The Genome Solver Project: Faculty Training and Student Performance Gains in Bioinformatics

Area of Science:

• Bioinformatics
• Genomics
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Bioinformatics integrates biology, math, statistics, and computer science for biological sequence analysis.
• Undergraduate faculty often lack bioinformatics training, limiting its inclusion in curricula.
• The Genome Solver Project aims to bridge this gap by empowering faculty with training and resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of the Genome Solver Project's bioinformatics training workshop on undergraduate faculty.
• To evaluate faculty willingness to incorporate bioinformatics into their courses post-training.
• To measure the effect of bioinformatics instruction on student learning outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Post-workshop surveys and follow-up surveys were administered to faculty.
• Student performance was assessed using a pre- and post-instruction multiple-choice quiz.
• Data were collected from 640 students across five institutions.

Main Results:

• Faculty reported increased willingness to include bioinformatics content in their courses.
• Student performance on bioinformatics topics significantly improved after instruction.
• The training effectively addressed faculty challenges in implementing bioinformatics.

Conclusions:

• Bioinformatics training workshops are effective in encouraging faculty adoption of bioinformatics instruction.
• Such training positively influences student learning and engagement in genomics research.
• The Genome Solver Project model can enhance bioinformatics education in undergraduate programs.