CURES and the Microbiome

A significant problem facing higher education institutions is the inability to incorporate professional development training in the curriculum.Many pedagogical strategies have been developed in the last two decades to address this academic deficiency.Coursebased undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) are an evidence -based approach with positive student outcomes.CUREs permit many science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) undergraduate students to participate in the scientific process and thus prepare students for the rigors of future graduate and professional school programs and careers.CUREs are a pedagogical and training method suitable for STEM departments of all sizes. They can accommodate smaller institutions that may have restrictive budgets and financial resources to offer authentic, faculty -mentored research experiences to most STEM matriculants. The animal microbiome and phytomicrobiome represent the total collection of microbes in animals and plants, respectively. Exploring microbial diversity and the functional attributes of microbes and microbial products in animals and plants presents an immeasurable number of CUREs student projects that can be developed. The conflation of CUREs and the field of microbiomics is a potentially beneficial marriage with advantageous results. Future educational research exploring the effects of animal microbiome and phytomicrobiome CUREs projects on student outcomes and other factors will assist educational researchers and STEM faculty.