For over 25 years, Integrated Research Lab has been the signature experience of the Guilford College chemistry major. Chemistry faculty construct research teams among students enrolled in organic chemistry and advanced chemistry laboratory courses such as physical chemistry and inorganic chemistry. Each year's research experience has an overarching topic at its center (such as chemiluminescence, Heck-Suzuki catalysis of cross-coupling reactions, oscillating chemical reactions, or supramolecular chemistry), and each student team is charged with developing and executing an original research project in that area. We describe the course implementation including the scaffolding provided throughout the semester-long experience and the faculty involvement in managing multiple research teams, each with their own project. The research and teamwork skills students develop in this course require much more than just basic knowledge of the science or even the ability to do good research (although both are essential components). We show how Integrated Research Lab has a focus on the intangible aspects of scientific research. During each of the two or three experiences Guilford chemistry majors have in this course, they take on successively greater leadership roles, thereby producing a multi-year capstone experience for the major that has at its foundation all the work done in prior chemistry courses. We present evidence from alumni interviews about the influence that Integrated Research Lab has had on careers in industry, government and academia.

Integrated research lab at Guilford College: A course-based research experience for organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry students

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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