(263h) Student-Driven Challenges to Enhance Research Impact in REU Programs

This presentation will share our process for developing and implementing the Certificate of Entrepreneurial Mindset in Undergraduate Research (CEMUR) Ten Challenges Certificate program, which aims to support students' development as researchers by leveraging elements of an entrepreneurial mindset. Currently, this entrepreneurial mindset-focused Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program within biomedical and chemical engineering related areas. In our programs in the summer of 2023, we asked students to generate a list of the top ten tips they would give to students to make the most of their REU experience. We took those tips and transformed them into small challenge activities meant to help students foster their entrepreneurial mindset and independence as researchers.

Students completing the CEMUR certificate now watch a video introducing the student-generated ‘tip’ and are provided with a challenge where they are tasked with applying the tip to their own research experiences. The ten tips include: embracing learning, finding the why, managing your time, thinking ahead, asking questions, collaborating, embracing mistakes, seeking critical feedback, speaking the language, and telling the story. An example of an activity that students would be tasked with in the challenges program includes developing a publication-worthy data figure that best addresses their research hypothesis where students must reflect on what instrumentation they will use, their raw data and expected variance, and the analysis process, among other factors. They are encouraged to discuss the activity with their research mentor(s) along the way.

We offered the challenge program as part of an entrepreneurial mindset-focused REU program at three institutions in the summer of 2024, and will be hosting the program again this summer. The presentation will share findings about the most common outcomes of student participation in the CEMUR program through a qualitative analysis of student artifacts. We will complement those findings with pre-post program survey data and CEMUR participation data, including challenge completion rates, and will provide links for attendees to utilize the materials in their own programs.

So far, our results indicate development of entrepreneurial mindset outcomes, and provide a promising avenue for independent research development of students in REU programs.