Education researchers within the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology teamed up to form the Program for Research in Immunology and Microbiology Education (PRIME) group. The field of Discipline-Based Education Research (DBER) is the study of undergraduate and graduate learning and teaching in a discipline (within Science Technology, Engineering, and Math) informed by research on human learning and cognition.
The PRIME group is uniquely positioned to run DBER studies, using quantitative and/or qualitative methods, in the disciplines of Microbiology, Immunology, Pathology, and Biomedical sciences. Within these disciplines, the PRIME researchers investigate student and trainee learning, practice, science communication, metacognition and ways to improve diversity, equity and inclusion and is dedicated to developing effective instructional strategies, learning frameworks, pedagogies, and assessments.