Exchange programs are commonly established between science laboratories at different universities in order to provide students with the chance to learn in unfamiliar social and cultural environments. Nevertheless, there exists a lack of research on the specific benefits that laboratory exchange programs provide for participants. In order to explore some of these possible benefits, an exchange between a chemistry graduate student from a R1 research institution and an undergraduate student involved in summer research at a primarily undergraduate institution (PUI) was studied using qualitative methods. Daily journaling and interviews were used as a means to document learning of participants. The primary benefits found from this study include, for the graduate student, an increased understanding of the factors that are important in running a PUI research laboratory that supports student learning and faculty success with respect to publications and funding. These factors include, among others, group size/structure and the importance of fostering student independence and happiness in the laboratory setting. Furthermore, the undergraduate student showed development of more sophisticated laboratory skills and a clearer perspective on graduate school after the 10-week exchange experience. Findings from this case study highlight the importance of laboratory exchange programs as unique professional development opportunities for graduate and undergraduate science students and help to provide support for the design and implementation of these programs by others.

Evaluating the benefits of a R1/PUI laboratory exchange program related to graduate and undergraduate student learning and professional development

254th National Meeting (2017)

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