The practice of science has become increasingly inter- and intra-disciplinary, and collaboration amongst research scientists is foundational.  Yet, in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Elizabethtown College we have observed that undergraduate students increasingly compartmentalize that which they learn in classroom and laboratory courses. This could be due, in part, to the traditional design of the curriculum and laboratory classes.  To promote students’ integration of various strands of learning and to build on skills across the traditional sub-disciplines of the field of chemistry, we have implemented a research- and team-based integrated laboratory course.  This required, two semester senior-level laboratory experience is designed to complement, not supplant, the independent undergraduate research project with a faculty member, which is also a requirement for the major.  The Integrated Chemistry Laboratory has a single faculty facilitator, but it is taught collaboratively by all members of the department.  Unlike many integrated laboratory courses where projects have known outcomes, the project for the course is centered around a novel research problem, typically outside of the direct expertise of the instructors.  Collaboration between students and faculty members is an integral part of the course design since students work in teams to envision specific research questions, design experiments, and attempt to advance the science.  The course has taken on many forms, but most recently it has been improved through collaboration between our students and an established scholar at a PhD granting institution who provides specialized expertise and serves as a consultant for students and the faculty instructors.  Projects have ranged from the design of luminescent molecules for sensing of blood lactate levels, exploration of the binding of transition metal complexes to DNA, and the synthesis of novel nucleobases to be incorporated into Peptide Nucleic Acids for RNA recognition.  This presentation will highlight course design, student outcomes, challenges, and successes associated with this course. <br/>

Design and implementation of a research-based laboratory capstone course built around discovery, collaboration, and the integration of the chemistry sub-disciplines

255th National Meeting (2018)

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