Poster #13 - Promoting Graduate Students' Ability to Perform and Communicate Research Through an Interdisciplinary Lens

• In Event: 34.099 - MTCC Poster Session Seven
  In Poster Session: 34.099-2 - College Student Learning and Development

Abstract

This research explores the Computation and Mathematics for Biological Network (COMBINE) program. The mission of COMBINE is to train doctoral students to pursue interdisciplinary research. We focus on one component of COMBINE, a semester-long course, Data Practicum at the Intersection of the Physical, Computer, and Life Sciences. The goal of this study was to explore the effectiveness of the Data Practicum. We investigated graduate students’ ability to conduct research through an interdisciplinary lens, and to communicate their research to diverse audiences. We used validated pre- and post- online surveys, in-class artifacts, and interviews. We observed that it is possible to enhance interdisciplinary communication skills through an iterative teaching approach that gives students a chance to incorporate feedback from multiple sources.

Authors

• Gili Marbach-Ad, University of Maryland

• Hailey Marr