Equipment and Instrumentation to Enhance the Undergraduate Research Experience of STEM Majors at Bennett College in Microbiological Research and Data Analytics
Abstract
Overview: The United StatesÕ STEM workforce is imperative to the countryÕs global competitiveness and growth. Moreover, the employment in STEM occupations continue to grow at a faster rate than non-STEM occupations in the US. A more diverse STEM workforce results in increased creativity, productivity, and innovation and is crucial to advance the current state of STEM. One of the most underrepresented minority groups in the STEM workforce are women of color, especially Black women, who account for less than 3% of the science and engineering workforce. As one of only two remaining women-only HBCUs in the United States, Bennett College has a responsibility to ensure that more women of color are able to successfully enter the STEM workforce and be important contributing voices in the field. To improve our efforts, the overall goal of the proposed project is to acquire funds needed to enhance the research infrastructure and enhance research capabilities of Bennett College. The two main objectives of the project are to (1) create a fundamental research laboratory equipped for student training and faculty research in Microbiology and (2) to establish a computer lab for experimental and computational analysis. This equipment will allow faculty to implement more hands-on experience into courses and for faculty to mentor students through independent research projects. By establishing a Microbiology research lab, students will be able to participate in research studying the evolution of bacteria and bacteriophages and antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. The establishment of the data analysis lab will provide tools needed for our students to better understand how to analyze large data sets involving genome data and how to conduct predictive modeling that can be applied to a number of unknown events. Impact: Through the acquirement of the requested equipment, Bennett College students will have more opportunities for undergraduate research experiences, which has been associated with increased student retention, success, and degree attainment of STEM majors. If awarded, the requested equipment will also serve to enhance the institutional research infrastructure providing more resources for current research faculty to conduct research and mentor and support more students. The enhancement of our research infrastructure will also serve to attract more scientific researchers to Bennett College, including new faculty members and potential collaborators from other institutions, thereby continually increasing our research capabilities and engagement of STEM majors.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 25, 2021
- Source ID
- W911NF2110215
Entities
People
- Rasheena Edmondson
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Bennett College
- Office of the Secretary of Defense