Document Type

Conference Paper

Publication Date

2026

Abstract

Hundreds of WVU students in a large-enrollment introductory biology laboratory course (BIOL 115L) participated in an authentic research experience through the Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistance in the Environment (PARE) Project. This national crowdsourced research initiative engages students in generating environmental DNA data to identify potential antibiotic resistance hotspots. For the Fall 2025 semester, we designed a multi-week lab module to implement a cost-effective, scalable version of the PARE model suitable for a course serving approximately 900 students annually.

The three-week sequence integrates core scientific practices, including hypothesis generation, field sampling, DNA extraction, PCR amplification of antibiotic resistance genes, gel electrophoresis, and data reporting to a national database. A major implementation barrier was cost, as commercially prepared kits are not financially feasible at this scale. To address this, our instructional team validated alternative reagents and assembled materials in-house, including development of a preserved positive control from pilot data. This approach substantially reduced per-student costs while maintaining experimental reliability and instructional quality. The model is transferable to other high-enrollment laboratory programs seeking to adopt research-based modules under budget constraints.

Student groups contributed more than 200 dataset entries in one semester, representing a meaningful contribution to an ongoing national research effort. Informal student feedback and course reflections indicated high engagement and strong perceived relevance to real-world scientific problems. This project demonstrates that authentic, data-generating research experiences can be implemented effectively at scale in introductory laboratory courses through intentional design and cost-conscious adaptation.

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