Berea College - Abstract

The goal of the Berea College KBRIN subcontract proposal is to 1) expand faculty knowledge and experience in bioinformatics technology, 2) develop and implement bioinformatics components into the Biology and Chemistry major curriculum, and 3) develop and institute a biomedically-based undergraduate summer research experience program targeting freshman and sophomore students (particularly those from disadvantaged &/or underrepresented populations).

The proposal seeks to address the education and training aims of KBRIN by introducing Biology and Chemistry students from Berea College to the principles, techniques and technology of bioinformatics in a research-based laboratory within the context of their major curriculum. Selected freshman and sophomore students will gain an expanded research experience by participating in a faculty-directed summer research program with a gene/expression-based focus. Berea College students will be exposed to and gain laboratory experience in these KBRIN focus areas early in their academic careers. The purpose of these particular experiences are to stimulate their interest in bioinformatics and biomedical research so they might be motivated to pursue further undergraduate coursework in these areas, seek additional undergraduate research opportunities in the biomedical sciences and later to hopefully pursue graduate research studies in a biomedical area.

This KBRIN subcontract proposal additionally targets student populations that have historically been underrepresented in the biomedical sciences or in undergraduate research programs. Such groups may include students who are economically &/or socially-disadvantaged, belong to a racial/ethnic minority group, or are a freshman/sophomore in class rank. The proposal also seeks to address the issue of a potential widening of the technology gap in biomedical science training between students from the larger research universities in the Commonwealth versus those from smaller liberal arts colleges by providing students at Berea College the opportunity for education and experience in bioinformatics and gene-based research.

Dawn J. Anderson, Biology Berea College Principle Investigator
Matthew J. Saderholm, Chemistry Berea College Co-investigator