Biological Materials and Processes (BioMaP) Research Experiences for Undergraduate

The goal of this study is to understand the experiences of undergraduate students at Iowa State University (ISU) in Biological Engineering REU, specifically in the areas of Biological Materials and Processes (BioMap). The integration of new techniques and knowledge is opening the door to the solution of biological questions (e.g. functioning of the immune system) deemed intractable only a few years ago. This new information, together with the deciphering of human, animal and plant genomes, has sparked a revolution, the result of which is an explosion of entirely new industries in medicine, food and nutrition, chemical synthesis, materials, and agriculture. Chemical and biological engineers are now making key research contributions at the interface of biology, chemistry and engineering. In fact, biology has become as much of an enabling science for chemical engineering as mathematics, physics, and chemistry. This new paradigm shift in the engineering field demands that undergraduate students should be exposed to biological engineering at an early stage of their career via research and discovery experiences. This will provide them with a better understanding about the importance of interdisciplinary research and science innovation. There is a need for an increase in the representation of individuals in the areas of chemical and biological engineering. In this ever-increasing technology-driven and globalized society, we need more individuals who are trained in interdisciplinary sciences to address today’s societal needs. According to the review of the literature, research experience for undergraduate students is an important educational tool to expose them to research, to increase their interest in graduate school, and to help them to develop their technical and communications skills. Additionally, Zydney, et al. found the interaction between undergraduate researchers and graduate students not only benefits undergraduates but also provides an important teaching experience for graduate students . All these different factors have served as the greatest motivation to explore the student experience of participating in REU programs in chemical and biological engineering. This study demonstrates the benefits of REUs and how they can be improved in order to attract more undergraduate students to research careers and graduate school in the areas of chemical and biological engineering. To assess the overall experience of the REU BioMaP students in relation to their interest in chemical and biological engineering, quantitative (pre-and post-surveys) and qualitative methods (interviews and focus groups) were performed. An analysis of the results revealed, that undergraduate students value research and the potential to continue their education journey in graduate school. When students were asked to rank the reasons why they chose to participate in the summer research program, 60% of them ranked as their first choice “opportunity to conduct research.” While 30% of the students ranked as their first choice “opportunity to determine if interested in graduate school.” However, 10% of the students ranked as their first choice “good summer job” as their primary reason for participating in the REU BioMaP Summer Research P ge 22288.2 Program. Additionally, students reported that they felt the program improved their computational and laboratory research skills as well as provide them with a better understanding of the research process. They believed the program helped them to clarify their goals regarding their majors and future career choices; the program also demonstrated to students the importance of networking with other colleagues in their field of study. Similarly, students stated that their projects were not only interesting; but also challenging, and that they were able to learn more about managing time and accomplishing different tasks in a short period of time. Moreover, students expressed that all workshops and activities during the REU BioMaP research program helped them to better develop their ability to write effectively, to think critically, to interact with others and to openly contribute to group discussions. In addition to the quantitative data, a qualitative component will provide a rich, in depthdescription of student experiences. Specifically, this component of the analysis will portray the experiences of students; their role in the labs and different tasks during the 10 weeks doing research. Findings will also address how students describe the factors that facilitate their success as engineering students. Introduction and Background In the past 30 years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of programs dedicated to engaging engineering students in undergraduate research activities. The National Science Foundation (NSF) began providing financial support for such programs in 1987 through the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, which was specifically designed to attract talented students into research careers in science and engineering. One of these research programs has been taking place at Iowa State University (ISU) under the name of Biological Materials and Processes (BioMaP) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). This program is a three-year renewal REU site program funded by the NSF. The purpose of the REU program is to provide an opportunity for undergraduate students to conduct hands-on research. The program has 2 areas of interest which include 1) Biological Materials, and 2) Biological Processes.