The proposal, written by Professor Albena Ivanisevic, Dr. Andrew Brightman, Professor Ann Rundell and Professor Sherry Voytik-Harbin, is part of the course curriculum and laboratory improvement (CCLI) educational materials development program sponsored by NSF. The funding will enable the implementation of a new undergraduate laboratory in BME by simultaneously developing and applying engineering tools toward manipulating, controlling, and utilizing molecules and cells.

Developing a web-based component of this course will be essential to enabling the students from varying levels of preparedness to achieve the level of integration necessary to be successful in this fundamental course. The website will comprise instruction and activities implemented through three web modules: i) a virtual laboratory bench; ii) quantitative and statistical analysis; and iii) biomolecular structure, function, and applications. This grant will initiate the development of the website and assist with the evaluation of this proof-of-concept.

The success and functionality of thie website will help BME envision how to extend this integrative approach to all undergraduate BME laboratories within and beyond Purdue's program.