The Division of Academic Affairs is pleased to announce funding for five new Course-based Undergraduate Research (CURE) projects. The CURE program aims to generate active learning in the classroom by embedding the research process into course curricula. Studies indicate that students who engage in undergraduate research develop higher-level critical thinking skills and discover new knowledge. CUREs offer students exposure to iterative thinking in which they test, evaluate, and revise on their way to discovery. The curriculum-based approach means more students have access to undergraduate research experiences.
On February 24, 2025, the Center for Faculty Development CURE Committee met to discuss proposals submitted for the 2025 Course-based Undergraduate Research Grants. The committee included: Annette Finley-Croswhite (CFD/History), M’hammed Abdous (CFD), David Gauthier (Honors College/Biological Sciences), Yonghee Suh, (Teaching and Learning), Lin Guo (Marketing), Orlando Ayala (Undergraduate Research/Engineering Technology), Angela Wilson (Medical Diagnostic & Translational Sciences), and Robert Strozak (Mathematics and Statistics). As Director of the CFD, I want to extend my thanks to the review committee for their excellent work with the CURE review process. We also acknowledge the generosity of Academic Affairs that made five awards possible, and we thank those chairs and deans who offered matching funds.
The 2025 winners are listed below with short notices about their projects. They include Senior Lecturer Janet Rinehart-Kim & Manager of Support Facilities Michelle King (Biological Sciences), Assistant Professor Kate Mattingly (Communication & Theatre Arts), Professor Rick Nickel (Art), Assistant Professor Ayse Ozturk (Teaching & Learning), and Associate Professor Lei Zhang (Finance). Congratulations to these winners for their fascinating projects.
Kate Mattingly, (Dance): “Sparking Imagination and Alleviating Anxieties: Dance Research in the Humanities.”
Mattingly explains that “DANC 389W, “Dancing Power,” is a research and writing course. It will be redesigned with Course-based Undergraduate Research goals to: 1. Provide students with research techniques; 2. spark their curiosity about and appreciation for dance research; 3. alleviate students’ anxiety about research.” CURE support “will address the many research challenges students face by bringing students into contact with artists and scholars who can excite an enthusiasm for dance research.” Five guests from a variety of dance backgrounds (Native American, Disabled, Black, Chinese, and Korean) will be recorded to offer students perspectives on the many ways people conduct dance research. “Students will discover connections between lived experiences and research in the humanities. Students will listen to the recorded conversations that explain why each person does research, how they do research, and what advice they have for undergraduates at ODU. Then students will read articles and/or watch performances by the guests. Benefits of this approach are numerous: Students can thrive when they engage with direct and relatable conversations on a topic, and these guest speakers will deliver tangible approaches and practices to undergraduates. Best of all, these recordings will be usable for 8 to 10 years of teaching this course.”
Mattingly was awarded $600 to cover the costs of making the recordings (and honorariums). She secured $900 in matching funds from her Chair and Dean in Arts and Letters for a total of $1500.
Rick Nickel, Art: “Art Crafting Synanthrope Habitats: Bridging Ecology and Art”
Nickel’s proposal “explores the intersection of human architecture and bee habitats, emphasizing the need to create urban spaces that support synanthropes—species thriving alongside human development…. The research project asks students to examine the drastic reduction of habitats for urban bees and find ways to address it through the creation of clay bee “houses.” Students in ARTS 463, “Advanced Ceramics” will integrate 3D clay modeling, printing, architectural research and public art applications. Students will review essential features of an urban habitat for mason and leafcutter bees, including size, ventilation, maintenance and strategic placement. Students will also research local architecture and propose ways to integrate those design elements within their project. Finally, students will become proficient in the use of a 3D clay printer, utilizing the printed materials to model their designs. Student groups will collaboratively design and fabricate the bee habitats, presenting their final projects in class with the potential to present at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.”
Nickel was awarded $1165 in CURE funding for Laguna B-Mix Clay and a Wall Mount Clay Extruder. He secured $400 in total matching funds from his Chair and Dean in Arts & Letters for a total of $1565.
Ayse Ozturk: (Teaching and Learning): “Transforming Geometry Education for Elementary Mathematics, Pre-Service Teachers: Enhancing Self-Efficacy through Project-based Learning.”
