Cyclopropane can be hydrogenated to produce propane under moderately high temperatures ([tilde]175 [degrees]C). Using a nanoparticle palladium catalyst, undergraduate students can explore the reaction and draw conclusions regarding the conditions for reaction. When deuterium is used, conclusions pertaining to the reaction mechanism are possible.…

Undergraduate research is an important experience that increases retention, ownership, and learning. Integrating research experiences into the classroom is the focus of course-based undergraduate research education (CUREs) and has become an important tool in curricula of many universities. This article will serve as a guide for those interested in…

To improve the experimental interest and innovative ability of advanced undergraduate students, a luminescent sensing laboratory experiment with visual performance characteristics is introduced. Students have synthesized an organic hybrid cage-like europium-germanate oxo cluster with the formula of [Eu[subscript 8](phen) [subscript 2]Ge[subscript…

Although the present university-level chemistry experimental curriculum has been extensive and well-designed, it lacks a connection with the scientific research field, especially the frontier field. It is crucial to incorporate recent discoveries through new experiment designs to bridge this gap and boost the value of the undergraduate…

Here, we describe strategies for integrating transferrable professional development (PD) skills into research learning environments for marginalized undergraduate students. The undergraduate research experience evolved to include the competencies students need to be successful and to gain a sense of belonging in the chemistry community they are…

Reports of laboratory damage, personal injury, and death have triggered increasing concern over the academic safety culture and the safety education of those pursuing studies in the chemical sciences. Student-led laboratory safety teams (LSTs) within academic institutions serve as a new and expanding informal, bottom-up approach to improving the…

We present our work on a hybridized undergraduate research model that blends the apprenticeship model with that of a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) to produce the course apprenticeship-based model (CAB). The purpose of CAB was to incentivize students' interest in undergraduate research at an urban associate granting…

A successful scientific career requires competency in not only content knowledge but also professional skills, such as written and oral communication, decision making, problem solving, and planning, organizing, and prioritizing work. These professional skills are prioritized in the 2016 NACE Job Outlook report as the top 10 attributes employers…

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) are becoming more prevalent throughout chemistry curricula as a mechanism to lower barriers to participation, improve retention, and decrease success gaps for historically minoritized populations. Given the evidence that long-duration and early entry experiences are more impactful, herein we…

Embedding Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) into chemistry curricula has become a best practice due to the overwhelming evidence that these experiences deepen students' content comprehension, improve students' problem-solving skills, and increase retention within the major. For these reasons, faculty are often encouraged to…

The essence of university courses lies in their scientific rigor, while the enjoyment of learning serves as a motivation. In this regard, we have developed a comprehensive experiment project by incorporating dithienylethene-based photochromic units into sensitizers for renewable energy, specifically dye-sensitized solar cells, through organic…

Graduate education in chemistry typically follows an apprenticeship model, primarily aimed at preparing students for academia; however, the inclusion of teaching within this apprenticeship is not always clear as faculty, students, and other stakeholders do not agree on the need for instructional training. Despite the variability in training, a…

This article is focused on the effectiveness of an innovative research-based learning model that employs chemistry-based research projects in developing high school students' research competency and attitudes. The chemistry-based research projects were carried out as a part of an informal program, in real-world laboratories on 330 high school…

Although most instructors and institutions agree on its value, undergraduate research remains an underutilized pedagogical tool because it requires ample time, funding, and equipment. Various institutions feel these pressures differently, but for many small institutions, lack of laboratory equipment and financial support can hinder undergraduate…

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs)have been shown to result in increased science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) persistence, but such experiences are rarely available for first-year STEM students. This work outlines the development and integration of a CURE into a year-long honors general chemistry laboratory…