Enhancing scientific identity and persistence through a poultry-focused course-based undergraduate research experience.

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) provide hands-on opportunities for students to engage in relevant research, which can lead to increased student intent to persist in science. Poultry-focused CUREs not only provide general research experiences but expose students to the critical role that poultry science plays in the global agricultural industries. Five second-year undergraduate students in animal science were selected to participate in Fall 2024 CURE program. Selection was based on their involvement in a campus program designed to support students of diverse backgrounds while promoting awareness of careers in poultry science. The objectives of this mixed-methods study were to examine the impact of the CURE on the following: scientific self-efficacy, scientific identity, challenge, frustration, meaning making, individual and situational interest, and persistence intentions. Participants completed surveys and reflections at five time points throughout the Fall 2024 semester. A descriptive analysis of the results show that self-efficacy and scientific identity increased over time, which aligned with participants' growing confidence and skills development. However, challenge and frustration peaked mid-semester as the students dealt with more complex research tasks. Written reflections highlighted how overcoming challenges contributed to a sense of accomplishment and reinforced persistence in scientific research. While individual interest and perceived value in the scientific community remained stable, reflections suggested that peer support and strong mentorship played key roles in maintaining engagement. Situational interest remained consistently high throughout the CURE. These findings demonstrated that while challenges can affect confidence in the moment, productive struggle contributes to motivation and long-term persistence. Our results support the concept that CUREs can improve self-efficacy and foster a sense of belonging in science. Future CUREs should balance challenging tasks with structured support to enhance student retention and self-efficacy in STEM fields.