ABSTRACT

Biophysics research is exciting because physical approaches to biology can provide novel insights, and it is challenging because it requires knowledge and skills from multiple disciplines. We have developed an undergraduate biophysics laboratory module that teaches fundamental skills such as time-lapse microscopy, image analysis, programming, critical reading of scientific literature, and basics of scientific writing and peer review. The module is accessible to students who are familiar with introductory statistics, cell biology, and differential calculus. We used published research on the biomechanics of Hydra mouth opening as a framework because it describes a stunning biological phenomenon: Hydra, a freshwater polyp, generates a multicell-wide mouth opening in an otherwise closed epithelium through extreme cell deformations within seconds. This publication was co–first authored by an undergraduate and was featured in the public press, thus providing multiple anchors that make the research accessible and motivating to undergraduates. Students start with a critical reading and discussion of the publication and then execute some of the experiments and analysis from the publication, thereby learning fluorescence time-lapse microscopy and image analysis by using ImageJ and/or MATLAB. Students quantify the kinematics of the tissue deformations during mouth opening and compare their data to the literature. The module culminates in the students writing a short paper about their results following the microPublication journal style, a blinded peer review, and final paper submission. Here, we describe one possible implementation of the module with the necessary resources to reproduce it and summarize student feedback from a pilot run. We also provide suggestions for more advanced exercises and for using Python for data analysis. Several students expressed that repeating a published study completed by an undergraduate inspired and motivated them, thus creating buy-in and assurance that they can do it, which we expect to help with confidence and retention.