We received the CU ASSETT Innovation Incubator award

Dr. Tay joins the 2023-2026 CU ASSETT Innovation Incubator cohort with a project developing virtual laboratories to train undergraduate researchers.

Jun. 7, 2023

Dr. Jian Wei Tay and Dr. Kristin Moore (MCD Biology) have received the 2023-26 CU ASSETT Innovation Incubator award! The mission of the ASSETT Innovation Incubator is to improve the undergraduate experience by getting students out of their seats and into active learning.

Their winning proposal is focused on developing virtual laboratories to train undergraduates in research involving microscopy and molecular biology techniques. Virtual laboratories are interactive computer applications which will allow students to perform activities and actions which mimic working in a physical laboratory. These virtual laboratories will improve student learning by supplementing or even replacing training that currently occur within physical labs. The grant will start in Fall 2023.

The current teams participated in an open idea submission process prompted by the question, “How might we radically transform the undergraduate learning experience by engaging Arts & Sciences students in active learning with technology?” Among the eight teams that applied for funding, three were selected for incubator funding by a committee of faculty, undergraduate students, and staff from the College of Arts & Sciences and from the Office of Information Technology. Submitted ideas were evaluated based on criteria of being student centered, boundary breaking, actionable, and scalable.