Ozturk explains: “The TLED 333- Geometry and Measurement for Elementary Teachers course, scheduled for Fall 2025, is designed to address a critical gap in the preparation of pre-service elementary mathematics teachers…. This new course aims to enhance pre-service teachers’ understanding of geometry and boost their self-efficacy through project-based learning (PBL). Throughout the course, students will deepen their knowledge of geometric concepts while conducting research to explore how PBL affects their teaching confidence and practices. By collaborating in groups to design and evaluate PBL activities, they will develop essential research skills, including data collection and reflection. As part of the course, students will create a self-learning portfolio, which encourages ongoing reflection on their growth in geometric understanding and teaching efficacy, as well as analysis of self-collected data throughout the assignments. The research component will examine how project-based learning influences pre-service teachers’ self-efficacy in teaching geometry. Specifically, it will assess the extent to which PBL enhances their confidence and belief in their ability to effectively teach geometric concepts…. By the end of the course, students will have the opportunity to submit abstracts or proposals about their learning experiences to present at conferences, contributing to the ongoing dialogue on innovative practices in mathematics teacher education. This course not only strengthens pre-service teachers’ content knowledge and teaching strategies but also equips them with the research skills needed to assess and improve their own teaching effectiveness. Ultimately, it enhances the quality of elementary mathematics instruction.”
Ozturk was awarded $1000 in CURE funding and secured $1000 in matching funds from her Chair and Dean in Education for a total of $2000. $1500 is for a faculty summer stipend and the remainder for unspecified course supplies.
Janet Rinehart-Kim, Michelle King (Biological Sciences): “Discovery of Antibiotics from the Soil.”
Rinehart-Kim and King explain, “Antibiotic-resistance is of growing concern because of the immense health care burden. The CDC estimated that 1.27 million people across the world died because of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Not only are resistant microorganisms leading to more severe and deadly infections, but they also increase the cost associated with treating infections…. CURE funding would connect two courses taught in the Biological Sciences Department, the BIOL 122N General Biology I Lab and BIOL 317 Microbiology Lab. This undergraduate research project is aimed at identifying novel antibiotics from bacterial isolates from the soil. This project has been adapted from the nationally funded Tiny Earth project lead by the University of Wisconsin. This proposal represents the first of its kind for the Biological Sciences department to develop a multiyear CURE project that students can participate in throughout their time at ODU. The findings of this CURE project will assist in lessoning the healthcare burden of antibiotic-resistant organisms and provide students a real-world introduction to research.
Each semester the students in 122N will work towards identifying these novel bacteria. The students that identify bacterial colonies will be provided with the opportunity to learn advanced plating techniques to isolate their bacterial strains, bacterial storage, and can present at the ODU Undergraduate Research Symposium…. The next phase of the project will be carried out in the BIOL 317 Microbiology lab. This phase aims at identifying the microorganisms of interest isolated in 122N and test the antibiotic activity against BSL 2 pathogens which have clinical relevance. To identify the bacteria, students will conduct a series of standardized biochemical tests utilizing differential culture media and staining techniques. The students will confirm the identification through PCR amplification and sequencing of the 16srRNA gene. At the conclusion of the Fall 2025 semester one group from each course will be selected to present at the ODU Undergraduate Research Symposium.”
Rinehart-Kim & King were awarded $1800 in CURE funding and secured $200 in matching funds from their Chair in Sciences for a total of $2000. In this case, $1500 is allocated as summer salary and $500 will be used for material expenses tied to sequencing and PCR materials.
Lei Zhang, (Finance), “Real Estate Investment Analysis through Research: Enhancing REST-454 with Data-Driven Learning.”
Zhang writes that her project "will integrate a research-based learning approach into REST 454 – Real Estate Investment Analysis. The revised course, to be implemented in Spring 2026, will embed a semester-long research project that equips students with practical skills in real estate data analysis, statistical modeling, and investment decision-making…. The core of the proposed course enhancement is a research project focused on the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Statistical Area. Students, working in small groups, will collect, clean, and analyze real estate transaction data using R programming. They will identify key housing market factors, construct a hedonic pricing model, and apply their findings to assess property values and investment potential. This data-driven approach ensures that students gain practical experience in real estate market research while reinforcing theoretical concepts covered in the course…. Over the semester, students will progress through key phases: data collection and cleaning, market factor analysis, model development, valuation, and investment decision-making. The project will conclude in a final presentation and written report, allowing students to articulate their findings effectively.”
Zhang was awarded $2000 in CURE funding and has secured $2000 in matching funds from her Chair and Dean in Business for a total of $6000. She will use the money as summer salary and to fund student conference participation.