Skills

What biology research skills do FRI students gain?

Dr. Craig's Fall 2023 learning community

In the First year Research Initiative student researchers carry out scientific research! So our lab course is designed so that students learn how to do what researchers do: RESEARCH!

FRI Learning Objctives

First year Research Initiative Learning Objectives

  • Use molecular lab techniques

    • wearing proper PPE
    • lab safety
    • pipetting
    • measuring mass and volumes
    • DNA extraction from human tissue
    • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
    • gel electrophoresis & imaging
    • DNA purification for Sanger sequencing
    • bioinformatic analysis of Sanger sequencing chromatograms
    • genotype identification
    • genetic analysis of population level genotypic and phenotypic frequencies

  • Use microbial lab techniques

    • wearing proper PPE
    • lab safety
    • sterile techniques
    • surface sampling
    • bacterial growth plate swabbing
    • Colony Forming Unit (CFU) quantification
    • single colony isolation for liquid monoculture inoculation
    • Kirby-Bauer assay and analysis

  • Find primary peer-reviewed literature

  • Develop a well-written, testable hypothesis

  • Properly cite and reference sources

  • Use lab notebook regularly to document research and learning

  • Appropriately summarize research findings in primary peer-reviewed literature in your own words (i.e. paraphrase)

  • Use primary peer-reviewed literature to build rationale for a prediction

  • Propose an experimental design to test your hypothesis with appropriate data collection

  • Incorporate revisions based on feedback from your instructional team to continually improve your research proposals

  • Summarize collected data in graph or table and in text

  • Apply basic statistics to collected data when appropriate

  • Evaluate results for hypothesis support or not using the primary peer reviewed literature

  • Discuss broader advantages, limits, and future research of your proposed work

  • Present concise, organized, and logical information orally to peers and teachers

  • Provide peer feedback and make revisions based on feedback received from others

 

 

 

Does this page need to be updated? Email the FRI Coordinator: carly.sjogren@psu.edu.