SEA-PHAGES: A Robust Integrated Course-Based Research Experience (iCRE) for Engaging in Authentic Research with Undergraduate Students

The PCAST report in 2012 noted that the United States was not producing enough STEM majors to meet its future economic demand. One recommendation to ameliorate this issue was for universities to offer course-based research experiences (CREs) to engage early career scientists in authentic research in the classroom. To date, a number of CREs have been developed at institutions nationwide, the majority of these are local implementations (lCREs, with a very few integrated CREs (iCREs) disseminated across institutional boundaries. The Science Education Alliance – Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) (http://seaphages.org)  project is an iCRE with over 90 member institutions nationwide (and one international member), and more than 8000 students engaged. SEA-PHAGES is a two-semester course that leads students through virus discovery and characterization at the bench in the fall, followed by in the spring by genome annotation and comparative genomics.  The success of SEA-PHAGES lies in its central question which supports massively parallel investigation at all types of institutions. The program has yielded over 20 peer-reviewed scientific papers analyzing the collection of genomes, and has demonstrated educational gains through improved retention of students in STEM majors, elevated grades, and increased feelings of scientific efficacy and sense of community.