Neely Samuel H, Meyer Nunes Raquel, Garcia Arlene, Donate Charles, Benabentos Rocio, McCartney Melissa, Siltberg-Liberles Jessica
Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA.
STEM Transformation Institute, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA.
J Microbiol Biol Educ. 2025 Aug 21;26(2):e0004825. doi: 10.1128/jmbe.00048-25. Epub 2025 May 30.
The PeeR Investigators Mentoring Experiences in Research (PRIMER) program was developed to enhance mentorship and support in Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) at our institution. This program leverages PRIMER's prior research experience in computational biology courses to mentor students in our bioinformatics-focused CUREs. PRIMERs guide students through research projects and provide tailored support in technical research tasks and scientific writing. They also provide mentoring to students through the research process and help them navigate the next steps in seeking out additional research experiences. PRIMERs, who consist of current undergraduates and recent graduates of our program, undergo training on engaging students in research, peer mentoring, and providing constructive feedback on written assignments. This study reports on the first iteration of the PRIMER program, evaluating its design and impact on the professional development of PRIMERs through focus groups and its effectiveness within our CUREs through student surveys. Findings indicate that PRIMERs developed valuable transferable skills, particularly in scientific communication, providing feedback, and peer mentoring. Students involved in the CUREs aligned with the PRIMER program reported that PRIMERs played an integral role in enhancing their learning experience, offering research support, and fostering a positive research environment.
“研究者在研究中的指导经验（PRIMER）”项目旨在加强我校基于课程的本科研究经验（CUREs）中的指导与支持。该项目利用PRIMER在计算生物学课程方面的先前研究经验，在我校以生物信息学为重点的CUREs中指导学生。PRIMER成员指导学生完成研究项目，并在技术研究任务和科学写作方面提供量身定制的支持。他们还在整个研究过程中为学生提供指导，帮助他们规划后续步骤，以寻求更多的研究经验。PRIMER成员由我校目前的本科生和近期毕业生组成，他们接受关于引导学生参与研究、同伴指导以及对书面作业提供建设性反馈的培训。本研究报告了PRIMER项目的首次实施情况，通过焦点小组评估其设计以及对PRIMER成员职业发展的影响，并通过学生调查评估其在我校CUREs中的有效性。研究结果表明，PRIMER成员培养了宝贵的可转移技能，尤其是在科学交流、提供反馈和同伴指导方面。参与与PRIMER项目相结合的CUREs的学生报告称，PRIMER成员在提升他们的学习体验、提供研究支持以及营造积极的研究环境方面发挥了不可或缺的作用。
