juan C. Martinez-Cruzado
- Biología, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, Mayagüez, PR 00680, USA
- Luis F. Matos
- Biology, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA 99004, USA
- Amie Jo McClellan
- Science and Mathematics, Bennington College, Bennington, VT 05201, USA
- Gerard McNeil
- Biology, York College / CUNY, Jamaica, NY 11451, USA
- Evan Merkhofer
- Natural Sciences, Mount Saint Mary College, Newbergh, NY 12550, USA
- Vida Mingo
- Biology, Columbia College, Columbia, SC 29203, USA
- Hemlata Mistry
- Biology and Biochemistry, Widener University, Chester, PA 19013, USA
- Elizabeth Mitchell
- Biology, McLennan Community College, Waco, TX 76708, USA
- Nathan T. Mortimer
- Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
- Debaditya Mukhopadhyay
- Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Bioinformatics, Towson University, Towson, MD 21252, USA
- Jennifer Leigh Myka
- Biology, Gateway Community and Technical College, Florence, KY 41042, USA
- Alexis Nagengast
- Chemistry and Biochemistry, Widener University, Chester, PA 19013, USA
- Paul Overvoorde
- Biology, Macalester College, St. Paul, MN 55105, USA
- Don Paetkau
- Biology, Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
- Leocadia Paliulis
- Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837, USA
- Susan Parrish
- Biology, McDaniel College, Westminster, MD 21157, USA
- Mary Lai Preuss
- Biological Sciences, Webster University, St. Louis, MO 63119, USA
- James V. Price
- Biology, Utah Valley University, Orem, UT 84058, USA
- Nicholas A. Pullen
- Biological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO 80639, USA
- Catherine Reinke
- Biology, Linfield College, McMinnville, OR 97128, USA
- Dennis Revie
- Biology, California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360, USA
- Srebrenka Robic
- Biology, Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA 30030, USA
- Jennifer A. Roecklein-Canfield
- Chemistry, Simmons College, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Michael R. Rubin
- Biology, University of Puerto Rico at Cayey, Cayey, PR 00736, USA
- Takrima Sadikot
- Biology, Washburn University, Topeka, KS 66621, USA
- Jamie Siders Sanford
- Biology, Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH 45810, USA
- Maria Santisteban
- Biology, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Pembroke, NC 28372, USA
- Kenneth Saville
- Biology, Albion College, Albion, MI 49224, USA
- Stephanie Schroeder
- Biological Sciences, Webster University, St. Louis, MO 63119, USA
- Christopher D. Shaffer
- Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Karim A. Sharif
- Biology, Massasoit Community College, Brockton, MA 02302, USA
- Diane E. Sklensky
- Biology, Lane College, Jackson, TN 38301, USA
- Chiyedza Small
- Biology, Medgar Evers College, CUNY, Brooklyn, NY 11225, USA
- Mary Smith
- Biology, North Carolina A & T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
- Sheryl Smith
- Biology, Arcadia, University, Glenside, PA 19038, USA
- Rebecca Spokony
- Natural Sciences, Baruch College, CUNY, New York, NY 10010, USA
- Aparna Sreenivasan
- Biology, School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA 93950, USA
- Joyce Stamm
- Biology, University of Evansville, Evansville, IN 47722, USA
- Rachel Sterne-Marr
- Biology, Siena College, Loudonville, NY 12211, USA
- Katherine C. Teeter
- Biology, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI 49855, USA
- Justin Thackeray
- Biology, Clark University, Worcester, MA 01610, USA
- Jeffrey S. Thompson
- Biology, Denison University, Granville, OH 43023, USA
- Stephanie Toering Peters
- Biology, Wartburg College, Waverly, IA 50677, USA
- Melanie Van Stry
- Biology, Lane College, Jackson, TN 38301, USA
- Norma Velazquez-Ulloa
- Biology, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR 97219, USA
- Cindy Wolfe
- Biology, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Owensboro, KY 42301, USA
- James Youngblom
- Biological Sciences, California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, CA 95382, USA
- Brian Yowler
- Biology, Grove City College, Grove City, PA 16127, USA
- Leming Zhou
- Health Information Management, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Janie Brennan
- Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Jeremy Buhler
- Computer Science and Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Wilson Leung
- Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
- Laura K. Reed
- Biological Sciences, University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
- Sarah C. R. Elgin
- Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1128/jmbe.v21i1.2005
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 21,
no. 1
Abstract
A hallmark of the research experience is encountering difficulty and working through those challenges to achieve success. This ability is essential to being a successful scientist, but replicating such challenges in a teaching setting can be difficult. The Genomics Education Partnership (GEP) is a consortium of faculty who engage their students in a genomics Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE). Students participate in genome annotation, generating gene models using multiple lines of experimental evidence. Our observations suggested that the students’ learning experience is continuous and recursive, frequently beginning with frustration but eventually leading to success as they come up with defendable gene models. In order to explore our “formative frustration” hypothesis, we gathered data from faculty via a survey, and from students via both a general survey and a set of student focus groups. Upon analyzing these data, we found that all three datasets mentioned frustration and struggle, as well as learning and better understanding of the scientific process. Bioinformatics projects are particularly well suited to the process of iteration and refinement because iterations can be performed quickly and are inexpensive in both time and money. Based on these findings, we suggest that a dynamic of “formative frustration” is an important aspect for a successful CURE.