Fly-CURE, a Multi-institutional CURE using , Increases Students' Confidence, Sense of Belonging, and Persistence in Research.
Julie A Merkle, Olivier Devergne, Seth M Kelly, Paula A Croonquist, Cory J Evans, Melanie A Hwalek, Victoria L Straub, Danielle R Hamill, David P Puthoff, Kenneth J Saville, Jamie L Siders, Zully J Villanueva Gonzalez, Jackie K Wittke-Thompson, Kayla L Bieser, Joyce Stamm, Alysia D Vrailas-Mortimer, Jacob D Kagey
Author Information
Julie A Merkle: University of Evansville.
Olivier Devergne: Northern Illinois University.
Seth M Kelly: The College of Wooster.
Paula A Croonquist: Anoka Ramsey Community College.
Cory J Evans: Loyola Marymount University.
Melanie A Hwalek: SPEC Associates.
Victoria L Straub: SPEC Associates.
Danielle R Hamill: Ohio Wesleyan University.
David P Puthoff: Frostburg State University.
Kenneth J Saville: Albion College.
Jamie L Siders: Ohio Northern University.
Zully J Villanueva Gonzalez: Western New Mexico University.
Jackie K Wittke-Thompson: University of St. Francis.
Kayla L Bieser: Nevada State College.
Joyce Stamm: University of Evansville.
Alysia D Vrailas-Mortimer: Illinois State University.
The Fly-CURE is a genetics-focused multi-institutional Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) that provides undergraduate students with hands-on research experiences within a course. Through the Fly-CURE, undergraduate students at diverse types of higher education institutions across the United States map and characterize novel mutants isolated from a genetic screen in . To evaluate the impact of the Fly-CURE experience on students, we developed and validated assessment tools to identify students' perceived research self-efficacy, sense of belonging in science, and intent to pursue additional research opportunities. Our data show gains in these metrics after completion of the Fly-CURE across all student subgroups analyzed, including comparisons of gender, academic status, racial and ethnic groups, and parents' educational background. Importantly, our data also show differential gains in the areas of self-efficacy and interest in seeking additional research opportunities between Fly-CURE students with and without prior research experience, illustrating the positive impact of research exposure (dosage) on student outcomes. Altogether, our data indicate that the Fly-CURE experience has a significant impact on students' efficacy with research methods, sense of belonging to the scientific community, and interest in pursuing additional research experiences.
