Pivoting Back to the In-Person Capstone Biochemistry Lab: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Online Modality to Improve the Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience.

The restructuring of an upper division biochemistry lab capstone course intended for biochemistry students with a range of laboratory experience was explored. A goal of the course was to give students practice with necessary skills needed for an entry level general position in biotechnology. The immediate impact of the online capstone course mandated by the COVID-19 pandemic limited students on learning essential hands-on research skills but evolved during the transition back to in-person instruction to include more elements of in-person practice. This article highlights the restructuring of the online remote course back to an in-person CURE capstone lab, which includes changes in the way information was disseminated and modifications in student assessments. This article documents how course evolution resulted in a shift in pedagogical strategies that also resulted in building a community of biochemistry learners.