Molecular Biology Research Class

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The Molecular Biology Research Class (MBRC) exemplifies REALearning at Moeller—where curiosity meets discovery. In this advanced, hands-on course, students conduct original research using the Biochemistry Authentic Scientific Inquiry Laboratory curriculum. Each student is assigned a protein with a known structure but unknown function. Through computational modeling, protein expression, purification, and enzyme assays, they work to uncover its purpose—culminating in a professional research poster presentation. Along the way, students develop leadership and collaboration skills, learning that in science, progress often grows from persistence as much as success. The “Eureka moment” they experience is real—and worth every step of the journey.

For more information, contact Dan Shannon at [email protected].



What They're Saying

“It is definitely a class worth taking, and I think there should be more classes like it.”
 
“Doing this independent type of research has developed my confidence for the better. I am able to approach labs in my AP science classes with a new type of understanding that allows me to think outside the box. I am a much better problem solver as I had to figure out a lot of things in the class and not just be given the answer. That helps me with labs and just problems in general. I plan on studying biology (pre-med). Or Medical Sciences (Pre-med) at UC if I get into that competitive major.”
 
“Being able to research freely has boosted my confidence because I am able to experience failure and bounce back up by learning from my mistakes and change. I plan on studying biomedical engineering.”
 
“I think this is going to greatly influence my confidence and ability in upper-level classes. I can see things in a new light. I also have an edge up on other competitive science related majors because of this research I have already completed.”
 
“I plan on studying nursing but the class helped me gain confidence in a lab environment with complex instructions with a variety of instruments. It also taught me good communication with partners.”
 
“Through this course I learned crucial problem-solving and process analysis skills that I will use for the rest of my life. I learned how to be independent and think for myself, but also to work with partners to deduce the next step. I plan to study either business stats/finance or civil engineering.”
 
“It pushed me extremely far outside my comfort zone into an area of study I was very unfamiliar with. I had to learn how to use a lot of unfamiliar equipment. If nothing else, MBRC trains flexibility and open mindedness toward new scenarios, ESPECIALLY mistakes, which everyone knows I made many of in that class.”
 

Resources

The BASIL Biochemistry Curriculum Committee

Ashley Ringer McDonald1 , Herbert J. Bernstein2, S. Colette Daubner3, Jonathan D. Dattelbaum4, Anya Goodman1, Bonnie L. Hall5, Stefan M. Irby6, Julia R. Koeppe7, Jeffrey L. Mills2, Stephen A. Mills8, Suzanne F. O’Handley2, Michael Pikaart9, Rebecca Roberts10, Arthur Sikora11, Paul A. Craig2

1California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo CA 2Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester NY 3Saint Mary’s University, San Antonio TX 4University of Richmond, Richmond VA 5Grand View University, Des Moines IA
6Purdue University, West Lafayette IN 7SUNY Oswego, Oswego NY  8Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH)  Hope College, Holland MI 10Ursinus College, Collegeville PA  11Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale FL
 
Roberts R, Hall B, Daubner C, Goodman A, Pikaart M, Sikora A, Craig P. Flexible Implementation of the BASIL CURE, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education 47:498-505 (2019)
 

Literature

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