Seven Indiana University faculty researchers have received IU’s inaugural Layered-Learning Program for Undergraduate Researchers award. This university-wide program supports collaboration between undergraduate students and faculty, research staff, postdoctoral researchers and graduate students through a tiered layered-learning model.

This new initiative is part of IU’s undergraduate research promise to train the next generation of thinkers, creators and innovators who will make our world a better place. Aligned with the goals of the IU 2030 strategic plan, it is an example of IU’s commitment to student success.

The Layered-Learning Program for Undergraduate Researchers will serve as a scalable way to offer more undergraduate students the opportunity to pursue research experiences. Through this program, undergraduate students will participate in high-impact, high-value research experiences using a cohort model. It will give faculty an opportunity to expand their research program, pursue new opportunities and potentially increase research outcomes.

The tiered layered-learning model supports any type of research or creative activity at IU and provides three tiers of mentorship, with each one supporting the tier below it. The first tier is composed of a lead faculty principal investigator responsible for the Layered-Learning Program’s design and execution. The second tier includes additional faculty, research staff, postdocs and graduate students who will serve as additional mentors. The third tier consists of undergraduate students who learn together in cohorts of three to 10 students and will be provided with hands-on research or creative experiences.

“The Layered-Learning Program for Undergraduate Researchers is a great opportunity to engage undergraduate students in IU’s transformative research and provide them with meaningful mentorship opportunities,” IU Vice President for Research Russell J. Mumper said. “IU Research planned to award three projects in this initial round, but because of the amount of interest and strength of the applications, we decided to award seven projects instead.

“I am excited to see how our undergraduate researchers will benefit from these incredible research opportunities while contributing to IU’s research productivity.”

Inaugural awardees are:

• Bonnie Blazer-Yost, IU School of Science in Indianapolis: She aims to develop drug treatments for hydrocephalus, a condition currently only treatable through surgery. The project involves a multidisciplinary team and emphasizes a layered learning approach where undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral fellows, collaborate and mentor each other.
• Joshua Danish, IU School of Education in Bloomington: Danish will work with colleagues in the School of Education and the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering to create educational games through a collaboration between undergraduate teacher education and computer engineering students. It emphasizes cross-disciplinary teamwork, integrating educational theories and technological skills to develop a game that caters to diverse learning styles using Universal Design for Learning and the Engineering Design Process.
• Charles Lin, Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies at IU Bloomington: This project will foster active research engagement and career readiness among undergraduate students at the Hamilton Lugar School. The program involves three subgroups focusing on linguistics and aging, international development, and environmental research, each led by a principal investigator. Students will participate in research projects, attend seminars and engage in cohort-building activities.
• James Mendez, Division of Science at IU Columbus: Innovative and engaging tools for teaching difficult science concepts will be developed through this project. It involves creating interactive 3D-printed models and games for chemistry and biology courses, with adaptations for younger audiences. Four undergraduate research assistants will be recruited to design, test and refine these tools, with a focus on student-guided research.
• Cecilia Obeng, IU School of Public Health-Bloomington: Undergraduate students will receive research training centered on maternal and child health issues, particularly in Indiana. This project will use qualitative and quantitative research methods to explore health challenges affecting infants and mothers, focusing on morbidity and mortality risks. The goal is to develop effective interventions. A cohort of 10 students who will work on various projects under the guidance of experienced faculty and mentors.
• Peggy Stockdale, IU School of Science in Indianapolis: Stockdale’s project will implement empathy training to address the issue of incivility in biomedical settings. A video will be created to depict a biomedical trainee’s experience of incivility, and empathy exercises will foster perspective-taking among participants. The study will assess the effectiveness of this training in reducing incivility and improving workplace outcomes.
• Lixin Wang, IU School of Science in Indianapolis: Wang aims to understand the origins and trajectories of precipitation in Indianapolis using a combination of isotope analysis and climate modeling. The project involves a tiered, layered-learning model with 10 undergraduate students working in four groups, each focusing on different aspects of the research.

Kelsey Cook is deputy director for research communication in the Office of the Vice President for Communications and Marketing.