Description

The Genomics Education Partnership (GEP; thegep.org) is a nationwide faculty-driven collaboration of 250+ members working to ensure all undergraduates, regardless of their background and available resources, can participate in genomics research via Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs). Flexible implementation strategies and ready-made curricula have allowed faculty from a variety of institutions to easily integrate GEP research projects into beginning and advanced biology courses. Members of the GEP teach at 200+ colleges and universities of which 23% are Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) and 13% are Community Colleges (CCs). GEP members receive teaching and technical support, including professional development opportunities, throughout their tenure with the Partnership. Students only need a computer and reliable internet connection to participate in the GEP research projects. Since projects are accessible through the internet, no local research infrastructure is needed to participate in the GEP; thus, GEP is a cost-effective way for faculty and institutions to provide opportunities for students to participate in genomics research. In the GEP computer-based CURE, students experience “hands-on” how to use web-based genome browsers, bioinformatics tools, and databases to investigate eukaryotic genes and genomes based on empirical (e.g, RNA-Seq data) and computational evidence (e.g., gene predictions, sequence alignments). While engaging in novel research, GEP students also gain marketable skills in critical thinking and big data analyses. More than 1,100 GEP students have contributed as co-authors on published scientific research papers and GEP is currently working with microPublication to develop a pipeline in which students can publish individual gene model reports. The GEP is actively recruiting new members, especially faculty at MSIs and CCs. Supported by NSF IUSE-1915544 and NIH IPERT-R25GM130517.

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