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A Bioinformatics-Driven CURE Extension Increases Student Self-Efficacy and Interest in Biomedical Research

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Title: A Bioinformatics-Driven CURE Extension Increases Student Self-Efficacy and Interest in Biomedical Research
Language: English
Authors: Héctor G. Loyola Irizarry (ORCID 0000-0003-1131-2547), Hiram Duarte, Kyoko Nakamura, Rocio Benabentos (ORCID 0000-0002-5597-2152), Melissa McCartney, Jessica Siltberg-Liberles (ORCID 0000-0001-7927-2428)
Source: Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education. 2025 26(2).
Availability: American Society for Microbiology. 1752 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 202-737-3600; e-mail: journals@asmusa.org; Web site: https://journals.asm.org/journal/jmbe
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 14
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) (DHHS/NIH)
Contract Number: R01GM147150
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, Student Research, Biology, Information Science, Self Efficacy, Student Interests, Biomedicine, Program Effectiveness, Research Skills, Student Attitudes
ISSN: 1935-7877
1935-7885
Abstract: The biology workforce has a need for undergraduate students trained in bioinformatics. Although bioinformatics is a critical sub-discipline of biology, it is not required in all biology degree programs. In parallel, there is a need to increase student access to research experiences. To address these needs, we offer a one-credit bioinformatics-focused and computational biology course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE), here called the CB-CURE. Preliminary data suggest the CB-CURE increased student interest, knowledge, and self-efficacy, but also reveal a shortage of access to undergraduate research experiences (UREs) in faculty labs at our large institution. To provide a more URE-like experience for a class setting, we developed a one-semester extension to the CB-CURE, called CURE+. In CURE+, students execute individual bioinformatics-driven research projects and obtain additional career development and mentoring. To evaluate CURE+, we measured students' bioinformatics and research self-efficacy, interest in bioinformatics and research, and emotions toward their project. Additionally, we evaluated student mastery of the CURE+ learning outcomes to determine if the experience successfully enabled students to develop their research skills. Our data show significant increases in (i) student self-efficacy in various bioinformatics and research skills and (ii) student interest in bioinformatics-related activities and in biomedical research. Students had positive emotions toward their research project, and a majority of students mastered the CURE+ learning outcomes. Our data suggest that an intensive CURE extension can provide a potentially transformative research experience that helps fill a void in access to research at institutions with a high student-to-faculty ratio.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1481773
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: A Bioinformatics-Driven CURE Extension Increases Student Self-Efficacy and Interest in Biomedical Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Héctor+G%2E+Loyola+Irizarry%22">Héctor G. Loyola Irizarry</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1131-2547">0000-0003-1131-2547</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hiram+Duarte%22">Hiram Duarte</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kyoko+Nakamura%22">Kyoko Nakamura</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rocio+Benabentos%22">Rocio Benabentos</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5597-2152">0000-0002-5597-2152</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Melissa+McCartney%22">Melissa McCartney</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jessica+Siltberg-Liberles%22">Jessica Siltberg-Liberles</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7927-2428">0000-0001-7927-2428</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Microbiology+%26+Biology+Education%22"><i>Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education</i></searchLink>. 2025 26(2).
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  Data: American Society for Microbiology. 1752 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 202-737-3600; e-mail: journals@asmusa.org; Web site: https://journals.asm.org/journal/jmbe
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  Data: 14
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) (DHHS/NIH)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Research%22">Student Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biology%22">Biology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+Science%22">Information Science</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Efficacy%22">Self Efficacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Interests%22">Student Interests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biomedicine%22">Biomedicine</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Effectiveness%22">Program Effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+Skills%22">Research Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink>
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  Data: 1935-7877<br />1935-7885
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  Data: The biology workforce has a need for undergraduate students trained in bioinformatics. Although bioinformatics is a critical sub-discipline of biology, it is not required in all biology degree programs. In parallel, there is a need to increase student access to research experiences. To address these needs, we offer a one-credit bioinformatics-focused and computational biology course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE), here called the CB-CURE. Preliminary data suggest the CB-CURE increased student interest, knowledge, and self-efficacy, but also reveal a shortage of access to undergraduate research experiences (UREs) in faculty labs at our large institution. To provide a more URE-like experience for a class setting, we developed a one-semester extension to the CB-CURE, called CURE+. In CURE+, students execute individual bioinformatics-driven research projects and obtain additional career development and mentoring. To evaluate CURE+, we measured students' bioinformatics and research self-efficacy, interest in bioinformatics and research, and emotions toward their project. Additionally, we evaluated student mastery of the CURE+ learning outcomes to determine if the experience successfully enabled students to develop their research skills. Our data show significant increases in (i) student self-efficacy in various bioinformatics and research skills and (ii) student interest in bioinformatics-related activities and in biomedical research. Students had positive emotions toward their research project, and a majority of students mastered the CURE+ learning outcomes. Our data suggest that an intensive CURE extension can provide a potentially transformative research experience that helps fill a void in access to research at institutions with a high student-to-faculty ratio.
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  Data: 2025
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 14
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Information Science
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self Efficacy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Interests
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biomedicine
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      – SubjectFull: Program Effectiveness
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      – SubjectFull: Research Skills
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      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
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      – TitleFull: A Bioinformatics-Driven CURE Extension Increases Student Self-Efficacy and Interest in Biomedical Research
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